At the heart of the programme is the HARRI bus (Health, Advice, Recovery, Resilience and Information) - a mobile health unit that will visit community venues to offer:
• Free blood pressure checks
• Health and lifestyle advice
• Details of local support services
A range of professionals will be on hand, including Westmorland and Furness Health and Wellbeing Coaches, Family Hubs and Leisure teams, along with Active Cumbria and NHS partners. They will offer practical advice on stopping smoking, increasing physical activity and eating well.
Ahead of the events, children from local schools have been taking part in classroom sessions learning about heart health and designing posters to share key healthy heart messages. These posters will be displayed at the events to showcase what the children have learned and illustrate why looking after our hearts is so important. The schools taking part will also receive 30 pedometers for use in fun and healthy activites, to inspire their pupils to stay active and move more.
As part of the programme a toolkit is being produced that can be provided to all schools across Westmorland and Furness, which will enable them to deliver sessions internally.
Katrina Stephens, Director of Public Health for Westmorland and Furness said:
“Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of ill health, but many risks can be reduced through small but impactful lifestyle changes. These community events offer accessible health checks, professional advice and clear pathways to support, so people can take control of their health and improve their long-term wellbeing. Prevention starts with simple actions, and initiatives like this make it easier for people to take those first steps.”
Councillor Patricia Bell, Cabinet Member for Adult Care at Westmorland and Furness Council said:
“By bringing services directly into our communities, we are making it easier for people to access support to look after their heart health, and helping families to build healthier habits together. The fantastic artwork that the children have created is a powerful reminder of why looking after our hearts matters to us all.”
The roadshows will be taking place at the following times and locations:
Tuesday 16 June 10:30am to 2:00pm Hawcoat Park Sports Club, Barrow
Wednesday 17 June 10:30am to 2:00pm Staveley Fire Station
Thursday 18 June 10:30am to 2:00pm Holme Village Square
Thursday 18 June 2:30pm to 4:00pm Milnthorpe Village Square
Thursday 25 June 12:00 to 4:00pm Coniston Sports and Social Club