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This week we held a 'men's health' event with People First Keighley and Craven; it was a great afternoon of information sessions, football – and most importantly – vital health checks for members.
 
Our WACA social prescriber and cancer champion Sharon Cope was joined by Kit from Keighley Healthy Living to carry out the health checks and give the members an opportunity to ask questions about any concerns they may have. 
 
From People First KC:
 
"Thank you to all who attended today, we had lots of fun. We learned lots of information, made connections with other services and had our health checks.
We know that topics like checking testicles for lumps can be embarrassing, but we hope that we created a safe environment to ask questions and learn more.
 
The information the attendees got today may save their life. Monthly self checks are so important and we will continue to raise this issue moving forward because as Adrian said, “everyone deserves to have access to information about health”.
 
The event was also supported by Robbie Moore MP who said:
 
"Men with learning disabilities are far more likely to experience serious health issues, yet they are less likely to access regular health checks or cancer screenings.
 
The event was a brilliant example of how we can create a safe environment to give our SEND community the confidence to speak about their health – especially around topics that can often be difficult to talk about, like testicular cancer.
 
A huge thank you to People First Keighley and Craven for organising such an inclusive session and to Wharfedale, Airedale and Craven Alliance and Keighley Healthy Living for providing health checks and expert support.
 
People First Keighley and Craven really are a fantastic organisation providing support, guidance and advocacy to help people with learning challenges. I have met with the group on many occasions over the last couple of years and would encourage everyone in our SEND community to get involved
 
Well done all".
 
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Shamim Akhtar , Social Prescriber at Ling House Medical Centre, facilitated 3 popular diabetes education sessions in the run up to Ramadan.

The sessions were open to all Women, and was based at KAWACC Centre. The sessions included information about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, the risks of diabetes & how to access specialist diabetes support. Attendees reported being more motivated to make lifestyle behavioural changes and are now seeking support with weight management and physical activity.

The attendees were also signposted to further structured diabetes education including NDPP (National Diabetes Prevention Programme), DME (Diabetes Made Easy) and  X-Pert.

If you would like a referral into the social prescribing service to find out about support available to help you lose weight or be more active, please complete the short referral form : https://www.wacalliance.co.uk/forms-policies/self-referral-form-to-access-social-prescribing-or-counselling-service-support.html

 

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Our Women's Health Talk series in Ilkley continued last night with a fantastic talk on Nutrition from Beth Hughes Nutrition. The session focussed on how to eat to support your health and wellness through perimenopause, menopause and beyond and was very well received by the women that attended. 

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The Singing For Lung Health initiative continues into 2025 with the Spring Course, about to start.

Formed in 2022, the Singing for Lung Health initiative supports patients who live with chronic respiratory conditions by offering group sessions at St Johns Church, in Ben Rhydding.

Delivered by respiratory nurse Sophie Wallace and musical co-lead Keely Hodgson from the 'Bring Me Sunshine' musical trio, the programme is supported by WACA.

To read more how the programme has helped patients, visit https://bdcpartnership.co.uk/a-local-singing-initiative-is-supporting-people-one-breath-at-a-time/

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WACA recently held a Special Educational Needs Support Event at The Skipton Hotel which was really well attended by both local organisations and families and carers of young people with special educational needs. 
 
 The WACA Children's Social Prescribing Team, 'GR8 Minds', who arranged the event were there alongside eighteen other local voluntary and community organisations' including AWARE, Mencap, Treacle and Exclusively Inclusive covering a wide geographical area including Keighley, Settle, Ilkley and Skipton. 
The event gave the opportunity for families and carers to meet with specialists who were on hand to offer practical advice on accessing additional support and to foster greater understanding, support, and advocacy for children with special educational needs.
 
Attendees were asked to feedback on the event as well as local provision in SEN services which will help to identify gaps in services and to shape future events.
 
" We found it a great event to make connections with organisations and the range of people there was impressive. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Thankyou"
 
" I am so grateful for the opportunity to speak with someone who could help me; I was feeling so lost with no support from school and came away from the event with contact and am now just awaiting an appointment with one of the teams you had there. Thank you!"
 
 
If you would like more information about the support available locally for people with learning disabilities, please contact your Social Prescribing team at your WACA GP Practice
 
 
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  1. World Cancer Day Event in Keighley
  2. GR8 Minds Team, SEND Event on Tuesday February 4th
  3. Community Cancer Champions support local women to attend their cervical screening
  4. Monica Simmons presented a talk on strength and conditioning for the Menopause

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WACA HQ
Ling House Medical Centre
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Keighley
BD21 2JH 

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