Stay Warm, Stay Well, Stay Safe

Stay Warm, Stay Well, Stay Safe – winter what’s on guide

Throughout the winter, Cheshire East Council and its partner agencies in the Adult Safeguarding Board have been providing information and key contact numbers as part of its Stay Warm, Stay Well, Stay Safe campaign. This is intended to assist, reassure and empower its most vulnerable people by providing information at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/winter and through the local media.

You don’t have to stay at home to keep warm, well and safe this winter.

A vast array of activities are on offer to people of all ages throughout Cheshire East and now might be the best time to take advantage.

From Tai Chi to coffee mornings, Pilates lessons to senior citizens’ lunches, there is plenty to do.

And they can be enjoyed in warm, safe environments where people can socialise and make new friends.

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “We may all feel less inclined to get out and about when the weather is cold but, following a short journey, there are a lot of activities which people can get involved in across all our towns and villages.

“Many are free of charge and some are available at a small price. Also, our health improvement team run a variety of programmes in partnership with Age UK and housing associations.

“These sessions provide a social opportunity to restore confidence, maintain independence, reduce falls and improve mobility, strength, balance and flexibility.”

Derek Thomas, the independent chair of the Cheshire East Adult Safeguarding Board, added: “Most of us can now expect to live very much longer than our parents did and this provides opportunities to extend our contribution to family and community life, and this could be as carers, grandparents or volunteers.

“But to do this we need to keep ourselves as fit, alert and healthy as possible, particularly during the cold, dark winter months. The Adult Safeguarding Board therefore welcomes the efforts of the Council to publicise the wide variety of voluntary and private sector programmes available to Cheshire East citizens.

“Unfortunately, many older people are also victims of various forms of abuse, often in their own homes. The more social contact they have outside, the greater the opportunities for them to seek advice and support.”

Congleton Library is hosting a free ancestry taster-session at 2pm on Friday (February 17), followed by a coffee morning the next day in the library meeting room, which costs 60p.

Adults can put their best feet forward with English country dancing sessions which run in Adlington Village Hall, near Macclesfield, until February 27, and weekly free meditation classes are on offer at The MedShed in Elworth, near Sandbach, on Tuesdays at 8pm.

Many more activities, including the popular Be Steady, Be Safe classes which are designed to improve leg strength and balance in older people, can be searched in Cheshire East’s comprehensive guide of things to do at whatson.cheshireeast.gov.uk

For more information, call 01270 685794.

Meanwhile, more helpful advice and information on the Stay Warm, Stay Well, Stay Safe campaign can be obtained at the following road show events:

· Friday, February 17 – Grosvenor Centre, Macclesfield (10am-2pm)

· Tuesday, February 21 – Ashfield Health Centre, Sandbach (9.30am-12.30pm)

· Thursday, February 23 – ASDA, Crewe (10am-2pm)

· Friday, February 24 – Booths, Knutsford (10am-2pm)