The Get Active course - is a free 3 week introduction to exercise programme. This programme will give you the opportunity to: Try a range of gentle taster exercise sessions, Access information and support and benefit from free/ discounted exercise vouchers.

If you are over the age of 18 and your health could benefit from a gentle increase in activity then contact us, please feel free to bring an exercise buddy with you.

Group sessions are delivered in accessible community venues across Essex

Cancer Rehabilitation – is a positive evidence based programme that will give you the support, tools and skills you need to improve your quality of life and wellbeing.

This programme supports clients to achieve short and long term goals from getting back to work to feeling more confident and able to carry out everyday activities.

The programme will enable you to improve many aspects of your health and wellbeing including: improving your movement range, increasing your energy levels and enabling you to become more positive and more independent.

The programme runs for 6 weeks and each session lasts for 1 hour with refreshments. All courses are delivered in accessible community venues in the local mid Essex area. You can join the programme if are currently going through active cancer treatment or three months post cancer treatment.

Seated Exercise Classes – this free class is a great way to increase your strength, flexibility and overall fitness levels. Meet new people and have fun at the same time! All you need is comfortable clothing and sensible footwear.

Managing Health Programme - many people suffer with Long Term Conditions – a health problem that cannot be cured but can usually be controlled by medication and other therapies. Long Term Conditions can affect many parts of a person’s life, from their ability to work and have relationships, to housing and education opportunities.

Examples of Long Term Conditions include – high blood pressure, depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and arthritis. Provide offer Managing Health Courses for people living with Long Term Conditions. The course aims to help them take control of their health by learning new skills to help manage their condition better on a daily basis. The course covers many issues and topics faced on a daily basis including – Dealing with pain and extreme tiredness, coping with feelings of depression, relaxation techniques and exercise, communication with family, friends and health professionals and planning for the future.

Supporting Essex Rehabilitation Company – Provide are pleased to be working in partnership with Essex Community Company to offer the support of a Lifestyles Coach.

The programme is for anyone aged 16 or over who are residents of Essex or registered with an Essex GP.   This excludes residents of Thurrock and Southend unitary authorities. For these areas please see the links section. 

To be eligible for a free Healthcheck you must also be:

• Aged 40-74
• Not be taking any cholesterol medication
• Not have diabetes
• Not have an existing heart condition
• Not have peripheral arterial disease
• Not have had an NHS healthcheck in the last 5 years

The service runs clinics the day, in the evening and on Saturdays.

The majority of our clinics are attended by appointment only but there are a small number of Walk-In clinics available.  Full details of locations and times can be found in the documents and resources section of our website where you can download details of all available clinics.

Please note : Walk-in clinics can often be busy and you may have to wait to be seen.   

Please share your experience of our service by completing this simple Friends & Family Test (FFT).

To take the FFT click here

If you would like more details on the Friends and Family Test visit our main site here.

Residents of Southend and Thurrock should contact the CCG for information on the services available in their area...

• Thurrock CCG
• Southend Borough Council

Alcohol is used as a recreational drug. It is legal for people aged 18 and over to buy/drink alcohol however this does not mean that it’s safe. Types of alcoholic drinks include beer, wine, spirits and cocktails.

According to the government guidelines, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. Unit guidelines are now the same for men and women and both are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units per week 

This means you should not drink more than

• 175ml glasses of 13% wine
• 568ml pints of 4% lager or ale
• 568ml pints of 4.5% cider
• 25ml glasses of 40% spirits

(https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/alcohol-limits-unit-guidelines/)

Alcohol consumption is linked with a number of issues including depression and memory loss. Drinking more than the recommend amount of alcohol has shown to increase the risk of developing certain types of dementia.

Alcohol is known as a depressant. It can alter your feelings, thoughts and the way you behave. This can lead to an effect on your long-term mental health. It is also known to slow your body’s reaction time.

