Health Charity looks forward to a Hat-trick in Central Lancashire.

Volunteers at Bolton based charity The National Forum for Health and Wellbeing, NFHW, are looking forward to achieving a health hat-trick in Central Lancashire this year. Following a packed spring-time event in Preston, they plan to add two more of their unique family Health Fairs to this year’s Central Lancashire tally by opening up shop in Chorley and Leyland.

Next town off the block for the Health Mela experience is Chorley where visitors to the All Seasons’ Leisure Centre, Water Street, PR7 1EX, on Saturday, September 23rd will find a comprehensive package of information and activities related to individual, family and community health and wellbeing. The fair, to be opened by Rt Hon Lindsay Hall MP at 11.00am is co-sponsored by the Chorley Health and Wellbeing Service, a joint initiative between Chorley Council and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Leyland Health Mela, sixth in the series, follows on October 14th, hosted once again by local High School,

Academy@Worden, Westfield Drive, PR25 1QX. Guest of Honour in Leyland is Amanda Hatton, Director of Children’s Services, Lancashire County Council.

The events in Chorley and Leyland are supported by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the medical schools of the Universities of Manchester and Central Lancashire who together provide many of the health checks on offer. Also present, will be representatives from a wide range of health-related NHS and voluntary organisations.

Based on the model of the South Asian Mela, the two vibrant fairs include something for everyone. Amongst the many attractions on offer, visitors will be able to:

• Visit stalls covering a huge range of health and fitness related topics, all with friendly experts on hand to

answer any questions.

• Try out complementary therapies for example Reiki.

• Make a refreshing drink on the ‘Smoothie’ bike.

• At Chorley, take a guided tour of the All Seasons’ Leisure Centre and the wonderful facilities on offer and

receive a free complimentary family membership pass for seven days plus a 50% discount on refreshments

on the day.

• Take a comprehensive Health MOT with professionally supervised counselling in a relaxed, friendly

environment.

• Watch a variety of entertainments and look over the competition entries

and much, much more, and it’s all FREE including parking!

The ‘Health MOT’, available to all visitors, is a central attraction at each Health Mela. Carried out in a friendly nonthreatening atmosphere without the need for an appointment, it provides a screening service for the early detection of high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes etc. Expert counselling offers reassurance and sign-posting to medical intervention when appropriate.

Each Health Mela day starts at 9.30 am with a breakfast meeting for invited guests. Members of the press are

cordially invited to attend these thought provoking sessions.

For Chorley, the breakfast meeting theme is ‘Integrating Services – a Challenge for Chorley’, at Leyland the topic is ‘The Challenge of Childhood Obesity’. Each meeting is followed by the respective opening ceremony at 11.00 am.

Speaking of NFHW’s current Health Mela programme, NFHW’s Chair, Professor Romesh Gupta OBE said,

“We are delighted this year to have Health Melas running in all three local authority areas in Central Lancashire. Each of them manages to introduce a distinctive and vibrant local flavour into a wide-ranging event aimed at mobilising individuals, families and communities to take control of their own health and wellbeing. As an organisation, along with our partners, we are dedicated to extending these health enhancing opportunities throughout the North-west and further afield”.