Fun will be the focus of a free three-day health event, hosted by the council and Croydon Heart Town in the Whitgift Shopping Centre in North End from Thursday (28) to Saturday.
The council’s public health team has planned the event as part of the council’s Heart Town strategy to help residents to live longer, healthier lives. Croydon Heart Town is a five-year partnership with the British Heart Foundation, tackling the risks that cause heart disease.
Open to all, everybody is invited to just turn up and take part. A range of activities will take place each day with health advisers on hand offering top tips to help you feel great.
Shoppers can work up a sweat on the smoothie-making bike, take part in dance-exercise taster-sessions, get an NHS health check, receive advice from Weight Watchers, and get healthy weight pointers for children. There will be stop-smoking support, guidance on drinking alcohol sensibly, and more.
People can also find out more about Do It London, the campaign to increase HIV testing and promote safer sex.
The council runs a number of initiatives to help residents and people working in the borough to eat more foods that are low in fat and salt, consume fewer sugary drinks and make use of leisure centres, parks and community spaces to increase their physical activity.
Among those initiatives is Croydon’s role as a Food Flagship Borough, aiming to transform food culture through school food projects, community gardening initiatives and healthier food businesses.
Others include: Eatwell Croydon, encouraging shops, cafés and take-aways to use healthier cooking methods and to offer healthy food choices; and the sports and physical activity team, providing a MI Change programme to support residents to develop a personal physical activity plan.
“This event is part of the council’s continued commitment to investing in opportunities to help residents, and their local community, to look after themselves and improve their overall health and well-being.
“During the three days, residents and shoppers can learn more about being healthy in a fun way and, best yet, the advice is free, which is an added bonus. The event provides a taster of some of the many council-run projects that aim to get people moving more and eating well.
“We are grateful to the Whitgift Shopping Centre for allowing us to use their building for this important event.”
Councillor Louisa Woodley, cabinet member people and communities
More local health information is available on the council’s public health pages at www.croydon.gov.uk
To learn more about the Do It London HIV prevention campaign, visit www.doitlondon.org
