14 LEISURE & CULTURE Working together to boost public health
Council and NHS team up to improve wellbeing
Health and wellbeing is at the forefront of a new partnership initiative between the health board and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture.
The local authority has developed a new way of planning, delivering and monitoring its services while providing the greatest health and wellbeing benefits for the community.
There is a growing recognition worldwide that taking part in cultural activities such as attending a show, visiting a library or going to a museum can support better wellbeing just like going to the gym or taking part in sport and outdoor activity.
With that in mind SLLC has launched a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) report which will help ensure that health considerations are embedded in how it plans and delivers the wide range of culture, leisure and sporting services it now supports.
An HIA takes what is known about how an activity can impact on health and wellbeing and applies that knowledge to specific settings, the results then provide evidence to help design services to deliver the greatest benefit for individuals and the wider community.
SLLC worked in partnership with specialists from the Scottish Health and Inequalities Impact Assessment Network (SHIIAN) to conduct and produce SLLC’s Health Impact Assessment Report.
General manager of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, Gerry Campbell, said: “The Health Impact Assessment process is a powerful way to focus in on what we do and make sure we are getting the greatest community benefit.
“Using our sport, leisure and cultural venues offers people intrinsic benefits, a chance to learn, gain skills, participate in the community and have fun.
“That can lead to wider benefits such as increased employability, reduced isolation, better wellbeing and, in the case of sports facilities, more physical activity.
“There is good evidence that these are associated with positive impacts for health and the HIA helps us plan when, where and how to deliver and promote services to encourage everyone, but particularly those who might gain the most, to take use them.”
Chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Councillor, Hamish Stewart, said: “I think this project highlights once again how much work and thought goes on behind the scenes at SLLC and I would encourage people across South Lanarkshire to find out what is on offer in our venues and country parks as they are sure to find something that appeals.”