Zones has been designed as part of Public Health England’s (PHE) national youth health campaign. It encourages young people to think and talk about the health issues that affect them growing up, and help prepare them to make informed decisions.

Zones can be played by three teams, each with up to four young people (11+ years) and requires a youth leader or youth worker to facilitate play.

Teams race around the board and back to their home zone by completing a number of challenges and battles against other teams. The challenges range from fun team building activities, through to myth busting and serious discussions about smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs and sex and relationships. The game encourages players to think about the consequences behind the choices they make, without normalising or glamourising the issues.

 “It makes you think what’s going on around you…it’s a real sociable game that gets everyone talking and laughing” Taysha, 16

 “I don’t always listen to adults, but here I’m more free and will listen…it’s great to play and talk with your friends” Ramiah, 13

 ”It’s really fun and social” Alex, 12

 Youth clubs and groups can order their free Zones board game by calling the PHE Orderline on 0300 123 1002 and quoting product code 2900915

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Change4Life joined forces with a range of food manufacturers and ITV to host the first ever health-focused ad break.

The ‘ad takeover’, which revealed a shocking 17 sugar cubes in a bottle of cola and more than a wine glass of fat in a large pizza, aired for the first time during Coronation Street on Monday 7 January, attracting more than 9 million viewers, the biggest audience of the day.

The unique ad slot marked the launch of the campaign that encourages the public to think about the ‘hidden nasties’ in everyday foods so they can better manage the amount of salt, fat and sugar in their diets. It also includes a range of healthy eating tools and information from recipes to money-off vouchers.

Everyone that signs up to the campaign will get a free ‘Food Smart Meal Mixer’ with lots of quick, easy, healthier recipes with enough combinations to eat a different daily menu every day for 6 years.

This year’s campaign also features a brand new smart phone and tablet app featuring the meal mixer and a handy shopping list function to help people make healthy choices in the supermarket.

To access a range of digital Be Food Smart resources, visit the current campaign page of the local supporter section on the Change4Life website. Copies of the key engagement tool, the Be food Smart ‘Taster Recipes leaflet’  are available via the Department of Health Orderline on 0300 123 1002 or through the website.

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 The ’Blood in Pee’ symptom awareness campaign aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of bladder and kidney cancers. This campaign is running in the North East and Cumbria, and targets men and women over 50. The campaign message is ‘If you notice blood in your pee, even if it’s ‘just the once’, tell your doctor.’

 The ‘breast cancer over 70’ symptom awareness campaign is running in the West Midlands and Gloucestershire, with the aim of encouraging older women to see their doctor straight away if they notice any changes to their breasts. The campaign message is ‘One in three women who get breast cancer are over 70, so don’t assume you’re past it.’

 The Department is also piloting two further campaigns at a local level, both targeted at over 50s.

• Ovarian cancer aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, particularly that bloating most days for 3 weeks or more could be a sign of the disease.
• Cancer symptoms campaign – ‘Know 4 Sure’ aims to raise awareness of four key signs for a range of cancers, including rarer cancers.

 For more information on the campaigns and to view the advertisements, visit www.nhs.uk/beclearoncancer

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It gives advice on staying well in cold weather and the financial help that is available, covering issues such as healthy lifestyle, flu jabs and heating.

‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ is part of the Department’s Cold Weather Plan, which aims to protect people’s health and reduce harm from severe cold.

Further information and resources are available via the Department of Health Orderline website and NHS Choices. Visit Get Ready for Winter for suggestions on how to prepare for a wide range of winter weather.

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The leaflet is called ‘healthy habits for baby and you’ and focuses on five behaviours; eating healthily, keeping active, taking supplements, avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking.

It also includes tips, recipes and myth busters and has a pocket on the inside back cover for mums-to-be to keep their first scan of their baby. A range of eye-catching posters on healthy habits in pregnancy have also been produced.

The launch of these resources is supported by PR and digital campaign activity. Start4Life has also recently agreed a series of long-term media partnerships with a range of women’s magazines.

The ‘healthy habits for baby and you’ resources are available to all healthcare professionals via the Department of Health Orderline on 0300 123 1002 or through the website.

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Quit Kits will be available from multiple pharmacies, a range of smaller chains and a number of independent pharmacies. Further information on participating pharmacies including how independent pharmacies can order Quit Kits can be found in the Quit Kit Campaign Factsheet.

Quit Kits are free for pharmacies and a great conversation starter with customers and can result in sales of an NRT product.

Independent pharmacies can call 0800 678 3173 to place orders for 20 Quit Kits each time. The order line will be open from 1^st November 2012 until 29^th March 2013 (whilst stocks last). The line will be open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm.

The Department of Health is liaising directly with head offices of multiple pharmacies to distribute the Quit Kit to their stores.

Download the Quit Kit Campaign Factsheet

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Digital resources for the campaign include:

• A new, weekly set of tips and advice sent by e-mail or text – sign up is via the website or drinks checker
• A new mobile app enabling users to track drinking over days and weeks and spot the times when they are putting their health at risk.
• An updated drinks checker providing quick read outs on daily drinking – in units, calories and cash.
• Refreshed information on the Change4Life website collected under the ‘sneaky drinks’ landing page < http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/sneaky-drinks.aspx>

The campaign will return in February next year with a burst of TV advertising to drive more people to the drinks checker and to sign up for the e-mail programme.

The ‘don’t let drink sneak up on you’ leaflet and poster is still in stock and available for download or ordering. www.orderline.dh.gov.uk

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To help shape our campaign we are recruiting a ‘youth panel’ to help inform us about how to reach young people in the most effective ways. Panelists will have a real involvement and input into the campaign and in doing so help other young people. For further details or to request an application form please email thepanel@23red.com.

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The Department of Health have issued guidance notes intended to help employers think through the kinds of adjustments at work which they can make for people with mental health  conditions.  They include practical advice and links to other resources which might help them to support job retention and return to work.

Download Mental Health Adjustments Guidance Final (PDF, 64 MB)

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Following feedback on the previous pack, the new pack is a more user-friendly A5 folder, and uses the supportive Start4Life branding to make tackling smoking with pregnant women easier.  It also contains additional information on breastfeeding and weaning that pregnant women find useful to receive during their pregnancy.

Additional copies of the pack, along with the other items in the pack (with the exception of the flashcards and the pack introductory leaflet) are available for order via the Department of Health orderline at www.orderline.dh.gov.uk.  The pack is available to order in quantities up to 10. If you require a larger quantity, please email your request to smokefree@dh.gsi.gov.uk

The pack contains:

• A leaflet explaining the pack and its contents
• Flashcards to help guide the conversation about smoking with pregnant women
• ‘Everything you need to help pregnant women quit smoking’ – Smokefree leaflet for healthcare professionals explaining Ask, Act, Advise and the most commonly asked questions about smoking during pregnancy
• ‘Baby on the way, quit today’ – Smokefree leaflet for mums-to-be, explaining the risks of smoking to their unborn child and answering the most commonly asked questions
• ‘Being a parent starts right now’ – Smokefree leaflet for partners
• ‘Off to the best start’ – Start4Life leaflet about breastfeeding
• ‘Introducing solid foods’ – Start4Life leaflet about weaning
• Sticker sheet with details about the Information Service for Parents for use on handheld pregnancy notes

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