Kent County Council is backing the national Stoptober campaign starting next month, supporting smokers to sign up and stub out. With data showing that 15.2% of Kent residents are smokers, KCC is promoting the Public Health England campaign by reminding residents of the support services available in Kent for those who want to quit. KCC…
As part of World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday 10 September, Kent County Council is reminding people of a special 24-hour free helpline. The helpline – which aims to reduce the number of suicides by encouraging men feeling under pressure to seek help – has seen a 76 per cent increase in male callers since…
Over one million adults aged 40 to 60 in the South East do not achieve ten minutes of continuous brisk walking over the course of a month and are missing out on health benefits, according to a new evidence paper from Public Health England (PHE). Statistics from Kent reflect this sedentary trend, with 26.7% of adults…
Kent County Council has withdrawn the consultation on infant feeding after listening to feedback from concerned families and other stakeholders. The consultation, launched on July 18, will now be reviewed and relaunched in September as it is recognised the current consultation has caused some confusion and does not fully articulate what was intended. Leader of…
Schoolchildren across Kent are gearing up for the 10 Minute Shake Up – a national campaign aimed at getting children to be more active. Public Health England has launched its 10 minute shake-up campaign in Kent in time for the summer holidays – encouraging primary school children to do more exercise with a little bit of…
Kent County Council is launching its strategy for adults with autism on Tuesday, July 11 which sets out its future commitments and priorities. In 2010, Government set out a requirement for all local authorities to have a strategy as described in the National Autism Strategy. Across Kent, approximately over 13,000 individuals are living with autism…
It’s 10 years since the introduction of the ‘Smoking in Public Places Ban’ and Kent has seen a major significant reduction in the number of people who smoke. 1 July 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the most important public health reform in generations – the ending of smoking in enclosed public places in England.…
Work is progressing steadily on the Southborough Hub project in London Road. The former town council offices, Royal Victoria Hall and toilet block have now been demolished, making way for the new community hub, containing a hall / theatre space, council offices, library and a café / bar. A theatre consultant is advising on specialist…
A heatwave warning has been announced for Kent, leading to advice by health experts to help vulnerable residents stay safe and well. The level two alert has been triggered by a Met Office forecast of a 70 per cent chance of temperatures reaching heatwave conditions over the weekend and into Monday. As most heat-related deaths…
A ground-breaking scheme to help military personnel access public services has secured £321,000 in funding after KCC joined forces with six other councils, the NHS and forces charities around the South East. The grant from the Ministry of Defence is aimed at making it easier for servicemen and women, as well as reservists and veterans,…
Youngsters at Willesborough Junior School now have a safer and cleaner walk to their classes following the resurfacing of a long and muddy footpath. The path, which runs alongside the village cricket club off Hythe Road, is also used by Norton Knatchbull pupils going to the playing fields and connects residential areas to the Willesborough…
Organisations and community groups across the county are being invited to apply for a new award recognising innovation in community sport and physical activity. The KUDOS Awards have been launched by the Kent Sport & Physical Activity Service, which is looking for projects which have benefited residents’ physical or mental well being, encouraged people’s development,…