Part of our Active Ageing Project at Active Dorset is about adopting a systems change approach to create a culture where it's easier to be physically active. Wellbeing events are part of our approach to raise awareness of the range of local activity opportunities available and empower people to live more active lifestyles. Working collaboratively with partner organisations to deliver these events is a fundamental part of our approach to getting the right atmosphere to events and ensuring they are successful.
With partners we have developed two formats of wellbeing event, one in communities and the other delivered as part of patient treatment pathways in secondary care.
We've teamed up with Stepping into Nature and Natural Choices, to design and deliver community-based wellbeing events, building on the success of last years' pilot 'Picnic in the Park' in Dorchester. As part of Naturally Healthy month, we held 3 Picnic in the Park events across the county, in Dorchester, Weymouth and Swanage. The main aim is to bring the community together, promote being active outdoors to boost wellbeing and encourage people to find out more about wellbeing initiatives in their local area. The events were successful and surpassed our expectations with over 1000 people attending the Dorchester Picnic in the Park. A key feature of the events is the intergenerational feel – they really are events for the whole family.
Feedback from an attendee of the Dorchester event commented… 'It's good to see organisations working together and great to see everyone enjoying themselves'. Feedback from those who attended the events suggested that people really enjoyed the range of activity available, from mindful photography to Zumba! We will continue to try and host a wide range of activities at future Picnic in the Park events planned for later this summer in other areas of the county.
We've been working with cancer teams in the acute trusts to put together the cancer wellbeing events in Bournemouth, Poole and West Dorset. These events aim to provide support, information and inspiration for people living with and beyond cancer. At our recent Cancer wellbeing events in 2019 we tried out a new structure, making them a bit more interactive. Attendees took part in a brief move and stretch session as well as a Chi Gong routine, in addition to a wellbeing presentation led by Macmillan support workers and information on support available from LiveWell Dorset. Feedback from the event was very positive and further events are planned with all three acute hospitals throughout 2019.
For more information about the Picnic in the Park, or Cancer Wellbeing Events contact; Chloe Thomas: cthomas@activedorset.org.