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Parents are being asked to think twice about providing alcohol to children or teens this summer.

Every parent wants to do the right thing for their children’s health and evidence is clear now that introducing children to alcohol – especially before 15 – can:

• Harm developing bodies and brains
• Worsen feelings of low mood and depression
• Put their safety at risk
• Open the door to more regular drinking and heavier drinking as adults

Find out more and read the guide every parent needs at:

What’s the harm?www.whatstheharm.co.uk
Detailed access guides for a wide range of venues across Sunderland, letting you know what to expect in terms of accessibility ahead of a visit.Click here for more info
Put smoking behind you
– Make a fresh quit
Smokers in Sunderland are being encouraged to quit with the launch of a new campaign featuring warnings from former smokers.

Smoking Survivors shares the stories of two former smokers who have suffered from smoking-related cancers. Sue and Cathy were both diagnosed while in their 40s and share the impact on them and their families but also the huge benefits of stopping.

People who smoke are being encouraged to “make a fresh quit” put smoking behind them and visit the regional quitting hub at FreshQuit.co.uk for tips, advice and local quit support.

For local support to stop smoking contact the Sunderland Stop Smoking Service – www.sunderlandstopsmokingservice.co.uk

Alcohol Awareness Week takes place from 3-9 July 2023.
This year’s theme is alcohol and cost.

Find out more www.alcoholchange.org.ukAlcohol Awareness Weekwww.reducemyrisk.tv

For local tips, advice and information to help you change the way you drink alcohol visit:

Check In and Chat

Do you know someone who is feeling isolated, vulnerable, or lonely who might benefit from a friendly phone call? Whether a one-off call to check on wellbeing, or a regular chat, Volunteer Responders are on hand to provide a listening ear. Where appropriate, they can help explore positive changes people can make to their lives such as connecting with others, becoming more physically active and learning new skills. Volunteers can also signpost to other services in the community

To find out more or to make a referral, please call 0808 196 3382, visit nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk or contact the North East and Yorkshire Regional Relationship Manager Kerry Evans at kerry.evans@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

If you or a family member are over the State Pension age, you should check to see if you're eligible for Pension Credit.

Pension Credit is extra money designed to help with daily living costs for people over state pension age and on a low income. If you’re eligible, you could receive over £3,000 a year in extra support, providing a much-needed boost to retirement income.

If you get Pension Credit, it could help with heating bills, housing costs and free NHS dental care. Even if you own your home, have some savings, live in a care home, or claim other benefits like PIP or Disability Living Allowance, it’s worth checking to see if you’re entitled to Pension Credit – you might be surprised!

Click here to see if you are eligiblePension Credit Calculator

Washington Mind in collaboration with Public Health are offering places on face-to-face subsidised A Life Worth Living training sessions for people living, working and volunteering in Sunderland who wish to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence with regard to suicide prevention.

Washington Mind is also offering The Stories We Tell and Are Told Grief Training face-to-face sessions. These training offers are for two spaces per organisation.

Please follow this link for more details on how to book

Double your Defences against Flu & COVID-19 this year!

Those at greater risk will need extra protection this winter.
The Flu vaccination & COVID-19 Autumn Booster will be critical to protecting lives.

You may be eligible for both vaccinations if you are:

  aged 50 years & over     in a clinical risk group    pregnant
  aged 5 - 49 & a household contact of someone in a high clinical risk
  a carer aged 16 - 49   •  a resident, or staff member in a care home for older adults
  a frontline health or social care worker

In addition, the free flu vaccine will be offered to:

 children aged 2-3 years   all primary school children   some secondary school children

The NHS is encouraging people to get their vaccinations as soon as possible, to get fully protected, rather than waiting as it may not always be possible to get them both together.

If you are offered both vaccines together it is safe to have them at the same time!

Help Us Help You –
Cervical Screening
The Department of Health and Social Care, together with NHS England and NHS Improvement, have launched the Help Us Help You – Cervical Screening Campaign, to highlight the benefits of cervical screening and remind people that it can help stop cancer before it starts. The campaign encourages those eligible for screening - women and people with a cervix aged 25-64 - to respond to their cervical screening invitation letters and to book an appointment at their GP practice if they missed their last one.

Two women die every day from cervical cancer in England. Yet it is one of the most preventable cancers and getting screened can help stop it before it starts.
Click here for more info

Most people know that smoking causes cancer. But a worrying new survey shows only 1 in 3 people in the North East know that alcohol also causes cancer such as bowel, breast, mouth and throat cancer. It is estimated that 4 in 10 adults in the North East, are drinking above Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk guidelines of no more than 14 units per week, raising their risk.

To find out more about units and for free tips and tools to cut down visit:

www.reducemyrisk.tv

The North East & Cumbria Learning Disability Network exists to tackle health inequalities and variation experienced by people with learning disability and their families; our vision remains that the North East & Cumbria will be the best place in England to live if you have a learning disability. Supported by all of our CCGs, NHS Trusts and Health Education England across North East & North Cumbria and hosted by NHS England & NHS Improvement as part of the North East & North Cumbria Clinical Networks, the Learning Disability Network provides leadership, innovation, service improvement and initiatives to ensure people with learning disability & their families have equity and equitable access to health and healthcare to enable the best possible quality of life for people and their families.

Click here for more info

It's Time to Step Up Sunderland

Step Up Sunderland is an app to make it easy for people who live and work in the city to count steps and increase their daily activity. You will also gain access to exclusive rewards and discounts just for taking part!

• It’s FREE!
• It’s FUN!
• Motivate yourself with daily BADGES and ACHIEVEMENTS
• Be part of a TEAM
• Get REWARDS and DISCOUNTS

Why not sign up today?

Visit Step Up Sunderland website

We Are Undefeatable

The campaign “We Are Undefeatable” aims to change the misconception that those of us with long term health conditions can’t be active. It seeks to inspire and empower those of us who are least active to build physical activity into our lives in small chunks, in a way that long term health conditions allow, whilst celebrating every little victory.

Please click here for more info

We all have times when we feel stressed, low or anxious, or having trouble sleeping. For practical tips and expert advice to improve your mental health, visit Every Mind Matters by...

Clicking here

Live Life Well

This website provides signposting, advice and information on a range of wellbeing, lifestyle and health issues. It is maintained by Sunderland City Council

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