RSPH Health and Wellbeing Awards.

Abstract

At the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), our mission Is that everyone has the opportunity to optimise their health and wellbeing. Celebrating and encouraging health promotion practice that empowers and supports people to lead healthy lives Is an Integral part of this commitment.Health promotion Is a dynamic and developmental practice, and organisations from all around the country are constantly Innovating and finding new (and Improved) ways of engaging and supporting Individuals and communities experiencing poor health. The RSPH 2014 Health and Wellbeing Award winners are great examples of this, and we are pleased to provide readers with a short overview of their achievements and why they deserve recognition of their success.EATING A BALANCED DIET IS VITAL FOR GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEINGHealthy eating Is particularly Important for the wellbeing and development of children. However, the prevalence of diet related health Issues such as obesity often start In childhood. For Instance, over onefifth (22.2%) of the children attending reception classes at UK schools are considered overweight or obese.The Children's Food Trust (CFT) believes that nurturing healthy eating can never begin too early, and with their 'Let's Get Cooking' programme - the nation's biggest network of healthy cooking clubs - the CFT drives sustained changes In participants' choices for healthier eating. To date, more than two million people have Improved their cooking skills through Involvement with the programme. The RSPH Award for the CFT is for the impact of its programmes on national food policy, development of professional knowledge and their evidence-based approach.Another organisation committed to Improving children's health through the promotion of healthy eating Is Any Body Can Cook!, a micro organisation with big Initiatives and an Impressive Impact. Working In partnership with local schools, children's centres, voluntary organisations, council services and commissioners, they deliver projects that provide support above and beyond their sphere of activity. Any Body Can Cook!' Innovative approach has proved successful, and within the past couple of years, the Initiative has supported over 4,000 Individuals In their journey to better health through healthy eating - a very tangible and extremely Impressive outcome for an organisation run by one single Individual. The RSPH Award for Any Body Can Cook! is for the outstanding work in supporting individuals and families to eat healthily through innovative and creative educational sessions and individual support.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR BROADER HEALTH OUTCOMESThe RSPH awards recognise effective health promotion programmes which have a strong element of community engagement, defined asthe process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the wellbeing of those people... It often involves partnerships and coalitions that help mobilise resources and influence systems, change relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for changing policies, programs, and practices.1 AManchester Health and Social Care National Health Service (NHS) Trust's (MHSC) ' Air to Breathe' project Is led by the Manchester Health and Wellbeing Service and had an engagement strategy which Involved collaboration with local people, community artists, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and University Hospital South Manchester. Taking place In an area of significant deprivation, the project has been successful In empowering and mobilising local people, as well as hospital staff, In order to promote smokefree pregnancy and smokefree families through a community arts project to create a permanent piece of artwork. The RSPH Award for MHSC is for its innovation, inclusion and demonstrable engagement with disadvantaged communities and external organisations. …