It is a constant struggle to keep healthy. It takes time and commitment, and sometimes it is not always obvious what is in the food that we eat, or how to make a start on getting fit. However, there are loads of resources out there to help you to improve your health, and to support your family and friends to do the same. Here are some ideas and resources that might help, and some information on local activities that you can get involved with. Scroll down for sections on:
Healthy Eating
Keeping Active
Food Banks
Mental health support
Other local health services
Healthy Eating – There is increasing evidence that as a nation we are eating far too much sugar. But there are lots of things that you can do to reduce the amount of sugar that you eat a day. Did you know:
Check out the following websites for some useful tips. Or have a look at this film if you need any convincing that we need to reduce our sugar intake.
Jamiesfoodrevolution
The Sugar Smart Campaign
LB Lewisham has signed up to the Sugar Smart Campaign and are doing lots of work around the borough to improve our access to healthy food. Find out more here.
You can also register with Change4Life for great ideas and support for the whole family to eat well and be active. There is also practical advice to help you on the NHS Choices website.
There are five ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight:
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Less screen time and more sleep!
GCDA run various healthy eating cookery sessions around the local area. Contact Fay on 0208 2694880 or email fay@gcda.org.uk for details of the courses available.Good Food Lewisham – A partnership of local agencies looking to address issues around access to healthy food, reducing food waste, tackling hunger, and everything else food related. You can also get ideas on how to provide ‘healthy lunchboxes‘ for your child. Some further links below:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/childhealth6-15/Pages/Lighterlunchboxes.aspx
https://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/parents-carers/healthy-eating-and-drinking/lunch-box-ideas.aspx
Getting Active
Doing just a little bit of exercise a day can have a very significant impact on your health. If you need a little bit of inspiration and encouragement, hopefully this film will convince you as to the benefits that can be derived from just half an hour walking every day…23.5 hour
Local activities
You can search for a wide array of local activities using the change for life website, showing everything from ballet to boxing and football to pilates. They also have some great ideas for games to keep your little ones active. Another website you could try is Lewisham Parklife – helping you to connect or organise local sporting activities. Find your local parks at Loveparks.org.
GCDA also run a wide variety of support for health related activities, including cookery clubs, health walks, and also training for community groups in healthy eating and physical activity, and provide a map of local community activities to find out more: https://gcda.coop/be-inspired-lewisham/
GCDA Healthy Walks – Get up, get out, get walking is a programme of free, friendly, volunteer led health walks in parks across the borough for people of all abilities. For details of the full programme and how you can get involved, either as a participant or as a walk leader, contact the healthy walks coordinator on Tel: 0208 269 4880 or Email: healthywalks@gcda.org.uk. or download their leaflet: Lewisham Healthy Walks Jan 2020.
You can also check out what walks there are both nearby and further afield through this website: www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder.
Just Older Youth (JOY) JOY provide a whole range of activities for older adults, including seated exercise, Tai Chi, Gentle circuits, Healthy walks and line dancing. For further information contact Coral on 0207 252 8660 or visit their website www.justolderyouth.org.uk
Food banks and hot meals
If you are struggling to afford to feed yourself or your family, there is help available in Lewisham. Community Connections have collated a list of available support:
Mental health support
Lewisham Connections – this is a project for vulnerable adults and older people who may be at risk of exclusion living in Lewisham to improve their social interactions, wellbeing and independence.
Lewisham Community Wellbeing is an integrated service for people with mental health problems in the London Borough of Lewisham will begin operating. Delivery of the service will be led by Bromley, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind (BLG Mind), in partnership with Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network (LRMN), Sydenham Garden and METRO, and working closely with South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).Lewisham Community Wellbeing will support people to manage their mental health and wellbeing problems, stay well, recover, achieve their personal goals and connect with their local community. https://www.lewishamcommunitywellbeing.org.uk/
Directory of mental health support (Bromley and Lewisham Mind)
Mental Health services directory (Community Connections)
Mental health Regular User meet up: Contact Gary Davis, Lewisham Mental Health Connection coordinator –http://www.meetup.com/Lewisham-Mental-Health-Connection/
https://diyhappinesskits.wordpress.com
IAPT – Improving access to Psychological Therapies Lewisham. Finding it hard to cope? Feeling stressed or anxious, or having difficulty sleeping? IAPT offers guided self-help; counselling; cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); couples therapy for depression; group therapy; self help workshops and employment support to adults who are registered with a Lewisham GP or live in the borough of Lewisham. Telephone 0203049 2000 or email: slm-tr.IAPTLewisham@nhs.net, or visit www.slam-iapt.nhs.uk.
Slam Recovery College – provides a resource to support people with mental health difficulties to have the same opportunities in life as everyone else. It is about a personal journey towards a meaningful and satisfying life. It is about hope, control and opportunity. It is about living as well as possible.The workshops and courses they run aim to provide the tools to make this happen, to help you become an expert in your own recovery or that of someone you care for or work with. http://www.slamrecoverycollege.co.uk/
ASTIS The Deptford Psychotherapy Centre, “Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy”. Improve mental wellbeing and physical activity by teaching mindful exercise routines and simple, effective ways of coping with anxiety, stress, depression and pain. currently based at Deptford Lounge
Other Local Health Services
Lewisham Health and Social Care Directory
If you are looking for information on health and social care services near you, try LB Lewisham’s Health and Social Care Directory. This hosts information on a very wide range of services provided in the borough, from benefit advice to counselling, weight management and alcohol misuse to volunteering opportunities, as well as pharmacies, dentists, opticians and health centres.
Stop Smoking Services: NHS Lewisham
National and regional health resources
Information on breastfeeding: www.lewisham.gov.uk/breastfeeding
Information on introducing solid foods: www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/introducing-solid-foods.
Healthy Start / Vitamin D: www.lewisham.gov.uk/freeD
Pregnancy and infant nutrition: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/
Food and drink in the early years: www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk
Cooking and recipes: www.foodafactoflife.org.uk
If you would like to promote your activities on these pages, or to update the information presented here, please contact jenny.couper@nxgtrust.org.uk
Good luck!