Get involved at the Big Health Check day!

Big Health Check Day 2019

After months of preparation, the sun shone (again) for this year’s Big Health Check and Social Care Open Day and a thoroughly good time was had by all.  

With a record-breaking 1,400 people in attendance for its 11th year, the day continues to be a popular outing for those living with learning disabilities, complex health needs and other disabilities in Gloucestershire. Amongst the joy and laughter, the event also carries a serious message about ensuring people with learning disabilities can access health and wellbeing support and can live healthier and happier lives. Here’s a few interesting figures from the day: 

•  81 volunteers from Hartpury College, Inclusion Gloucestershire and Dean Magna School
• Boccia competition opened by Lord-Lieutenant, Edward Gillespie OBE
• 120 stall holders, stands and static displays
• 14 inclusive adapted sports inside and outside courts and grounds
• 104 coaches, support activity volunteers
• 400 healthy goody bags given out, provided by ²gether NHS Foundation Trust’s Charitable Fund
• 4 very cute therapy dogs
• 2  Mounted Police on horses
• 4 lambs
• 10 Bantams
• 2 pirates

Thank you to everyone who joined us including carers, advocates and support workers. An extra special thank you to the stallholders, volunteers, our registration team, Cater Cater and Oxstalls Sports Park management and staff for their invaluable contribution.  

Big Health Check Day 2017 a big success

More people than ever before joined us for the ninth annual Big Health Check and Social Care Open Day.

The event, at Oxstalls Sports Park, was aimed at helping people with learning disabilities and complex health and physical health needs  to stay healthy and active.

Here’s a few interesting figures from the day:

• 1,368 volunteers, family, carers and support staff attended
•  928 People with learning disabilities, parent carers and support workers
• 95 Volunteers from Hartpury College, Gloucestershire University, Gloucester College, Inclusion Gloucestershire and support staff
• 89 stall holders and stands
• 231 stall holders manning the stands throughout the day
• 14 adapted sports inside and outside courts and grounds
• 104  coaches, support activity volunteers
• 141 Easy read health  questionnaires completed
• 400 healthy goody bags given out
• 4 therapy Dogs
• 2  Mounted Police on horses
• 6 Wiltshire Horn ewes and lambs
• 10 hens
• 1 Bantam with chicks

Get involved at the Big Health Check day!

NHS Gloucestershire, in partnership with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, is holding its Third Big Health Check day on 31^st March (morning or afternoon sessions) at the National Star College, Ullenwood.

The event will focus on the health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities in the county and is open to individuals with learning disabilities and their family and Carers. Participants will be able to find out more about local services and get involved in a number of fun and informative sessions on Exercise, Diabetes/Diet and Healthy Ageing/Podiatry.

The GUiDE and PALS information bus will also be on hand to provide information and advice.

Kevin Elliott from NHS Gloucestershire said: ‘We’re really excited about our third Big Health Check day, and we’d encourage people to come along and join us on the day.  It’s a great opportunity to bring together people with learning disabilities and their Carers to find out more about local services, share ideas and have some fun’.

The Big Health Check Day is part of the implementation of the ‘The Big Plan’ – a joint action plan between NHS Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire County Council setting out what is to be achieved within the county’s Learning Disability Services over the next 5 years.

For further information about the event, and to book a place, please contact Karen Taylor, Commissioning Support Manager, at NHS Gloucestershire on 08454 221503 or email Karen.taylor@glos.nhs.uk.

Big Health Check Day 2015

The seventh annual Big Health Check Day will take place in Gloucester next month.

The event, being held at Wall’s Social Club, in Barnwood, on Wednesday May 13 is aimed at helping people with learning disabilities to stay healthy and active.

Those attending will be able to take part in a wide range of activities, and Simon Shorrick, the event’s co-ordinator, said it was set to be another action packed day.

“We’re really excited about our seventh Big Health Check Day,” said Simon, who works for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.

“It’s always a great occasion and a brilliant opportunity to bring people with learning disabilities and their carers together find out more about local services, share their views, and, most of all, enjoy themselves.

“Participants will be able to find out more about local services and resources from the 60 stalls and get involved in a number of fun and informative sessions. They will also be able to try sports and exercise activities like adapted bikes and trikes, archery, athletics, boccia, football, cricket and wheelchair dancing.”

During the day the Dramatic Change Theatre Company from Gloucestershire Voices will be performing a short play on ‘Keeping Healthy and Active’, which will be light hearted, fun and thought provoking.

“We’re also looking forward to having the new ambulance mobile response unit in attendance for people to have a look around and talk to the paramedics,” Simon added.

“Other attractions will be a big red London bus, kindly being supplied by Alpha Colour Printers, the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Stagecoach and the new Mobiloo unit providing accessible toilet facilities with electric hoist and changing table”.

Big Health Check Day is funded and supported by Gloucestershire County Council, NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Active Gloucestershire, Gloucester City Homes, Gloucestershire Voices and the Barnwood Trust under the umbrella of Gloucestershire Learning Disability Partnership Board.

Jan Marriott, Co-Chairperson of the Learning Disability Partnership Board, said: “I am pleased to see health and social care staff come together to create such a wonderful opportunity for us to learn about how we can improve services to people with a learning disability.”

The event, which runs from 9.30am until 4pm, is open to anyone with a learning disability, as well as their families, carers and support workers.

Big Health Check Day is part of the implementation of the all-age, all disability Building Better Lives Strategy.

For further information about the day, please contact Simon Shorrick, in the Health Facilitation team at ²gether, on 0800 019 3346 or email simon.shorrick@glos.nhs.uk

Teams join 2gether at Big Health Check Day

Helen Ballinger, who is involved with the Trust’s implementation plan for learning disabilities, said: “This was a terrific day which allowed colleagues to meet a wide and varied audience of service users, their families and carers as well as building relationships with partner organisations and learning about other services.

“This was the sixth Big Health Check day that has been held and I would strongly encourage colleagues from across our services to consider attending future events.”

The day was organised by the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust alongside NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Gloucestershire Voices and Gloucestershire County Council under the umbrella of the Gloucestershire Learning Disability Partnership Board.

Simon Shorrick, strategic health facilitator at 2gether Trust and one of the main organisers of the day, said: “The day was a tremendous success, and the brilliant weather made it another day to remember. We again opened doors to the many mainstream, voluntary, support, primary and secondary care and specialist services in our county.

“I was really proud of all the workshop leads, actors, visitors, stewards and stall holders who were all fantastic and contributed so much.

“I believe the day helped give our vulnerable client group greater choice and access to services, as well as driving shared goals of reducing health inequalities, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and ensuring reasonable adjustments are made for people with learning disabilities.”

The 2gether Trust in partnership with Barnwood Trust has produced a short video of the day which will be released shortly on YouTube.