Health

A Bootle-based organisation is hosting a major international conference in Liverpool next month to celebrate the success of a European social innovation project.

Regenerus will welcome its partners in the Erasmus + Tomorrow’s Land project from Portugal, Denmark, Italy, Germany and Latvia to the one-day event which takes place at Hinterlands on Mann Street in the city centre on Thursday 22nd November.

Regenerus is issuing an open invitation to the free conference to anyone across the city region with an interest in social innovation, including university staff and students, social entrepreneurs and representatives of the public, private and social economy sectors.

Delegates at the event will hear how Tomorrow’s Land has been working to create collaborative economies by nurturing more social innovators – people who can create new ways of working to achieve positive social change and ultimately a more inclusive society.

Emphasising that ‘small actions can make a big difference’, the focus will be on examples of real success stories in the field, from Fairtrade to digital participatory democracy.

Connecting the local to the global, there will also be contributions from two high-profile guest speakers:

• International consultant, educator and author Dr Daniel Christian Wahl will be sharing what he thinks are the most important skills that social innovators need to shape the future.
• Globally renowned innovation and education guru Charles Leadbeater, an inspiring and influential author, award-winning journalist and a social innovator in his own right, will be sharing his insights into how to build successful movements for positive change.

Ruth Livesey of Regenerus commented: “Tomorrow’s Land has been a very successful project and we’re delighted that our European partners will be joining us to celebrate its achievements.

“We also hope that the conference will attract a wide range of delegates, including would-be social innovators and social entrepreneurs, trainers, educators and policy makers, as it will provide an opportunity for them to get to know each other and start to create new solutions to some of the challenges society faces in today’s world.”

The conference is supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and Well Sefton, one of ten Well North Pathfinders, an innovative, Public Health England initiative. It is free to attend. Visit www.eventbrite.com and find Tomorrow’s Land to book a place.

Leading health figures from Sefton Council, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are urging residents eligible for the flu jab to make sure they get protected.

Free flu vaccinations are available to those who are most seriously affected by the flu because they need it. This includes pregnant women, who can have the vaccine at any stage of pregnancy, children aged 2 to 9, residents of all ages with a long-term health condition, everyone aged 65 and over, and people who are carers or work in health or social care roles.

While most people can expect to recover from flu in about a week, each winter, tens of thousands of people in England end up in hospital because of flu with thousands dying from complications of seasonal flu.

People who are eligible can get vaccinated at their local GP practice or pharmacy and parents with children in years 1-5 will be asked for permission for them to receive the nasal spray vaccination at school. Parents of pre-school children over two years old will be invited in by their GP practice and can book an appointment for their child to have the flu nasal spray.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “I strongly recommend that all those who are eligible for a free vaccination make sure they get it to protect themselves from the adverse effects of flu.

“The flu vaccination is one of the most effective ways to reduce harm from flu and drastically reduces serious illness, hospitalisation and even death among those who are most at risk.”

Chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, Dr Rob Caudwell, said: “Anyone of any age with an existing health condition, like asthma or diabetes should get vaccinated, even if they generally feel healthy and well. This is because a dose of flu can greatly worsen their condition and make complications like pneumonia more likely.”

Acting chair of NHS South Sefton CCG, Dr Craig Gillespie, said: “Carers are also eligible for a free flu jab as well as those they look after.

“If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, or if you have any questions about getting vaccinated, simply check the NHS website or contact your GP practice and ask for advice, we’ll be happy to help.”

Susanne Lynch, head of medicines management at the CCGs in Sefton, said: “As a member of front line staff working directly with patients, I am offered the flu jab and always have mine. It’s so important for those who are eligible so please take it up if you are.”

If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, get it now – it’s free because you need it. Contact your general practice or pharmacist to get it.

You can find a wide range of information about the annual flu immunisation campaign and see whether you are eligible at: www.nhs.uk/fluvaccine. If you have any further queries simply ask at your GP practice or pharmacist.

A map of Sefton that highlights the best places in the borough to promote positive mental wellbeing has been launched by Sefton Council to conclude its 30 Days of Sefton in Mind campaign.

Now in its second year, the campaign uses the 30 days that fall between World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and World Mental Health Day (October 10) to promote positive mental wellbeing across the borough.

This year, the Council encouraged residents to share their favourite places in the borough for their mental health and these submissions have helped to shape the positive mental health map. The campaign has been a huge success and has reached up to 250,000 people on Twitter and had the backing of Sefton’s own football legend Jamie Carragher.

Residents have used the past 30 days to tell inspiring stories of the places in the borough that have helped them in their times of need including various spots along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve, Southport’s Marine Lake and of course various locations across the Sefton Coast.

The map also features services available in borough to those who need additional support including Access Sefton, Ambition Sefton and the Life Rooms in Southport.

The campaign is led by Sefton Council and supported by Living Well Sefton, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS Southport and Formby CCG and Sefton Council for Voluntary Service.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “I hope that the positive mental health map will encourage people to get out and about across the borough and visit places on the map that have helped other residents.

“Unfortunately, social isolation and depression often come hand in hand so I’d like to think that over the past 30 days we have managed to reach people across the borough and made them aware of the services that are available to them and the places that they can go to feel better.”

To view the positive mental health map visit www.mysefton.co.uk/PositiveMentalHealthMap