News
Army Families Skilled for Health project wins award!
The Skilled for Health (SfH) programme, based in Tidworth Barracks, won a top award at the Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Awards this month. Since Skilled for Health started at the barracks in 2008, nearly 300 army wives have been helped to access better health care with courses that have increased their confidence and improved their language, literacy and numeracy skills.
'I am absolutely elated to have won this award, as it acknowledges all the hard work my team has put in. I feel so proud of how we are helping army wives and this is in recognition of that,' says Lydia Baos, the Project Manager, after receiving the Award at Salisbury City Hall.
Since 2009 the courses have been extended to include civilian mothers, therefore integrating the two communities.
The courses, which have free crèches for under-5s, are held in Army Community Centres in Tidworth, Bulford, Larkhill and Warminster. They are run during term times and consist of six hour-and-a-half sessions over six weeks.
Skilled for Health article in LSIS Update magazine
Read Jonathan Berry's article, Skilled for Health has Heineken effect, in the Learning and Skills Improvement Service's Update magazine, issue 30 (Winter/Spring 2010).
Celebrity Chef Aldo Zilli presents certificates to Doncaster Skilled for Health participants
Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli visited Doncaster to celebrate the success of the Doncaster Skilled for Health programme.
Skilled for Health is a national programme run by an innovative partnership consisting of the Department of Health (DH), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) and the learning and health charity ContinYou, which has overseen Skilled for Health since its inception. The programme helps people of all ages and backgrounds to improve their health whilst boosting their language, literacy and numeracy skills. Italian-born Aldo, a supporter of healthy eating, visited Doncaster Racecourse on Tuesday 23 June to meet participants and highlight the benefits of the programme.
ContinYou was commissioned by NHS Doncaster to pilot the Skilled for Health programme within the Borough in January 2008. This involved delivering SfH sessions to beneficiaries in the areas of highest deprivation within Doncaster, along with developing the strategic aspects of the programme. The success of that pilot programme led to a commitment from NHS Doncaster to fund the roll out of the programme across the Borough over the next two years, which is being supported by ContinYou.
So far, more than 300 people in Doncaster have taken part in the programme. Those who take part are offered the chance to attend sessions on a range of health topics such as healthy eating, exercise and first aid and can choose the topics which are most appropriate to their own needs.
Participants have reported an improved understanding of their health and well-being, which has the potential to assist them in making changes which will have an impact on their health and wellbeing. They also reported a better understanding of using and accessing NHS services, enhanced mental wellbeing, improved confidence a keen to take up opportunities to progress into further learning.
Joseph Rosser, 20, is among a group taking part from Cherry Grange at Bentley, supported accommodation for people recovering from mental health problems.
He commented: ‘One of the great things about the Skilled for Health sessions is the personal approach. I was really interested in learning cheap and easy ways to cook healthy food as I was eating a lot of takeaways and the help and advice I got has really been useful. Plus, I’ve also started some regular exercise and am feeling the benefit.’
Dene Naylor, who manages the Doncaster Skilled for Health project for NHS Doncaster said: ‘We are proud to be delivering such an exciting programme.’
Skilled for Health Group win the Adult Learner’s Week Award
The Escape Skilled for Health Group from Blyth have won the WEA Regional Informal Learning Award.
They took part in the national Skilled for Health programme, completing a ten week course for adults focusing on health issues and literacy and numeracy skills.
All ten learners successfully completed the programme and the course tutor was ‘overwhelmed by the group’s attitude and willingness to learn.’ Some have now progressed to further learning.
The Escape charity works with people who have suffered because of alcohol or drug abuse. The group included local people whose ages range from 20 to 40 years. The Escape Skilled for Health course was run as part of a partnership of Northumberland Care Trust, Northumberland County Council and Northumberland College
Councillor Roger Styring, Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: ‘I’m proud to say the individual and group winners represent the very best characteristics of Northumberland residents including determination, resilience, community spirit and enthusiasm in the face of extreme odds. The awards are a great way of celebrating the achievements of learners and, in doing so, encouraging others to get involved in learning as well.’
Adult Learners Week is the UK’s largest and longest running festive of learning, with the aim to encourage more and different adults to take part in learning activities and events across England.
Skilled for Health participant becomes NHS Health Trainer
Liam Ford, a Skilled for Health participant from Northumberland, has been accepted as an NHS Health Trainer after taking part in the Widdrington Skilled for Health course. Along with other new recruits Liam will now complete the level 3 Health Trainer national qualification.
Liam joined a ten week Skilled for Health course at Widdrington after being made redundant early in 2009. Northumberland Care Trust’s Health Trainers have been supporting delivery of Skilled for Health courses alongside essential skills tutors. It is hoped that when Liam has completed his Health Trainer training, that he will be able to return to the project to support the future delivery of Skilled for Health.
Skilled for Health has also had a benefit on the health of Liam and his family: Attending the course gave Liam the opportunity to learn more about healthy lifestyles and as a result he and his whole family are now more physically active and eating more balanced meals.
Since September 2007, Northumberland NHS Care Trust has been involved in Phase Two of the Skilled for Health programme. The programme has been delivered primarily to parents through Children’s Centres and Extended Services, and has also been delivered through Escape, a local substance misuse charity
Skilled for Health is a national programme that has been developed and led by the Department of Health, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Community learning NGO, ContinYou. It sets out to embed skills development into health improvement topics and incorporates the twin aims of improving language, literacy and numeracy skills and health inequalities which are prevalent within disadvantaged communities. Using an embedded approach, Skilled for Health is adding to the understanding of how these challenges can be addressed.
The role of Health Trainers was created in 2006. Health Trainers are drawn from local communities and are trained to reach individuals within communities who want to adopt healthier lifestyles but who have little contact with services. Their role is to boost clients’ motivation to change and their confidence in their ability to change, teaching people how to take control of their health and related behaviours, and helping people to focus on their achievements and positive aspects of changing.
Skilled for Health participants are often ideally placed to progress into a Health Trainer role because of their increased knowledge about health and an improvement in their skills levels following their Skilled for Health intervention.
