After successfully obtaining funding from the Integrated Care Board, Dartford Borough Council’s One You Kent team, commissioned by KCC Public Health, have been putting together events to help reduce health inequalities.
Taking place at the Dartford Gurdwara and the Peppercorns Learning Disabilities Centre, a close knit community has been built where people can increase their physical activity levels, improve their wellbeing as well as tackle their mental health, and feelings of isolation together.
Recent Health & WellBeing events have provided opportunities such as screenings for cancer in a culturally sensitive way as well as offering a support network with key partners; the workshops create a safe and welcoming space for all. Organisations that attended include The One You Kent team, Social Enterprise Kent, Breast & Bowel Screening, Fairfield Leisure Centre, NHS Health Checks, Xyla (NHS Diabetes Services), Living Well Taking Control Diabetes Prevention Programme, Kent Police, Alzheimers and Dementia Support Services, North Kent Mind, Kent Community Warden Service and Kent Fire & Rescue Service.
Mrs Sandeep Kaur Khatkar, the Gudwara’s appointed health and wellbeing officer, as well as Gurdial Singh Ria MBE, Head of the Gurdwara, have been the driving force behind this collaboration. What started as only a handful of attendants has grown to over 40 people and has enabled DBC’s One You team to expand who they can connect with.
With this success and amazing turnout, the Council is looking at setting up future workshops with other health professionals and continue working with the community in providing the wellbeing support they need.