A team of Travel Advisors will be out and about in Stratford-upon-Avon over the next few weeks, helping people make the right travel choices to save them money, time and help keep active.

The Travel Advisors are part of Warwickshire County Council’s “Choose How You Move” initiative, which is all about encouraging people to choose more sustainable and healthy ways to travel.

They will be motivating Stratford residents to re-evaluate their travel choices, focusing their efforts on areas of the town that have the highest car usage and are home to those that tend to have the longest commute to work.

With the start of passenger train services at the new Stratford Parkway train station this week, the County Council is keen to promote rail travel as a convenient alternative to taking the car, as well as other sustainable transport options such as walking, cycling, using the bus or car-sharing – all of which can have big benefits such as saving money and improving your health.

The advisors will be knocking on people’s doors and talking to people at community events in the coming weeks to offer their ‘personal travel planning’ service, which looks at where and when people need to travel and gives them the information they need to make the best choices.

If the Travel Advisors are coming to your area, you will receive a postcard through your door in advance to let you know. All the advisors will be wearing “Choose How You Move” branded blue uniforms and carrying ID.

Hannah Collett, Senior Transport Planner at Warwickshire County Council, said: “It will take just ten minutes of your time to find out how, by changing the way you travel, you could spend less time stuck in congestion, less money running your car, get a little more active and have a little more time to yourself.

“The whole family can get involved, as there will be travel advice on the school run as well as shopping trips and the daily commute to work, with challenges for the kids, travel offers and prizes.”

The Travel Advisors will also be attending a number of community events over the summer months and will be happy to chat to anyone who would like their advice.

Stratford-upon-Avon “Choose How You Move” is a Warwickshire County Council initiative to promote sustainable and healthy travel choices and to help tackle traffic and air quality problems in the town by encouraging residents, visitors and workers to try different forms of transport for their everyday journeys.

It has been launched to coincide with the opening of Stratford Parkway train station. The programme is also investing in a range of further measures to improve bus transportation and walking and cycling options in Stratford-upon-Avon.

For more information, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/travel. You can also contact the “Choose How You Move” team on 0121 230 6025 or email choosehowyoumove@jmp.co.uk

Warwickshire residents are being encouraged to keep themselves fit and active in order to help them ‘live well with dementia’, during National Dementia Awareness Week – 19 to 25 May 2013.

As part of Warwickshire’s commitment to supporting people to live well with dementia, Coventry and Warwickshire’s Living Well with Dementia partnership have been working with Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sport, physical activity providers and health professionals across Warwickshire to ensure that, from 19^th May, people with early to mid-stage dementia diagnosis will be able to benefit from the Warwickshire Exercise on Referral Scheme.

Physical activity and keeping active are an important way to maintain independence and live well with dementia.  The Exercise on Referral scheme offers a 12 week personalised programme of physical activity, normally at a leisure centre, at reduced prices. A personalised activity programme will be tailored to the preferences, needs and health condition of the individual and will always be at a level that people can cope with. There are a range of activities that people may be able to participate in, including use of gym based equipment, swimming and tailored walks.

If you or someone you know could benefit from increasing their activity levels, please speak to your GP, Practice Nurse or any healthcare professional about joining the scheme. People with early to mid-stage dementia can come along by themselves or with a carer.

Dr John Linanne, Director of Public Health, Warwickshire said:

“Exercise is a valuable way to enable people with early to mid-stage dementia to maintain their independence and support them to live well with their condition. Being active can particularly help enhance confidence, reduce feelings of isolation and provide opportunities for social interaction.”

Dr Nigel Wood, Warwickshire Dementia Lead said:

“I am delighted that through the Warwickshire Exercise on Referral scheme, health professionals can now refer people with early to mid-stage dementia for a personalised programme of physical activity. Keeping active is a key way to enable people to live well with dementia and promote independence as it provides a range of physical, psychological and social benefits.”

Warwickshire Exercise on Referral scheme is available for people with a range of conditions, including mild to moderate mental health conditions.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Living Well with Dementia portal provides valuable information on dementia. For further details on Exercise on Referral log onto www.warwickshire.gov.uk/livingwellwithdementia

Warwickshire residents are being encouraged to keep themselves fit and active in order to help them ‘live well with dementia’, during National Dementia Awareness Week – 19 to 25 May 2013.

As part of Warwickshire’s commitment to supporting people to live well with dementia, Coventry and Warwickshire’s Living Well with Dementia partnership have been working with Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sport, physical activity providers and health professionals across Warwickshire to ensure that, from 19^th May, people with early to mid-stage dementia diagnosis will be able to benefit from the Warwickshire Exercise on Referral Scheme.

