by West Midlands Magazines | Apr 29, 2024 | Bilston, Council, Health, Wednesfield, West Midlands, Wolverhampton
Today marks the start of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week – an annual campaign to encourage people to talk about their mental health before, during and after pregnancy.
Around one in five women experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or within the early postnatal years.
The national campaign, organised by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, aims to encourage people to access the information and help they require to enable recovery. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Rediscovering you’.
Bal Kaur, Consultant in Public Health with the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Being pregnant or becoming a new parent is a milestone event in life. It is natural for new parents to feel a lot of different emotions during this time.
“But if you’re feeling low and it’s starting to affect your life, there are a range of things you can do that may help, so please don’t suffer in silence.”
Across the city, there are a lot of resources available to help support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents and help you to rediscover yourself during this life-changing time.
The city’s Family Hubs and libraries deliver a range of activities that support parental and infant wellbeing, including Stay and Play groups and Baby Booktime sessions to boost the bond with your baby.
The council’s Parental and Infant Wellbeing Team deliver activities that focus on parent and infant relationships, including Bop Around Bantock, a babywearing walk in Bantock Park every Tuesday, and StepAhead, a community wellbeing drop-in group in the Children’s Library at Central Library every Wednesday.
People are encouraged to speak to their midwife, health visitor or visit their local Family Hub if they are feeling low. They can provide advice and information about local groups and specialist services that can support people’s health and wellbeing.
For more information on good mental health during pregnancy, visit the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/mental-health/.
by West Midlands Magazines | Apr 5, 2024 | Bilston, Council, Health, News, Wednesfield, West Midlands, Wolverhampton
The Fostering for Wolverhampton team is on the hunt for new foster parents this Easter.
The City of Wolverhampton Council’s fostering service is inviting people to find out more about this rewarding career, including the support and financial benefits on offer to people who foster.
The council’s Director of Children’s Services Alison Hinds said: “Fostering can truly be a life-changing experience, both for foster parents and the children and young people they care for.
“With currently over 200 fantastic fostering households, we are very lucky to have so many dedicated foster parents here in our city – but we have more children who need a foster home.
“We’ve love to hear from people who have both a spare room and, most importantly, love in their heart to offer the most vulnerable children and young people in our city a family home.
“I’d encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a foster parent to visit www.fosteringforwolverhampton.com, follow Fostering for Wolverhampton on Facebook at fosteringforwolves or call the team on 01902 551133 to find out more about this life-changing opportunity.”
Meanwhile, children and their foster families came together for the annual Easter Egg-stravaganza last week.
Organised by the Fostering for Wolverhampton team, it took place at WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams and featured an Easter trail and an appearance by the Easter Bunny, the Wolves play café, face painting, a disco and a variety of sports and art activities.
More than 100 people attended the event, just one of the many social activities organised throughout the year for foster families who are part of Fostering for Wolverhampton.
Alison added: “It was a real pleasure that so many foster families were able to come together to celebrate Easter with the children and young people they care for. “This was one example of the many events we hold for our foster parents, who do such an excellent job of looking after children in care.”
by West Midlands Magazines | Mar 14, 2024 | Bilston, Council, Health, News, Wednesfield, West Midlands, Wolverhampton
Health monitors have been installed in a number of libraries, community facilities and leisure centres across Wolverhampton.
They give residents the chance to accurately measure their height, weight, BMI (body mass index), heart rate and blood pressure. No appointment is necessary and the checks are free, self-service and confidential, with results printed on a slip of paper for users to take away with them.
The health monitors are available at Central, Bilston, Warstones and Wednesfield libraries, the Bob Jones Community Hub, WV Active Aldersley, WV Active Central and WV Active Bilston Bert-Williams, and offer a valuable alternative to attending medical settings for low level and non-clinical interventions.
Staff at the various locations will not be able to provide clinical advice, but will be able to signpost residents to relevant information and advice.
Where appropriate, blood pressure monitors are also available to loan to enable people to monitor their blood pressure for free at home.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for our residents to take control of their own health and wellbeing, and this is one of the ways that we are giving them access to the tools they need to do just that.
“It is hoped these devices will encourage residents to prioritise getting their blood pressure checked, even if they have no apparent symptoms, as high blood pressure can lead to serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and vascular dementia if left unchecked.”
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, Cabinet Member for Visitor City, added: “Our libraries, leisure centres and community facilities offer a wide range of services and facilities to residents, and we are delighted to have been able to expand it further with the introduction of these health monitors.
“They are free to use, and we hope they will prove popular with, and also useful to, customers.”
Showing off some of the health monitoring equipment available at Central Library are Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Visitor City, Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, and Robert Johnson, Head of Community Information.
![Cancer awareness events to help residents spot signs and symptoms and get screened]()
by West Midlands Magazines | Feb 15, 2024 | Darlaston and Wednesbury, Health, Walsall, West Midlands, Willenhall
A series of free community events are set to take place during February and March to help residents across Walsall increase their awareness of cancer, identify signs and symptoms and encourage screening.
The events will take place at Willenhall Chart Centre on Wednesday 21 February, Pelsall Community Centre on Wednesday 6 March and Bloxwich Active Living Centre on Friday 22 March, all from 10am to 2pm.
The events have been organised jointly by Public Health Walsall and the Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS). Each event will raise awareness of cancer screening and support services available, how residents can reduce their risk and create opportunities for anyone affected by cancer to meet others, as well as getting support from clinical specialists, local providers and experts.
Free health and diabetes checks will also be offered at these events.
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing, Leisure and Public Spaces at Walsall Council, said:
“All events are drop-in, and you will have the opportunity to talk to a range of NHS providers, independent organisations and charities about screening, how to spot signs and symptoms and prevent cancer, as well as getting support.
In addition to the community events, a double-decker cancer bus run by the Black Country ICB will make a stop in Walsall Town Centre on Wednesday 28 February from 9:30am to 4pm. Located on Park Street, the bus will offer information on cancer screening and general health and wellbeing advice to people in and around the town centre.
![Cancer awareness events to help residents spot signs and symptoms and get screened]()
by West Midlands Magazines | Feb 14, 2024 | Bilston, Council, Health, Uncategorized, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton
The City of Wolverhampton Council has been chosen to take part in a pilot scheme offering £1,000 tax-free payments for those starting childcare jobs.
The ‘Do Something Big’ recruitment campaign has been launched by the Department for Education.
As part of the campaign a trial initiative – covering 20 local authorities including Wolverhampton – will see new-starters and those returning to childcare roles given a cash bonus payment shortly after they take up post.
It aims to help ensure nurseries and early years providers have the staff required to offer more childcare places for parents.
The move comes ahead of April when eligible working parents of two-year-olds will get 15 funded hours on top of existing childcare provision – ultimately putting more money in parents’ pockets at the end of the month.
The rollout is set to save working parents using the full 30-hour entitlements up to £6,500 a year.
Councillor Chris Burden, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We welcome the opportunity to take part in this national pilot scheme.“The recruitment drive will help support our efforts to ensure nurseries and early years providers have the workers they need to be able to offer more childcare places for parents as provision is expanded.
“This will allow more parents to stay in work, supporting the local economy in the knowledge their children are receiving good childcare, laying the foundations for them to achieve their full potential.”
The campaign will look to boost recruitment across the sector by highlighting the array of childcare career routes and progression opportunities offering on-the-job training and flexible hours.
