Could you be a Northumberland Community Health Champion?

23 Feb 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

Northumberland County Council is encouraging residents, workplace representatives, community and voluntary groups to sign up to become a Northumberland Community Health Champion. 

The network of new Northumberland Community Health Champions will help to spread health and wellbeing messages and encourage healthy behaviours. They will become sources of information on all aspects of health and wellbeing, able to signpost people to services and support others to make positive behavioural changes. 

Anyone can volunteer and they will receive regular updates to keep them fully informed.  They don’t need any specific experience, just a willingness to get involved without having to give up a lot of time. Training to become a Community Health Champion just takes one hour a week, for eight weeks.   

And following that, there is the opportunity to gain a Level 2 Royal Society for Public Health qualification for those who are interested. 

Cllr Wendy Pattison, Cabinet member for Adults’ Wellbeing at Northumberland County Council said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people who are active in their local community as an individual or as part of an organisation, and are confident in having healthy conversations. 

“I am delighted we are introducing this opportunity; it is an ideal way for people to help strengthen networks in their own communities.” 

Gill O’Neill, Director of Public Health at Northumberland County Council said: “Our volunteers are a valued group of individuals who we train and support to enable them to encourage people in the community to be able to make positive changes to improve their health and wellbeing. 

 “Volunteering can be very rewarding, and we are always very grateful to everyone who gives up their time for us.” 

Anyone interested in becoming a Northumberland Community Health Champion can email integratedwellbeing@northumberland.gov.uk for more details.