PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE ISSUE NO 108 – AUGUST 2017

Welcome to the 108th edition update. If you would like to contribute to future editions please contact:

GARIOCH COMMUNITY [email protected] KITCHEN PROMOTES COOKING SKILLS WITH FAMILIES AT TASTE OF GRAMPIAN

Table of Contents Garioch Community Kitchen (GCK) had a very fruitful time attending this year’s Taste  Garioch Community Kitchen of Grampian in June. The GCK team of Promotes Cooking Skills with Families at Taste of Grampian staff and volunteers worked nonstop to  Reducing Child Poverty in demonstrate cooking and food skills within Aberdeenshire the Children’s Educational Tent. The team  Aberdeenshire Local Rambles engaged with 150 children to make the Group traditional Scottish desert Cranachan using  Walk-Ability raspberries kindly donated by Barra Berries  Confident Weaning Choices: A Simple Approach to Weaning and oats provided by Hamlyn’s.  Health & Social Care Teams in Kincardine & Mearns Learn about While the children were happy making and Local Support Services tasting their recent accomplishment, the  Garioch Community ‘Voice’ their GCK team continued to engage with Support to help Local Projects parents, carers, grandparents. The team  Aberdeenshire’s Research Project  A New Aberdeenshire Initiative to also distributed flyers and had countless Improve Activity Lives among conversations with different people, Older Adults in Care Homes including school teachers, about support  Braemar Care Initiative – Making CCK can offer in schools. Care More Accessible in the Local Community Following on from the event the GCK is  Inaugural Garioch Games for Over 65’s delighted to say that there is already a  Staff Changes number of bookings for summer classes from people who had attended Taste of Grampian. They have also been invited to promote cooking and food skills at the forthcoming Turriff show.

For more information please contact: Material for the next PH Newsletter

should be submitted no later than th Tuesday, 24 October 2017 to Rachel Stewart [email protected] Public Health Coordinator – Garioch Email: [email protected]

REDUCING CHILD POVERTY IN ABERDEENSHIRE This year the Scottish Government outlined its vision to eradicate child poverty in this country by 2030. The Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill has been introduced and it places a duty on Scottish Ministers and public bodies to publish child poverty delivery plans and to report on those plans annually. In line with Scottish Governments ambition, the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) has approved a strategic priority of reducing child poverty in Aberdeenshire for inclusion within Aberdeenshire’s Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP). Research has been commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council for the Poverty Alliance and the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit to undertake work that will better understand the nature and impact of poverty in Aberdeenshire, its impact on children and families and to inform action required by Community Planning Partnership in Aberdeenshire. Results will be available in October 2017. Key aims of the research include:

 A literature review to understand poverty and child poverty within a rural and small town’s context, consistent with the geography of Aberdeenshire.  Engagement with practitioners to identify current work in Aberdeenshire to support families living in poverty and to identify the scope for further action.  Qualitative research with families living in poverty across Aberdeenshire to further understand of the impact of poverty and support required for children and families.  An event for partners across Aberdeenshire to learn about the key findings from the research and to consider recommendations emerging from the research. George Howie For further information of this work please Principal Health Improvement Officer contact: Email: [email protected]

ABERDEENSHIRE LOCAL RAMBLES GROUP

It’s home time for the Aberdeenshire Public Health team, but for some the wellbeing support still goes on!

Dawn Tuckwood, Public Health Coordinator for the Marr area along with her fellow Public Health colleague Rachel Stewart set off with team of 10 people from the local Rambles Group to take on the challenge of scaling the great heights of Lochnagar Mountain. The group, aged between 17 – 70 plus, walked 13 miles and climbed 1155 metres in 6 hours. The group were treated to typical Scottish weather of sun, rain, fog, sun and more rain. ‘It’s was hard going but it was worth it says Rachel’.

To find out about your local Rambles Group contact: Allan Nisbet Email: [email protected]

WALK-ABILITY Walk-ability is a new charity based in Aberdeen that can organise and guide walks in the Scottish hills for the disabled and their carers. Their aim is simple: to ensure that everybody can enjoy time in the great outdoors regardless of their physical abilities.

All walks are led by one or more highly competent guides, all of whom hold nationally recognised hill-walking qualifications and are experienced in the issues faced by disabled walkers. Where appropriate they will meet the client face-to-face before the walk to discuss any specific issues or concerns.

The photo shows members of Walk-ability at their recent inaugural walk. The weather gods certainly smiled on them that day as they guided a blind client to the summit of Bennachie … and safely down again.

For more information go to www.walk-ability.co.uk.

CONFIDENT WEANING CHOICES: A SIMPLE APPROACH TO WEANING

Toolkit undergoing final testing Weaning, or complementary feeding, refers to the introduction of food, other than breast or formula milk, to an infant until they are eating the same food as the rest of the family. Weaning should be started at 6 months and ideally not before this unless, advised by a health professional. However, according to a national infant feeding survey, over 3 in 10 mothers introduce solid foods by the time their baby is 4 months old and nearly three-quarters of mothers introduce solids by the time their baby is 5 months old.

