Pendle pledges to start SMYLing
5/10/2010While most of us hope to eat better or exercise more, residents in Pendle are going one step further by signing a pledge to start SMYLing.
The pledge is part of NHS East Lancashire's SMYLing (Saving a Million Years of Life) campaign, which hopes to improve the lives of people in the boroughs of Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale.
Residents are being asked to pledge to make a small change to their lifestyle, which would make a big improvement to their health. The pledge is organised by NHS East Lancashire's neighbourhood health workers, a team that encourages local communities to take care of their health. The pledge scheme is supported by Lancashire County Council and Help Direct, which offers advice to pledgers and points them in the right direction for the support services available.
The first pledge event for Pendle, which took place at Nelson library, attracted over a dozen pledges within the first hour.
Michelle Sheraton, 55, is a regular library-goer. She came across the pledge event and immediately signed up. Michelle commented: "I have pledged to do more exercise. I'm generally healthy, as I don't drink or smoke, but I feel I could be a bit more active."
Michelle has already received support to fulfil her pledge. "I have been called by Help Direct who told me about the exercise classes available at the Pendle Wavelengths Leisure Trust. It's great to know that the pledge team are keeping an eye on me, so that I keep my promise!"
Diana Boros, one of NHS East Lancashire's neighbourhood health workers, who organised the event, added that the pledge means far more than just signing a piece of paper: "The pledge is a two-way partnership. The individual pledges to make a positive change to their lifestyle, while we pledge to support them in making this change. This is a great way of helping people achieve their health goals, whether it is to lose weight, quit smoking, or simply get out of the house more. The pledge also helps us tell people about the services that are relevant to them, so we can offer a tailored approach."
Further pledge events are planned in:
Brierfield Library - Friday 21st May 1:30 to 3:30pm
Glasshouse Colne Market - Tuesday 25th May 9:15 to 12 noon
Nelson town centre - Friday 11th June 10 to 4pm
- Ends -
For further information please contact Sally Davies at the PCT on 01282 644 720 or email sally.davies2@eastlancspct.nhs.uk, or Halima Khatun at Bell Pottinger North on 01625 506 426 or by e-mail at: hkhatun@bellpottingernorth.co.uk
