An expected 80 representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors will meet on Wednesday 11 December to identify how together they can contribute to improving people’s health in Calderdale. The fourth Calderdale Assembly will take place at the Shay Stadium, Halifax, and follows three successful events held over the last two years.
Wednesday’s half-day meeting will focus on changing people’s behaviour to improve health and how support for this can be provided in the community and the workplace. This Assembly will be of considerable interest to businesses in the area, as one of the key issues it will look at is how a happy and healthy workforce can increase productivity and profits. Mike Hope, an independent national expert on behaviour change, will set the scene and attendees will look at evidence of success from Calderdale and the East of England where a major programme of support for business has been in operation. Increasing physical activity levels among children and supporting people to care for their own health will also be examined.
Cllr Tim Swift, Leader of the Council and Chair of the Assembly, will welcome attendees on the day and provide an overview of the key challenges and opportunities facing the area. He said:
“The Council and its partners agree that improving health and reducing the inequalities in health between communities are key priorities. National discussions suggest that, in this time of financial austerity, new ways need to be found to reduce demand for health services.
“As evidence of local commitment, the Council has recently agreed to sign up the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control and with partners has committed to a national initiative to deliver better health outcomes for children and young people.
“This event is an exciting opportunity to bring partners together to agree actions to address some of the district’s key health problems and benefit individuals, communities and businesses.”
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Health Inequalities, Cllr Simon Young, said:
“This Assembly is a key event in moving forward our aspirations to improve health in the area. No one organisation can tackle the health challenges in Calderdale. By bringing people together to look at good practice locally and nationally I hope it will inspire partners to extend current work and create innovative ideas in health improvement.”