Live It Well

KMPT Community Engagement Strategy launch

Brian — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:17:03 +0000

The Community Engagement Strategy for Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust (KMPT) has been developed to underpin the excellent practice that already occurs within the Trust. The launch will be an opportunity to learn about the strategy and meet representatives of community groups that Trust staff can work collaboratively with. KMPT staff are encouraged to attend.

Monday 6 February, from 11am – 1pm, at
39-48 Marsham Street

Maidstone

ME14 1HH

Halls 1, 2 and 3.

There is no parking at this venue but there are a number of public car parks close by – see this map.
If you are attending this event please email Kerry Rogers or Nick Dent or call on 01227 812042 / 2020

Help in Taking Control of Your Fuel Bills

louise — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:25:02 +0000

We are all aware of the rising cost of fuel bills, unfortunately because of the squeeze on all of our household bills many people are struggling to make financial ends meet.

Turn 2 Us have produced some hints, tips and steps for lowering your fuel bills and making your fuel bills more manageable.

Their information contains:

How to get the best energy deal
Reading your fuel meter – don’t rely on estimated bills
Simple steps to cutting down your energy use
Grants and schemes to help you cover the cost of your fuel bills
What to do if you really cannot pay your fuel bills

To find out more about the Turn 2 Us advice click here.

Turn 2 Us also are conducting a survey on fuel poverty in the UK – to find out if you are in fuel poverty and to take part in the survey click here.

For more information about managing your money and budgeting click here.

Confused about Personalisation?

louise — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:52:28 +0000

Social care is changing to give more choice and power to the people who are receiving the care.

Have you heard people talking about personalisation, self directed support, personal budgets or direct payments and are confused about what this means and want to find out more? We here at Live It Well have put together some information to help you understand what is meant by personalisation and where you can go for help and advice. To access this information click here.

Time To Talk?

louise — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:01:31 +0000

The Time to Change Campaign have launched a new initiative called Time To Talk to get everyone having a conversation about mental health. Talking about Mental Health is one of the best ways to end the stigma surrounding it, but starting the conversation about mental health can be tricky so Time to Change have come up with some tips and tricks to get us all talking, to see these click here.

Time To Change have also produced some free e-cards to send to friends to let them know your thinking about them, to send one of their cards click here.

To find out more about the work Time To Change is doing to reduce mental health stigma click here.

Have Your Finances Taken a Hammering Over Christmas?

louise — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:44:32 +0000

January is always known as a tough time of the year financially because of the Christmas bills that need repaying and winter fuel bills. This year, because of the credit crunch the impact of Christmas spending is expected to be worse than usual. If you are struggling with debt we here at Live It Well have compiled some sources of free debt help to help you your budget back into shape, click here to see this information. Maybe it was your new year’s resolution to get your money in better shape and Live It Well has some great free budgeting guides and links for you to get you started click here to see this information.

Community Mental Health Services Re-design Workshops – 3

Brian — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:00:51 +0000

As part of the Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) redesign, NHS Kent and Medway (in partnership with KMPT) are holding 3 workshops across Kent and Medway, jointly hosted by Mental Health Commissioners and KMPT managers. The workshops look at ways of improving the recovery journey, or ‘care pathway,’ for those service users who have a serious and enduring mental health condition, and their carers.

The third and final workshop will take place in East Kent and will be held on be held on Friday, 20th January 2012 at

Westgate Hall,

Westgate Hall Road,

Canterbury CT1 2BT.

Buffet lunch is available from 12:30 – 1:30

Workshop runs from 1:30 – 4:00 and is open to service users, carers and voluntary organisations.

If you would like to contribute to this work, download a booking form here as a Word document or as a PDF file and return to Jo Darby. Attendance at both sessions is limited to 50 so you are advised to book your place as soon as possible. Closing date for applications is 11 January. Please contact Jo Darby on 01634 335039 with any queries.

Mental Health and Football

Brian — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:15:23 +0000

The Football Association and Time to Change have produced a great new resource – a toolkit for mental health and football. Time to Change is a national campaign to promote the inclusion of people with mental health problems. The Football Association is about, well, all things Football!

The online toolkit includes top tips, videos and best practice guides. It contains:
- An introduction to mental health
- Information for grassroots clubs
- A guide to setting up new sport and mental health projects
- A guide to delivering new mental health projects
- Additional sources of help and information.

For more info visit www.thefa.com/timetochange

Kent and Medway LINks Mental Health Work Programme

Brian — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:41:35 +0000

Spaces are still available for those wishing to take an active part in developing mental health services in Kent. The first meeting of the Group will take place on Thursday, 8 December 2011 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at

Trinity Foyer

20 Church Street

Maidstone ME14 1LY.

By joining the group you will be asked to focus on one of the four work streams where investments to mental health services can be made, which are:

Crisis Intervention
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Carer Support
Redesign of Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust Services, including personalisation agenda.

It is expected that each investment group will develop its own project team, nominate a lead participant to receive information. They will identify priorities within the report and work with service providers, commissioners and the Locality Planning and Monitoring Groups to influence changes to services.

If you intend to become an active member of this group you will be able to claim travel expenses in line with Kent LINk Governance. To book a place at this meeting, please contact Sylvia Stone on 01303 297050 or by email.

Carers Rights Day

louise — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:48:42 +0000

Today is Carers Rights Day and the theme this years event is Money Matters.

All over the country people are struggling to pay bills and have worries about job security but families affected by illness and disability can struggle the most, as they have to carry the additional cost of caring for someone.

Carers UK have produced a guide detailing the rights and benefits that are available to carers to download this information click here.

If you are a carer and you want some advice or to check your benefit entitlement ring the Carers UK’s Adviceline on 0808 808 7777.

To see the Carers information on Live It Well click here.

You Are Not Alone

louise — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:30:35 +0000

The recent sad news about the death of Wales football manager Gary Speed has cast a spotlight on suicide. The important thing for anyone experiencing depression or distress is to remember is that no one is alone – there is help available 24 hours a day. Please ask for it if you think you need it.

Anyone feeling despair is encouraged to speak to someone – whether a friend, their family, their doctor or the Samaritans (available 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90, or email jo@samaritans.org)

The free Mental Health Matters helpline offers confidential emotional support and advice, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for people in Kent and Medway, on 0800 107 0160. Helpline staff are trained in counselling skills and have details of local services. You can also access online support with Mental Health Matters via the link on this website – in the right hand column.

People in severe distress who are already being treated by a specialist mental health team are advised to call their care co-ordinator.

Anyone experiencing severe distress for the first time should see their GP who will be able to refer them to the service which can help them best.

Support is also available for people who have been bereaved, whether by suicide or other causes. Contact Cruse on 0844 477 9400 or at helpline@cruse.org.uk. Young people who are grieving can call the Cruse young people’s helpline free on 0808 808 1677 or email info@rd4u.org.uk.

Please ask for help if you need it - there are people available 24 hours a day to help you.