Healthier Wiltshire
Wiltshire is aiming to become the healthiest county in England over the next ten years.
This objective has been supported across the County by the Wiltshire Strategic Board which represents all the public sector organisations – local authorities, health services, police, fire brigade; as well as local businesses, voluntary and church groups and others.
‘Healthier Wiltshire’ is one of the 4 major strategic aims of the Board, and is a key part of the Strategic Plan – “A County fit for our Children”.
A Project Board has been established, chaired by Richard Sheard who is the Chief Executive of Salisbury District Council, and a Project Director, John Nicholas. Kennet District Council has representation on the Project Board and is a key partner in the project.
The project aims to improve health and wellbeing by offering more opportunities for people to:
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Give up or reduce smoking
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Reduce the levels of excessive drinking of alcohol and the impact of drug taking
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Increase the amount of exercise taken and encourage healthier eating
Two major routes are being followed to engage with the public :
The first is via employers. The organisations represented directly on the Strategic Board and those engaged via the partnerships will allow access to over a third of the working population in Wiltshire. Not only is this a significant cross-section of the adult working population but it will allow those organisations to become exemplar employers in the field of healthy working environments and provide role models for other employers and the community at large. Kennet District Council is a pilot authority in the development of this route.
The second route will be through community engagement – community groups are well established in Wiltshire and are already having an impact on plans for their local areas. Schools and other educational establishments will also be encouraged to develop appropriate environments and opportunities for the students and staff. Those groups that traditionally have been “harder to reach” will be given the chance to improve their health through specific targeted approaches initially as part of the West Wiltshire Health and Inequalities project.
More information about the project can be obtained from the Healthier Wiltshire website (External link)