The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (10 to 16 May) – ‘Connect with Nature’ – is being supported by services across the county including Live Well Kent, One You Kent and Explore Kent. Information is available at www.kent.gov.uk/wellbeing on these services, plus many more, which can help you try to improve your…
Following the success of Kent’s symptom free COVID-19 testing sites, which have now carried out almost 550,000 tests, residents can now pick up tests from 322 community pharmacies across the county, as well as ordering them online. With tests being so readily available, coupled with the decreasing case numbers in the county, some of the…
Parents and carers whose children may be eligible to receive Free School Meals due to the family’s financial circumstances are being urged to apply for them ahead of the upcoming April school holidays, even if their child is in Years R, 1 or 2. The Government announced this month that it was extending the Covid…
A new “social prescribing” service to help tackle loneliness and isolation among the over 65s in four areas of Kent has been launched by KCC. The new pilot service is free and confidential, operating from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. It was launched on International Social Prescribing Day, 18 March, as a trial in Folkestone East…
Kent County Council is preparing to lead an ambitious community-based programme of activities, to help children and young people reconnect with their pre-Covid-19 lives. The Reconnect: Kent Children and Young People Programme will be available to every child and young person in Kent, from early years through to the end of secondary school and onto…
This No Smoking Day, why not #QuitforCovid with help from One You Kent services and the ‘My Quit Route’ app. The number of people in Kent who smoke fell to 13.7% in 2019 and is at a record low but with COVID-19 still prevalent, and causing more severe symptoms for smokers, there has been no…
Health leaders in Kent have welcomed the Government announcement on today’s World Obesity Day for £100million national funding in healthier weight support services. Across the country, over £70 million will be invested into weight management services – made available through the NHS and councils – while the remaining £30 million will fund initiatives to help…
The Prime Minister’s ‘Roadmap out of lockdown’ announcement has been welcomed in Kent as residents are thanked for their efforts in bringing Covid-19 rates across the county down during the last lockdown. Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for allowing schools, socialising and some sports to return next month under Government plans to relax lockdown restrictions.…
A Public Health England survey showing that two thirds of adults in the UK have struggled during lockdown comes as no surprise to Whitstable mum Carol Marks, who has taken up sea swimming to help her mental wellbeing. The survey found that half of adults (48%), say they are more worried during the current lockdown…
A further £10million of emergency funding is being rolled out to continue helping Kent’s most vulnerable households and businesses hardest hit by the pandemic, Kent County Council has announced. The Helping Hands Scheme includes a raft of support – ranging from assisting just-managing families with heating bills and helping struggling firms stay afloat, to tackling…
Severe weather forecast for the South East this weekend could cause major health risks and residents are urged to follow simple steps to help vulnerable friends, families and neighbours. A level three cold weather warning has been called for the region by the Met Office which triggers actions in the NHS, public health, social care…
UPDATED February 5: There is a 90% probability of severe cold weather between 0900 on Saturday 06 Feb and 2100 on Wednesday 10 Feb in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Although temperatures will be slightly milder today, it will become much…