Physical activity and keeping active are an important way to maintain independence and live well with dementia.  The Exercise on Referral scheme offers a 12 week personalised programme of physical activity, normally at a leisure centre, at reduced prices. A personalised activity programme will be tailored to the preferences, needs and health condition of the individual and will always be at a level that people can cope with. There are a range of activities that people may be able to participate in, including use of gym based equipment, swimming and tailored walks.

If you or someone you know could benefit from increasing their activity levels, please speak to your GP, Practice Nurse or any healthcare professional about joining the scheme. People with early to mid-stage dementia can come along by themselves or with a carer.

Dr John Linanne, Director of Public Health, Warwickshire said:

“Exercise is a valuable way to enable people with early to mid-stage dementia to maintain their independence and support them to live well with their condition. Being active can particularly help enhance confidence, reduce feelings of isolation and provide opportunities for social interaction.”

Dr Nigel Wood, Warwickshire Dementia Lead said:

“I am delighted that through the Warwickshire Exercise on Referral scheme, health professionals can now refer people with early to mid-stage dementia for a personalised programme of physical activity. Keeping active is a key way to enable people to live well with dementia and promote independence as it provides a range of physical, psychological and social benefits.”

Warwickshire Exercise on Referral scheme is available for people with a range of conditions, including mild to moderate mental health conditions.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Living Well with Dementia portal provides valuable information on dementia. For further details on Exercise on Referral log onto www.warwickshire.gov.uk/livingwellwithdementia

Regular cycle commuters at Leamington Train Station will be able to get a free bike check and register their bike on a national crime-prevention database next week.

Warwickshire County Council are joining forces with the local British Transport Police, Chiltern Railways, Bike Fixers and Sustrans to run two “Pedal & Ride” cycle events on Platform 1 of Leamington Station on Tuesday 21^st May and Friday 24^th May.

Cyclists will be offered the chance to get their bike serviced free of charge by mobile bike repair company, Bike Fixers. Commuters will be able to leave their bike in the capable hands of a mechanic while they go to work and then collect their fine-tuned vehicle on their return.

They can also opt to get their bike registered on the Bike Register database by a British Transport Police Officer at no cost. Registering on the database helps deter would-be thieves and makes it easier for police to reunite any stolen bikes which are recovered with their owners.

To take advantage of the scheme, all cyclists need to do is prove they have used the train 3 times in the previous 2 weeks (e.g. by showing a rail travel card or train tickets). The organisers are hoping to target commuters on their way to and home from work, so will be at Platform 1 from 7:30am – 10:30am and 3:30pm – 6:30pm on both days.

Similar events have been held at Leamington Train Station in recent months and have proved extremely popular.

There will also be the opportunity to purchase a ‘D’ lock for just £10, usually priced at £44.99, and cyclists will be able to pick up free literature from sustainable transport charity, Sustrans.

The “Pedal & Ride” events are funded by Local Sustainable Transport money obtained by Warwickshire County Council.

Nicola Small, Senior Transport Planner at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Having won our Access to Stations bid to improve sustainable access to both Warwick and Leamington train stations, it is great to be able to offer rewards to regular cycle commuters.

“By implementing measures over the next three years to improve access to our local stations, we hope to see an increase in the number of commuters choosing to get to the station by foot, bike or public transport.”

British Transport Police Community Support Officer, Hayley Jones said

“We’re delighted to join forces with the council and Bike Fixers to reward cycle commuters and improve bike security at Leamington rail station.

“We hope by getting cycles security marked and registered using Bike Register and ensuring people have an adequate lock, we can reduce the number of cycle crimes.

“We received extremely positive feedback from cyclists and other members of the public at previous events. Everyone agreed it was reassuring to cyclists using the rail network that BTP was taking the cycle security so seriously.”

Karen Bowden, Station Manager at Chiltern Railways said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Warwickshire County Council, British Transport Police and Bike Fixers to hold these events at Leamington Spa station.  This is a great opportunity for our customers to make sure that their bike is in good working order and that it is registered, which can help to deter crime at the station.”

The council is carrying out a major public consultation to find the best ways to help children and adults with autism and their families. Professional artist, Janetka Platun, travelled to Warwickshire College’s Leamington campus to get some creative feedback from the students in the form of paintings and models.

The aim is to get as many people as possible fully involved in the in-depth consultation which will inform and shape a new three-year All Ages Autism Strategy for the county.