Conversations with parents, staff from Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Home Start and Community Learning and Development suggested a need for more up-to-date, coherent and parent friendly weaning resources. Aberdeenshire Public Health worked with these same partners to develop a toolkit comprising: - a visual flip chart presentation - detailed notes and background information for early years practitioners - fun games activities to support learning - a planner for parents that could go on the fridge, demonstrating textures at the various weaning stages.

The colourful resource is undergoing its final testing by two health visiting teams in Aberdeenshire and Garioch Home Start and will be available after the summer. More information is available from

Dr Mary Bellizzi Health Improvement Officer (Local Lovernment) Email: ([email protected])

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TEAMS IN KINCARDINE & MEARNS LEARN ABOUT LOCAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Lunch & Learn sessions have been held in Kincardine & Mearns (K&M) as an opportunity to raise awareness and promote local services to health and social care teams. The outcomes of these sessions are to increase the knowledge of Health & Social care teams on the range of local support services and organisations available to signpost and refer their client group to.

The sessions were initiated through the K&M Wellbeing network and K&M Welfare Solutions group which are both multi-agency groups who are working together to deliver on this project. The K&M Public Health coordinator and a Community Health in Partnership officer from Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action have taken forward organising and evaluating each session.

So far Lunch & Learn sessions have been held in Stonehaven & Laurencekirk GP practices in February and April 2017 with up to fifty Health & Social Care staff attending. Representatives from ten Third Sector Organisations came along to share information on each day and further sessions are planned in K&M before end of 2017.

Feedback from the sessions has been very positive with new connections made between organisations and staff who learnt more about existing services. Comments included:

“As I am a student nurse I did not know about the local resources” “knowledge of services is getting better ”

A follow up evaluation is planned to see if there has been any increase in referrals and signposting to third sector organisations from H&SC staff.

For more information please contact:

Carolyn Lamb Public Health Coordinator K&M Email: [email protected]

GARIOCH COMMUNITY ‘VOICE’ THEIR SUPPORT TO HELP LOCAL PROJECTS

In April 2017, local groups and organisations were asked to bid for a share of a funding of £35,000 from the Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership and Aberdeenshire Council, through a process called participatory budgeting, to help address local priorities by coming forward with projects that would “reduce social isolation” or “promote inclusion”. Sixteen projects from across the Garioch area applied and all passed the funding criteria and were accepted on to the second stage where each had to design a poster to “tell their story”. There were no limitations of what type of media could be used and how creative they could get. Out came the felt tips, paint, card, photos even glitter!!! In return we received an array of wonderful and unique, individual posters. Garioch oozed talent!! The posters were viewed by members of the public who cast their votes for those projects they felt should get a share of the funding. Local people made the decisions on how funding was spent in their area. In total 562 people voted for 11 projects to receive funding. The successful projects were; - Gordon Riding for the Disabled. - SensationALL - Kellands Primary School - Peer Support Group Inverurie - Go Dynamix - Bennachie Leisure Centre - Foos yer Doos - Inverurie Men’s Shed - The Clachan - Garioch Links Cafe - Westhill Men’s Shed The unsuccessful applicants were supported to find other potential sources of funding. For more information please contact:

Rachel Stewart Public Health Coordinator – Garioch Email: [email protected]

ABERDEENSHIRE’S RESEARCH PROJECT

An Aberdeenshire project to investigate attitudes and behaviours of looked after children and their carers towards tobacco smoking and electronic cigarettes Aberdeenshire Local Tobacco Alliance in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council Children’s Social Services carried out a research project to explore looked after children and their carers’ attitudes and behaviours towards tobacco smoking and e-cigarettes. In recent years the number of young people smoking has dropped, however those rates among children in care are still persistently high illustrating the continuing health inequality among vulnerable groups.

The results of the project found that while tobacco control policies were in place, some children in care were smoking with notable differences in smoking rates and e-cigarettes use between care settings. More children and carers living in residential care smoked and used e-cigarettes compared to those living in foster care settings. The differences may in part be influenced by older children living in residential care who may be more likely to smoke compared with those in foster care settings. Very few of the children who smoked said they would consider using NHS stop smoking services. Carers highlighted the need for specialised tobacco and electronic cigarette training that incorporates the wider emotional and behavioural issues that can affect looked after children.

Local authorities play a vital role in the promotion and protection of the health and wellbeing of children and carers in their care system. This project will help inform the next steps to enable those who are more at risk to poor health to live in smoke free environments.

Susan Forbes For further information please contact: Health Improvement Officer, Local Government Email: [email protected]

A NEW ABERDEENSHIRE INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE ACTIVITY LIVES AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN CARE HOMES

CAPA (Care about Physical Activity) is an Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership funded programme to promote physical activity for older people living in care homes. Integral to the programme is the CAPA resource pack that will be provided to support care staff to promote physical activity in their care home. The resource aims to help managers and staff to consider ways to promote physical activity with residents in their care home in order to increase levels of activity on a day to day basis, and improve health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Around 18% of the Scottish population are inactive, many of whom are very inactive, engaging in less than 30 minutes of physical activity each week. This initiative is very important as older adults, including residents of Care Homes, Very Sheltered Housing and those living with a disability or long-term condition, are among the least active in Aberdeenshire.

