NEPAF: How is it for you?

Hello all,

The North Edinburgh Physical Activity Forum (NEPAF) is nearly two years old already! PCHP has been leading NEPAF since it began in June 2013 and we are really keen to evaluate its usefulness.

It would be very helpful if you could take 10 minutes to answer the following questions and get them back to me by Wednesday 18 March. We will bring the responses together to discuss at the next NEPAF meeting in April.

1. Is NEPAF helpful, and if so how?

2. What has the impact of the forum been for you and/or your group/organisation?

3. Who have made connections with?

4. Have you done anything differently?

5. Have you started any new pieces of work as a result?

6. Do you have more information, access to more resources?

7. How often would you like to attend?

8. When is the best times/days for you to attend?

9. Do you think NEPAF should (Please tick as appropriate)

– Respond to consultations from local or national government

– Hold networking meetings

– Have meetings with speakers

– Influence decision makers (have a collective voice locally and nationally)

– Plan and deliver events together

Thank you very much for your time – we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting,

Lianne Pipskyj

Development Worker – Physical Activity, Pilton Community Health Project

Telephone: 0131 551 1671

liannepipskyj@pchp.org.uk

www.pchp.org.uk

Balancing Act

Council strategy aims to balance safe drinking with economic development

A report that highlights the need to reduce alcohol-related harm in Edinburgh while supporting economic development will be presented to councillors next week.

The report to the City of Edinburgh Council’s Health, Social Care and Housing Committee on January 27 2015 will state that in the capital:

• the cost of alcohol-related harm to the Council’s social care services is £29 million;
• the impact on economic productivity is an estimated £85m;
• alcohol-related deaths doubled between 1991 and 2004;
• 47% of adults drink more than recommended guidelines;
• 26% of serious assaults committed in public places are aggravated by alcohol;
• Edinburgh’s alcohol-related hospital admission rate is higher than the Scottish average.

The report highlights a proposal to develop a local strategy on alcohol that reduces related harmful impacts while, at the same time, supports the capital’s aspiration for continued economic development. If approved, it will be developed through the Edinburgh Partnership.

It will also highlight ongoing work to deal with these issues by officers from the public and third sectors within planning, economic development, social work, licensing, public health, the police and the fire service.

Committee members will be asked to note the harm caused across the city, note that effective interventions need to focus on reducing harm across the population, and support further talks between Council services, Police Scotland, NHS Lothian and the third sector to develop the strategy.

A presentation on alcohol-related harm within the city will be made to Committee members by the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, the NHS and the police.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Health, Social Care and Housing Convener, said: “The negative effects of the misuse of alcohol, on the city as well as on individuals is laid bare in this report. It is clear that these issues have a far-reaching effect on people of all ages and social backgrounds.

“The Council has a duty to promote citizens’ health and well-being, but at the same time, a desire to encourage business development and to support financial growth of the city as a whole.

“Talks are at the early stages between services within the Council about how we reduce alcohol-related harm and support the economic development of our city at the same time.”

Pilton group walks off with award!

PILTON COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT VOLUNTEERS ‘WALK’ AWAY WITH AN AWARD!

We are delighted to announce that the Pilton Community Health Project walking volunteers have won an award from the Scottish charity Paths for All.

The award for ‘Health Walk Volunteer group of the Year’ will be presented by Shona Robison MSP at the charity’s annual celebration ceremony ‘Celebrating Scotland’s Walking Champions’ tomorrow (Tuesday 4 Novomber) at the Scottish Parliament.

The ceremony recognises the achievements of volunteers from across the country and their contribution to making Scotland more active.

The Pilton Community Health Project walking volunteers have won the award for their dedication and team spirit; this has been key to the success and expansion of the walking programme.

The team consists of eleven highly motivated volunteers who are all passionate about walking and how it can address health inequalities. Without them, the project wouldn’t be able to offer an increasingly wide range of opportunities for local people.

Together they effectively manage the walking groups and help others take steps toward improving their health and wellbeing.

Congratulations to all!

Ease into Exercise at Spartans

Please let anyone you think would benefit know about this great new physical activity opportunity and share around your networks!

The physical activity team at Pilton Community Health Project have partnered up with The Spartans Football Club to develop a brand new physical activity programme for people with a range of inhibiting conditions.

The ‘Ease into Exercise’ sessions will be of great benefit to those with a range of health issues such including;

Cardiac rehab (Phase IV)
Stroke rehab
Diabetes
Obesity
Bone & Joint problems
MS/ME
Respiratory disorders (Asthma, COPD)
Mild/moderate mental health issues

Participants will receive expert advice, instruction and guidance throughout the session. The session will consist of a safe warm up and circuit type exercises that will help improve their functional/CV fitness, strength, endurance and flexibility. The instructor is fully qualified and experienced in exercise prescription for people with the range of inhibiting conditions detailed above. The sessions will be of a great physical, mental and social benefit to those who attend. Ease into Exercise promises to be effective, safe, fun and affordable at only £2 per person. Details about the class are as follows:

When: Mondays 10.45 -11.30am (Starting on 11^th November)

Where: Spartans Football Club, Ainslie Park Stadium (off Pilton Drive)

We also have a programme of volunteer-led health walks that take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. These are accessible to people looking for a gentle introduction to becoming more active. The walks are great way of familiarising people with their local area, addressing any concerns people have about safety and enabling walkers to meet new people.

If you know anyone who would benefit from taking part any of these activities, or if you have any questions please get in touch with me on 0131 551 1671 or email liannepipskyj@pchp.org.uk

For more information on health walks contact claresymonds@pchp.org.uk

Lianne Pipskyj, Community Development Worker (Physical Activity) PCHP

Leap into Leith’s Health and Fitness Festival!