1 in 100 people – children and adults – live with autism in the UK and there could be many more who have not been diagnosed. 

The All Ages Autism Strategy consultation, which runs until 31^st May, is aimed at young people and adults living with autism (whether diagnosed or not), carers, service providers and professionals. The county council wants to find out what really matters to people and what kind of support services would make a real difference to their lives.

A variety of consultation tools are being used to encourage people to contribute their views and aspirations. These include the innovative ‘creative consultation’, which is unique and a first for Warwickshire.

Professional artist Janetka Platun has been commissioned to work with children on the autistic spectrum in schools and colleges, and to visit parent and carer networks and community hubs across the county. Janetka has a strong background in successfully working with children and young people living with autism.

The county council’s Customer Engagement team hopes art will enable and support young people who take part in the creative consultation to share their opinions.

Rachel Flowers, Customer Engagement Officer, said: “Social skills and social interactions are often a barrier for people living with autism. For those that find verbal or written communication are barriers to expressing their views, then art can open up a non-language based way to enable that expression to happen.”

Two online All Ages Autism Strategy consultation questionnaires – one for young people aged 16 and under, and the second for everyone else – will help test opinions and gather important feedback. The questionnaires are available to complete online at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/autism.

The results will be used to develop a strategy that puts people, rather than processes, first and channels available resources where they are most needed.

The consultation results will also be used to create a Warwickshire definition of autism.

Amanda Burn, Service Re-design Officer for Learning Disabilities, who is leading the All Ages Autism Strategy consultation, said: “Though there are some shared characteristics of the lifelong disability, it is a spectrum condition. Being clear about what we mean by autism is an important first step in developing the new Warwickshire strategy.”

Public Health Warwickshire are highlighting the benefits of physical activity and keeping active during mental health week this week – 13 to 19 May, as one of the five main ways to enhance your mental health and improve wellbeing.

There is a great deal of evidence about the benefits of keeping active as a way to improve mental health and wellbeing. Being physically active can help you to:

• feel good
• have more energy
• meet new people
• reduce stress
• keep your heart ‘strong’ and reduce blood pressure
• manage your weight

Dr John Linanne, Director of Public Health Warwickshire said:

“Keeping active is important for positive mental health and should be built into our everyday lives and become part of our regular routine. Finding an activity which feels right for you and which you enjoy is likely to increase your motivation to continue”.

There are a number of ways to be active, including dance, gardening, doing keep fit videos at home, badminton, martial arts and even taking the stairs instead of the lift. Brisk walking is one way to incorporate physical activity into your day which many people find practical and enjoyable.

During Mental Health Awareness Week, why not try setting yourself a small goal to increase your physical activity? You could try one of the following ideas:

• Use the stairs instead of the lift.
• Go for a walk at lunchtime – alone or with a colleague
• Walk or cycle to work/the shops/when you do the school run
• Get off the bus one stop earlier or park a bit further away and then walk the rest of the way
• Get outside and play an active game with family or friends
• Go to an exercise class and join in the fun
• Walk to someone’s desk instead of calling or emailing

Alternatively, why not try the Exercise on Referral Scheme? This is available for people with mild to moderate mental health issues. So if you are feeling low, stressed, anxious or depressed, please speak to your GP, Practice Nurse or any healthcare professional about joining the scheme. It offers a 12 week personalised programme of physical activity, normally at a leisure centre, at reduced prices. More information can be found at http://www.cswsport.org.uk/exercisereferral

People living in Warwick Gates will get the opportunity to take part in some free led cycle rides around the local area and win big prizes, including a Team GB Olympic cycling skinsuit and a £100 Halfords Voucher, next weekend.

On Saturday 18^th May, Warwickshire County Council is hosting a Travel Roadshow at Warwick Gates Church Hall with partners including British Cycling, Bike Fixers, Sustrans and Chiltern Railways. 

The free event, which runs from 10am to 3pm, has been organised to give people a taste of all the different transport options that are available in the local area. The prize draw is free to enter, just fill in a form at the event.

Warwickshire County Council, which has been awarded a Local Sustainable Travel Fund grant from the Department of Transport, is encouraging people to find out more about sustainable travel such as cycling, bus and train services as part of its ‘Choose How You Move’ campaign.

British Cycling will be leading two traffic-free cycle rides from the car park of Warwick Gates Church Hall at 10.30am and 2pm. The rides are suitable for families and beginners and there is no need to book – just turn up on the day!

Bike Fixers will be providing free bike servicing throughout the day and there will be the opportunity to buy bicycle ‘D’ locks for just £10.

