St Martins Community Centre enhances support for healthier living
- The Health Improvement Commission has partnered with St Martins Community Centre to promote healthy living.
- Initiatives include a smoke- and vape-free policy and improved active travel options.
- Healthy eating is being supported through cookery projects and kitchen use for schools.
- The centre aims to foster social connections with inclusive activities and green space access.
- This collaboration seeks to reduce health inequalities for diverse community demographics.
Healthier choices are being encouraged at St Martins Community Centre with a range of initiatives.
A partnership between the Health Improvement Commission and the centre has resulted in several key changes.
A smoke- and vape-free site policy has been implemented to support tobacco harm reduction and to protect the health of all patrons.
Furthermore, the centre has improved active travel options, incorporating convenient bike parking and newly mapped walking routes around the parish, which encourage movement and engagement with nature.
In addition to these measures, the centre is championing healthy eating through various projects. Cookery projects for young people and the use of the kitchen space for St Martins Primary School are among the initiatives that will help to instil healthy eating practices in the community.
Social wellbeing has also been a focal point, as the centre offers an array of inclusive activities such as “Singing for the Brain” in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, toddler groups, and access to green spaces for play, relaxation, and community enjoyment.
Lucy Cave, Tobacco Harm Reduction Officer at the Health Improvement Commission, said: "We know that behaviour change doesn’t happen in isolation — it’s shaped by the environments people live, work and socialise in. By working with community venues like St Martin’s Community Centre, we can help make healthier choices the easier ones, whether that’s quitting smoking or walking more."
This collaboration at St Martin’s Community Centre is designed to mitigate health inequalities. By embedding health-promoting features in a space that caters to a broad spectrum of the population—including families, young people, and older adults—the centre helps ensure equitable access to healthier behaviours.
Rebecca Silk, Centre Operations Manager, noted, "We want the centre to be a place where people feel welcome, supported and inspired to take care of their wellbeing. Working with the Health Improvement Commission has helped us take practical steps to make that vision a reality."
The Health Improvement Commission has encouraged other community venues interested in promoting health and wellbeing—through smoke-free policies, active travel, or similar initiatives—to reach out for potential collaboration.
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