Become a health champion – improve people's lives in Telford and Wrekin
Telford & Wrekin Council are on the lookout for people who want to volunteer their time to support their local communities as health champions.
Health champions bring a mixture of their life experiences, skills and training to help people in their community live healthier lives.
Their role is to share and signpost to safe, reliable health and wellbeing information and services.
The council will soon be training health champions to offer free blood pressure checks along with advice or signposting where needed to the public.
Some health champions choose to help at events like the walking festival.
Cllr Kelly Middleton (Lab), cabinet member for leisure, public health and wellbeing, equalities and partnerships, said:
"Volunteering as a health champion helps bring people together and makes communities stronger and more resilient.
"Being a health champion is something people can work into their everyday life, committing the time they want to provide.
"We know that volunteers who do this experience a boost to their wellbeing and gain a sense of purpose – they also make new friends and gain skills.
"Providing training for health champions to offer blood pressure checks is important because it will help identify those with high blood pressure before it is too late.
"Most people are unaware they have high blood pressure, as it has no symptoms – but it's a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the UK.
"Health champions who conduct these blood pressure checks will be lifesavers for many in the borough."
People can register to be a health champion in Telford and Wrekin by visiting the Telford & Wrekin Council website.
Just search 'Telford health champion' or visit: https://www.telford.gov.uk/healthchampion
Pictured left to right: Kirsty Lees, Cllr Kelly Middleton, Tina Brasenell, Jim McGinn.