For younger visitors, there will be a children’s show at 12pm as well as entertainment and face painting.

There will be lots of free information to take away, including travel guides from Sustrans, Warwick Gates travel maps, Warwick and Leamington cycle guides, and bus and train timetable information.

Nicola Small, Senior Transport Planner at Warwickshire County Council, who has organised the event, said: “We hope lots of people come down to the Warwick Gates Travel Roadshow, it will be a really fun day for all the family. The traffic-free cycle rides that are being led by British Cycling volunteers will be a great way for people to explore the local area by bike, even if they are new to cycling and whatever age they are.

“We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to offer such great competition prizes. There’s going to be something for everyone, from the would be or seasoned cyclist that wants their bike professionally serviced to families that are looking for somewhere to take the kids.”

The fire started one week ago, on the evening of Tuesday 30 April and crews from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have remainedon site doing everything possible to manage the situation. They are currently in the process of reducing their commitment at the incident and are anticipating handing over the site to owners in the next 24 hours.

The fire continues to produce a variable level of smoke and odour, which is affecting households in nearby villages in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, subject to the changes in wind direction.

Although there are no reported substances or chemicals on site that should pose any serious health risk, the nature of the materials involved in the fire, including a number of plastics, has led to complaints concerning odour. Many substances, especially when burnt, can give off an unpleasant smell at levels far below anything which would be harmful. Some people can, however, react to a strong odour with symptoms such as nausea, headaches or dizziness, even when the substances causing the odours are not harmful to health.

In general, substances present in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and eyes. Respiratory symptoms can include coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. People with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, may experience a short-term worsening of their symptoms if exposed to smoke, and are therefore advised to keep their inhalers with them as a precaution.

Although the smoke is much reduced, our on-going precautionary advice to residents in locations affected by smoke is to avoid outside areas affected by smoke or limit the time spent outside and keep house windows and doors closed. People in areas where smoke has moved away may wish to air out their properties by opening doors and windows.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates and advice as appropriate, including updating local general practices where necessary.

Anyone affected by the smoke or concerned about its impact on their health should call NHS Direct 0845 4647 / NHS 111 or visit: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Dr James Chipwete, consultant for Public Health England in the West Midlands, said: “This is a typical fire on an industrial site and we are not aware of any specific chemical compounds in the smoke which would give us any cause for concern. The fire is being brought under control by Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and there are no plans to evacuate anybody living close to the site.

“Smoke from any source may contain substances that irritate the lining of air passages, eyes and skin; making the eyes and throat sore and possibly worsening any breathing or heart conditions, so people should do all they can to stay out of the smoke.

“Respiratory symptoms may include coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, sputum (phlegm) production and chest pain. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication (such as inhalers) as usual

“If residents are affected by smoke, they should stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should also keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed.”

Suzanne Ward, Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said: “We have monitored the local brooks and surrounding areas and have found no evidence of any environmental impacts at present. Anybody who needs to report an environmental concern should contact our incident hotline on 0800 807 060.”

Anyone affected by the smoke or concerned about its impact on their health should call NHS Direct 0845 4647 / NHS 111.

Warwickshire Mother’s Union has donated toiletry packs, containing essentials like shampoo and toothpaste to be used in the centre, and members of the public have sent in cards and heartfelt messages praising the staff in their efforts to create a safe, supportive environment for victims of rape and sexual assault.

Back in 2011, the centre also received a very generous donation from the Kenilworth Ladies Circle, which has helped to provide televisions in waiting areas for service users.

Up and running since 27 March this year, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre has already made a difference to several people’s lives in the area, with both male and female adults and children passing through the doors.

Located on the site of the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, the Blue Sky Centre exists primarily to make it easier for victims of rape and sexual assault to come forward for treatment and support.

Tony Mumford, centre manager, said: “Sexual violence, whatever form it takes, is a complex and sensitive area of criminality with a high level of under-reporting to police. For many people that do come forward, it’s often a long time after the event and it takes a lot of courage to talk to someone.

“Whilst it’s never good to hear about rape and sexual assault, it’s encouraging to see that people are already coming to us for help, as well as vital medical treatment.”

The Blue Sky Centre is working in conjunction with other partnerships such as local children’s safeguarding boards, domestic abuse forums, and voluntary organisations to provide the best possible care for victims, who are often vulnerable in other areas of their lives.

Whatever their circumstances, victims of rape and sexual assault can self-refer to the centre, without needing to report to the police. They can also be referred by the police if they have reported an incident.

For more information call 02476 865505 or visit www.blueskycentre.org.uk