There are clear health and wellbeing benefits of increasing physical activity levels in older adults, including preserving mobility and independence, providing older adults with the opportunity to engage in new experiences; improving mental wellbeing, improving sleep and helping to build confidence and improve mobility and daily functioning following a trip or fall.

The project started in May and is supported by colleagues within the Aberdeenshire Public Health Team and Make Aberdeenshire More Active (MAMA) Group, a multi-agency strategic group providing leadership to the promotion of physical activity.

For more information please contact: Dr Mary McCallum Health Improvement Officer (Local Government) Email: [email protected]

BRAEMAR CARE INITIATIVE – MAKING CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY The Braemar Care Initiative (BCI) is a 'not-for profit business' that was developed as a result of feedback from the local community. The aim of the BCI is to provide care in the Braemar area through a community health and social care structure designed to meet local need. A steering group has been established which includes representation from the public and third sectors and the Marr Area Partnership through their representative, Nick Mardall. The BCI has carried out a series of consultations with the wider community and recently in May held a workshop designed to showcase similar initiatives being created within rural settings in Scotland. This workshop provided the opportunity to bring together key community and partner stakeholders to discuss a way forward and the parameters of what a Care Initiative might look like and how it would be delivered in Braemar. Funding was provided through the local Marr Health & Social Care Partnership to enable this community to carry out a feasibility study and has also contributed to the steering group employing a part-time support worker, Sandra Falconer. Sandra is a local person and so has brought a wealth of community knowledge and contacts to the role, something which is proving to be a valuable asset.

The Braemar community is capitalising on the direction of travel that the Scottish Government is advocating where local communities are being encouraged to see themselves as designers and deliverers of care within the community, especially remote- rural communities such as Braemar.

Should you require any further information regarding the BCI you can contact Sandra on [email protected]

INAUGURAL GARIOCH GAMES FOR OVER 65’s

The very first ‘Garioch Games’ took place in Aberdeenshire in July this year. The Garioch Games is a free sport and activities festival for people aged 65 and over, delivered by the Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust (AFCCT) in partnership with Garioch Sports Centre, Inverurie Loco Works FC, Paths for All, Dementia Friends and Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership. The Garioch Games aims to support over 65’s to become more active and encourage positive health and wellbeing among participants through fun physical and social activities.

A number of events took place in Inverurie, Kemnay and Kintore. Activities ranged from Health Walks, Badminton, Spinning Bikes, Yoga and Pickleball (a mixture of tennis and badminton). AFCCT also delivered a ‘Care Home Pentathlon’ involving residents from local care homes. Two very successful activities included the Senior Dance Class that provided a taster of dance moves including Ballet, Jazz and Salsa, and a Football Memories session delivered by Alzheimer Scotland that has been found to be particularly helpful for people living with dementia to socialise in their community.

The Games finished with a social event celebrating the participants by treating them to an awards ceremony, food buffet, music and dancing. Each participant received a certificate of achievement for taking part in any activity.

The ‘Garioch Games’ proved to be very successful with over fifteen activities and over ninety over 65’s taking part over the three days. Participants ranged from 65-90+ years old and due to the positive feedback from a number of participants, the Garioch Sports Centre will be looking to add these events to their current Senior Timetable in the future.

If anyone would like any more information on the Garioch Games or would like to get involved next year, please get in touch with:

Stephen Boddie Email: [email protected] or 07583595420

STAFF CHANGES

Congratulations to:

 Kathryn Symmonds, Corporate Communications Assistant – RGU student, who is employed on a one-year contract. Kathryn is based in Room G78/80 and can be contacted on [email protected] or on Ext 58744.

 Other Public Health Trainee Doctors, Dr Megan Harris, Speciality Registrar in Public Health and Dr Alison Potts, Speciality Trainee 1 (Year 1), Public Health are both based in Room G54, Summerfield House. Dr Megan Harris can be contacted on email: [email protected] or on Ext 58770 and Dr Alison Potts on email: [email protected] or on Ext 58483.

Staff Changes:

 Dr Kalonde Kasengele, from Public Health Researcher-Health Intelligence Team to Speciality Trainee 1 (Year 1), Public Health. Dr Kasengele is based in Room G54 and can be contacted on email: [email protected] or on Ext 58587.

A Fond Farewell to:

 Dr Emily Stevenson, Speciality Registrar – Public Health who moved to NHS Tayside.

 Ian Reid, Civil Contingencies Advisor, Public Health – Civil Contingencies who retired on 31st August 2017.

 Iona Dawson, Corporate Communications Assistant, Health Promotion – Public Health who will leave NHS on 8th September 2017.