The more you drink, the more parts of your brain are affected and instead of what might be perceived as pleasurable effects, there can be an increase in negative emotions such as increased levels of aggression.

Alcohol can reduce levels of inhibition which can lead to putting yourself into a vulnerable position.

Alcohol can have a negative impact on your body in many ways including your appearance, weight,  fertility and pregnancy and liver damage just to name a few. Below is some more information.

Appearance

Due to the fact that alcohol dehydrates you, drinking too much is thought to hinder the skin from receiving vital vitamins and nutrients leaving the skin looking older and tired.

Weight

Alcohol has no nutritional value but the drink it’s consumed in will contain calories. Did you know that some pints of beer, larger or cider can contain a staggering 250 calories per pint?

Fertility and pregnancy

The Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) have specific guidelines for those trying to conceive regarding alcohol consumption. It is advised that those who are pregnant or who are trying to conceive should not consume alcohol at any time in order to minimise adverse health risks to the baby.

Female fertility and alcohol

A study by Dr Anthony Rutherford showed that drinking between one and five drinks a week can reduce a woman’s chances of conceiving, and 10 drinks or more decreases the likelihood of conception even further (Note to comms – source K Anderson, V Nisenblat & R Norman 2010; ‘Lifestyle factors in people seeking infertility treatment – A review’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vol.50, Issue 1, pp8—202).

Men, alcohol and conception

Dr Patrick O’Brien, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says ‘Excessive alcohol lowers testosterone levels and sperm quality and quantity in men. It can also reduce libido and cause impotence’ However, if the individual ceases from drinking, these effects can be quickly reversed.

Liver damage

Consuming alcohol can increase your likelihood of developing liver disease. Drinking excessively can damage the liver in two ways.

1)      Oxidative stress – this occurs when the liver breaks down alcohol, the chemical reaction that occurs can damage the liver cells.

2)      Toxins and gut bacteria – alcohol can cause damage to the intestine. This damage can cause secretion of toxins from our gut bacteria back into the liver consequently leading to inflammation and scarring.

 

Did you know that more than one in 10 deaths of people in their 40s are from liver disease?*

*(http://www.endoflifecare-intelligence.org.uk/resources/publications/deaths_from_liver_disease.aspx)

Physical activity should be started from birth, particularly through floor-based and water-based activities in safe environments.

What does this do and what are the benefits? It encourages infants to use their muscles & develop motor skills. It also helps to build social & emotional bonds. It improves cognitive development & enhances bone & muscular development. It also contributes to a healthy weight.

Under 5s should be spending at least 180 minutes per day. 

Children & young people aged 5-15 should be spending from 60 minutes up to several hours per day.

Adults up to the age of 64 should be spending at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity spread over the week.

Older adults from the age of 65 should aim to be active at least 150 minutes over the week.

What sort of activity should children be aiming to do?  Vigorous intensity activities, including those that strengthen muscle and bone development, at least 3 times per week.

What is an example of how often an adult over the age of 18 should do some form of moderate to vigorous activity? 150 minutes over the week should be done in periods of at least 10minutes. For example 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days per week.

Can older adults over the age of 65 do vigorous activity? Yes, if they are already regularly active they can do about 75 minutes of vigorous activity per spread over the week, or a combination of vigorous and moderate activity.

Moderate intensity activity causes you to get warmer and breathe harder but you should still be able to comfortably hold a conversation. An example is brisk walking.

Vigorous intensity activity causes you to get much warmer & breathe mush faster and you may have difficulty carrying on a conversation. An example is running or playing a sport.

Keeping active will maintain good physical and cognitive functions.

Older adults who are at risk of falling can help improve their balance and strengthen muscles, reduce their cardio-vascular risk, improve their mood & self-esteem and help to maintain the ability to carry out daily living activities for longer.

Reduce time spent watching the television.

Take regular walk breaks around the house, garden or street.

Swap long bus or car journeys with walking part of the way.

Take the stairs rather than the lift.

Park further away from final destination wherever safe to do so.