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| Lewisham Libraries 'Health Bus |
Libraries have always been committed to empowering people and communities by providing them with good quality, curated information that is free and easily accessible.
Libraries have always been about closing equality gaps, one such area is in health. Lewisham Libraries have taken part in many initiatives and worked with health and wellbeing service commissioners and providers including charities and local groups to ensure that our citizens are better equipped to lead healthier and happier lives. Lewisham Libraries offer a wide range of health information, both online and in our branches through quality reading lists, displays and events. We provide information that allows our residents to self-manage or prevent health conditions and participate in shared decision making with health care professionals. We provide free and low cost access to equipment and other resources that allows residents to access these resources virtually. We also have regular events and activities in our branches.
Here are some of our newest initiatives.
Health Talks
Starting in September 2017 and running to 2019, we teamed up with some excellent health professionals from across London to deliver high quality, informative lectures for FREE at our very own Lewisham Library Branch.The Health Talks gave local residents the an opportunity to learn more about their health on topics such as Cancer, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Mental Health. See previous talks here
Gentle Exercise
We host a range of activities for people with limited mobility or because of their condition or situation would not find it practical to visits gyms or participate in team sports. These activities help reduce social isolation while improving physical well-being.
Our branches Sydenham, Blackheath and Grove Park offer chair based exercise and low impact classes for the physically frail who still want to keep up their fitness levels.
Dementia Awareness
We have a wide selection of titles and some large books with engaging photographs for friends/family and professionals to use with people in the later stages of dementia. We have hosted a Dementia Stand and Dementia Friends training for staff, volunteers and the public last year. The Corbett Library at Torridon Road has recently received Dementia Friendly Certification.Smoking Cessation Support
Residents often look for information so they can act to support and improve their own health and well-being especially with bereaking bad habits that impact their health, such as smoking. Many of our branches hold Smoking Cessation Advice Sessions.
Reproductive Health
We believe that all people have the right to access information which equips them with the information and skills they need to form healthy and positive relationships. We have a wide range of quality books on various topics related to reproductive health. Our Deptford and Lewisham Branches are issuing outlets for Come Correct.Ongoing Library Health Initiatives
Health Book Displays
We have displays all through the year showing items from our collection. These feature items on health care as well as healthy eating recipe books and exercise. We also put up displays for national initiatives including Make a Noise in Libraries and Mental Health Awareness week.
Shelf Help
Fiction and non-fiction for young people focussing on topics such as stress, bullying, eating disorders, ADHD, depression and anxiety. We bought collections for all thirteen library branches when the project was launched in 2016.Books on Prescription
Books on Prescription is a reading list of books for people to manage their own health to help prevent illness which was launched in 2006. These were prescribed from local GPs and are held in many of our branches. They help ensure residents are able to live their life to the fullest.Reading Well
Mood Boosting Books is a reading list of Feel Good titles designed to supplement the Books On Prescription collection and empowering more people to take care of their mental health. The theme for 2017 is Long Term Conditions.This helps support people in self-care and in self-management of long-term conditions (LTCs). People with LTCs spend less than 1% of their time in contact with healthcare professionals and rely on community support to help them for the rest of the time.
Reading Well-Reading Hack
Is a national pilot that was launched in Somerville Youth Centre (New Cross), around young people responding creatively to the books in the Shelf Help collection. Bookstart –reading lists and advice on sharing them given to all babies and three year olds (and a pack for two year olds from 2005-2010ish) We still give books to children who have a visual or hearing impairment through teams based at Kaleidoscope (a specialist children’s provision between Catford and Lewisham.
Support for Residents with Limited Mobility
For residents who are not able to leave their homes, the Home Library Service delivers a range of large print books, audiobooks, CDs, newspapers, films, Wi-Fi enabled tablets with assistive software and apps as well a selection of leaflets and information from our healthcare partners or community groups.
Support for Carers
In our role as community hubs, we facilitate community groups meetings for health and wellbeing groups. Blackheath offer weekly meeting for carers where they can speak to professional staff and meet other carers.
Support for Professional Groups
Our Librarians have worked with Speech and Language therapists, oral health specialists, nutritionists and the MEND team (tackling childhood obesity) through SureStart(now Children’s Centres). We organise and facilitate sessions where Residents get the opportunity to participate in discussions with health professional staff and councillors in familiar and local spaces. We distribute information on their activities and projects.Links
Lewisham Health and Social Care
https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/socialcare
Find NHS health services in Lewisham.
Find Local Services
https://www.myhealth.london.nhs.uk/
Find Local health services from the NHS.
NHS Headlines
https://www.nhs.uk/news/
Seen something upsetting on the news about what scientists have discovered? Let the experts at the NHS debunk them for you.
To find out more about our other events, displays, activities, classes services and resources, please follow us on Twitter,Facebook, Instagram or check in your Local Branch. We also list some events on our Eventbrite.
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