Bedfordshire Heartlands PCT is the lead organisation for the Mid Beds Healthy Living Initiative (HLI), which began in 2003 and runs until 2008. The initiative has been made possible by support from the Big Lottery Fund and the Children's Fund. It aims to promote good health in its broadest sense and to help people of all ages improve their well being and get the most out of life. In undertaking this, the Mid Beds HLI will be working in partnership with organisations from the voluntary and statutory sector.

The Initiative works with three key groups within the Mid Beds Community: Young People, Vulnerable Families and Older People. The range of activities offered by the Mid Beds HLI stretches from provision of a toy library, a young people's drug and alcohol outreach service and money advice, through to family support and women’s groups.

The HLI delivers key services, helping tackle and prevent ill health, promote well being within local communities and contributing to meeting public health targets through reducing the risk of developing heart disease, cancer or stroke. The HLI will involve local people who will be supported to identify and respond to the needs of their community and target activities to meet those needs.

For more information about individual activities contact the partner the featured below: -

Alcohol Services for the Community

PUKE (Prevention, Understanding, Knowledge, Education) is an outreach project for young people aged 9 – 25. The aim of the project is to educate & support young people around issues concerning alcohol.

E-mail: pukebedford@alcohol-services.co.uk; Website: www.alcohol-services.co.uk

Funkeemunkee.co.uk – The Funkeemunkee website has been designed to help young people access health and social information in Mid Beds.

Tel: 01582 506305; midbedsinfo@alcohol-services.co.uk; Website: www.funkeemunkee.co.uk

Arlesey Toy Library

Arlesey Toy Library loans toys to local families, grandparents, toddlers groups, pre-schools and childminders.

Tel: 01462 732684

Christian Family Care

Women’s Groups – for women across Mid Beds, aimed at empowering and improving the self-esteem and confidence of women, covering such topics as assertiveness and mental health and incorporating guest speakers. Groups will be set up according to identified need.

Boys & Girls Groups – for girls and for boys aged 10 – 15 years. These group address issues around bullying, eating disorders, self-esteem, sexual health, substance misuse, relationships and self harming. Again groups will be set up according to identified need.

Tel: 01767 683015;E-mail: ginny.redbond@christianfamilycare.org.uk; Website: www.christianfamilycare.org.uk

Ear to the Ground

This Mid Beds District Council project looks at how the community access information and how information and communication can become more accessible and appropriate. Young people, older people and families have been recruited and trained to become ‘Ears’ for their community. They act as information links between service providers and the community and work on local projects to identify and fill information gaps. Ear to the Ground is now concentrating on work with young people for the remainder of this project.

Tel: 08458 495258 ; E-mail: jill.dickinson@midbeds.gov.uk. Website: www.midbeds.gov.uk

Heartlands Community Development Initiative

Bedfordshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust has been able to employ two community development workers for the first 2 years of the project, in respect of the target groups of older people and unsupported families. This work ceased in 2005 and the PCT now concentrates on acting as the co-ordinator of the HLI as a whole.

Tel: 01525 636933; E-mail: neil.timmins@bedsheartlandspct.nhs.uk. Website: www.bedsheartlandspct.nhs.uk

It’s Great Outdoors

It’s Great Outdoors provides opportunities for those who are at most risk of social exclusion to access the countryside.

Contact: Christopher Bland. Tel: 0234 743666; its_great_outdoors@yahoo.co.uk; Website: www.itsgreatoutdoors.org

Mid Beds Citizens Advice Bureau

Mid Beds Citizens Advice Bureau is delivering money and debt advice leading to income maximisation amongst the target groups of over 50’s and unsupported families.

Tel: 01525 404511 (Ampthill) 01767 314961 (Biggleswade); E-mail:  bureau@ampthillcab.cabnet.org.uk; Website: www.midbedscab.dial.pipex.com   

Spurgeons Child Care

Spurgeons Child Care has established two Family Support Groups in Flitwick & Sandy. Parents are referred to these groups when they are experiencing social isolation, poor mental health, relationship issues and needs relating to parenting skills. Children are referred with special needs or behavioural problems. The Support Groups provide a safe place where parents and children can get advice.

National Website: www.spurgeons.org