Leith’s first health & fitness festival takes place at Victoria Park tomorrow, hosted by local carity Looking After Our Elderly. It aims to bring back community spirit and unite all generations of the community with the aim of getting healthy, active and having fun.

Demonstrations & entertainment highlights:

Tai Chi, 10.00, Thistle Foundation, Lambs House Circle

The Thistle Foundation are a Scottish Charity that supports people with disabilities and health conditions to lead full lives. Thistle Gym is a bit different. With a friendly and relaxed environment, Thistle Gym helps members to improve their health and fitness levels, regardless of their disability or health condition.

5k fun run, 11.00, demonstration drive

Fitness Soul, Booiaka, 11.00, Lambs House Circle

Booiaka is an intense cardio dance workout that feels like a fun night spent dancing with friends at a party or a favorite club, to music you love. It incorporates elements of many different dance styles, such as Latin, Brazilian, Jamaican, hip-hop and Reggaeton – but the emphasis is on having fun, releasing your spirit and feeling the beat.

Canongate Cadjers (ceilidh band), 13.00, Lambs House Circle

Space hopper race for adults, 14.00 – 15.00

Organised by Tracy Griffen, of Griffen fitness, competitors will race in heats and go on to a final hop off! Hop at your own risk!

Hula Honeys demos, 10.00 –16.00, demonstration drive

Kim Sibbald, personal trainer and hula hoop teacher based in Edinburgh, is on a mission to spread the love and share the joys of hooping. Hula Honeys hooping classes are fun, friendly and addictive. Don’t worry if you have never been able to hoop before, the hoops provided make the skill much easier to pick up. The great thing about hooping is you are training your mind as well as your body. It is progressive and you can always learn new skills. But remember the focus is on having fun!

Kuk Sool Won workshop, 12.00– 15.00, demonstration drive

A comprehensive, modern, traditional Korean Martial Art. Kuk Sool Won™ is a systematic study of all of the traditional fighting arts, which together comprise the martial arts history of Korea. As a martial arts system, Kuk Sool Won™ is exteremely well-organized; and seeks to integrate and explore the entire spectrum of established Asian fighting arts and body conditioning techniques, as well as mental development and traditional weapons training. The following list includes some, but by no means all, of the elements of Kuk Sool Won™. For a history of Kuk Sool Won™ click HERE

Links Fitness Bootcamp 12.30– 14.00, demonstration drive

Women’s only bootcamp classes held at Leith Links on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings. Bootcamp is suitable for all levels of fitness with classes including sandbags, medicine balls, bodyweight circuits, cardio drills, fun games, battling ropes, boxing. Varying activities keeps the classes interesting and challenging.

SwishandHips, bellydancing demos by Elspeth, 12.30, entertainment area & 13.00 demonstration drive

Belly dancing is the name given to many different styles of dance which originated in the Middle East, but which dancers all over the world have taken to their hearts and made their own.

Belly dance is known in arabic as Raks Sharki, and comes in many different forms – oriental style, cabaret style, American Tribal style, tribal fusion, and many other sub-strata. Elspeth studies and dances in the Egyptian Oriental Style, as performed by dancers in Cairo today.

Strictly Fitsteps demos, 12.30 – 16.00, demonstration drive & 15.30 main stage

FitSteps^® came to life in 2013 as the result of a collaboration between two of the UK’s most famous ballroom dancers and Britain’s most successful swimmer! During the long, arduous dance training sessions that are an integral part of Britain’s most decided to mix the graceful steps of Ballroom and the up tempo steps of the Latin dances together to create a really fun, energetic and effective way to stay fit and keep trim that would appeal to everyone, even if they couldn’t dance. The programme is based around twelve of the most popular Latin and Ballroom dances and the first class that we’ve launched has elements of six of these dances – Jive, Cha Cha, Samba, Tango, Waltz and Quickstep.

Edinburgh Lau Gar Self Defence demos, 14.30 – 17.00, demonstration drive

Lau Gar is the most popular form of Kung Fu in the UK and was brought here by Master Jeremy Yau in 1961. Lau Gar Kung Fu is derived from the form of boxing that was practised in Kuei Ling Temple, situated on Bac Pye Saan (the Bac Pye mountain), in Hong Kong in Western China. It was first learned by a monk fleeing from Kuei Ling Temple by the Master, “Three Eyed Lau”, a tiger hunter, who is honoured as the founder of Lau Gar Kung Fu.

Metamadness, 13.00, main stage

The MetaMadness class is an all over body work out based on the sport of boxing.

Fire Safety demos, 11.15, 12.30, 13.45, 15.00, Lambs House Circle

Chip Pan Fire and Fire extinguisher demos

It promises to be quite a day – don’t miss it!

Living Well North Edinburgh: ‘helping people grow’

Local community mental health organisation Living Well North Edinburgh is based at West Pilton Park.

Formed in Autumn 2011 following a merger between PROP Stress Centre and the Clermiston-based Threshold Mental Health Project, the essence of LWNE is people working together to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their local community and themselves.

‘LWNE is all about helping people grow’

If you want some support, friendship, understanding or just a friendly face, then come along to LWNE. We offer relaxation sessions, and other groups such as confidence building, arts and crafts. We also have a number of weekly Drop Ins. Our regular newsletter details our future plans and activities. So, if you are feeling fed-up, depressed, stressed, anxious or isolated, please phone for an informal chat or to make an appointment to come and meet us.

Living Well North Edinburgh

5 West Pilton Park, Edinburgh EH4 4EL

Telephone 343 6375

Email: info@livingwellnorthedinburgh.org.uk

Click on link to see a copy of LWNE’s latest newsletter:

July to Sept 13 newsletter

Tag: wellbeing