In conjuntion with SCDF, St Helens Health Improvement Network, Helena Hosuing and St Helens NRF, a series of Healthchecks and Promotions are undetaken across the community. The aims of the initiatives are:

• Raise awareness about health issues.
• Enable our community to take control of their health and fitness.
• Improve nutrition amongst the community.
• Develop good habits about exericse and positive associations with its benefits at an early age, which can be carried throughout life.

Top Tips for a Flourishing 2008!

January's Top Tip: Make Time for Friends.

The Health Improvement Team in St Helens are offering a 'top tip' every month in 2008 to help you to make this year a happy and healthy one.  Saints Community Development Foundation are reinforcing this message through their community programmes across the town. 

Friends are really important.

Make time each week to meet up with people you share common interests with and enjoy being around. Let your hair down and have fun!!!

Relationships with other people are very important and research shows that they are good for your physical and mental health.

Here are some ways you can make time for friends in 2008:

• Arrange to meet up with friends at a set time every week for coffee and catch up. Protect this time for you and your friends and don't allow your busy schedule to take over. You deserve a break!
• Take your lunch break with colleagues at work
• Say hello to your neighbours
• Write to, email or telephone old friends and see how they are
• Join an evening class and meet new friends that share common interests
• Be there for friends in times of difficulty. You never know when the favour will be returned
• Join a gym or a fitness class and get physically fit while meeting new people
• Take the dog for a walk with your neighbours / family
• Get a Saints season ticket and meet up with friends and use your vocal chords to follow YOUR team.