Health & Wellbeing

Birmingham City University has an academic available to comment on the challenges women with endometriosis face, following the news that women with endometriosis feel they are ‘finally being believed’.

Dr Annalise Weckesser, Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City University said: “The news that women living with endometriosis feel that they are finally being believed and listened to through the creation of the All Party Parliamentary Group is promising. 

“Women currently face a 7 - 10 year journey to diagnosis.  Our research shows that many such women also face an additional battle in finding and receiving adequate treatment to manage their endometriosis symptoms.

“On the 26 and 27 March, we will be holding the UK’s first social research symposium on endometriosis in Birmingham, marking a possible shift in endometriosis awareness.”

Diabetes UK is looking for healthcare professionals from across the Midlands to lead improvements in diabetes care. The charity is searching for healthcare professionals with a special interest in diabetes to take part in its Clinical Champions programme.

The award-winning initiative launched in 2014, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, to address the significant variation in patient care and treatment for people living with diabetes in the UK.

Since the programme began, 105 clinicians have been recruited to develop their leadership skills and become champions for improving diabetes care. Between them they have trained thousands of other healthcare professionals, developed innovative new clinics, reduced medication errors and increased the number of people getting the appropriate treatment for their diabetes.

The new champions will be selected based on their leadership potential, clinical expertise and a demonstrable passion for transforming care for people with diabetes. They will be supported with two years of training alongside their clinical work, to help them become strong leaders, identify improvements and drive vital change in diabetes services in their local areas.

Peter Shorrick, Midlands and East Regional Head at Diabetes UK, said: “Diabetes is the most devastating and fastest growing health crisis of our time, affecting 4.7 million people.

“When diabetes is not well managed, it is associated with serious complications including amputation, sight loss, stroke and kidney failure.                                        

“The Clinical Champions programme is not about parachuting in external experts who don’t understand local needs, but about empowering clinicians in the local area to lead on delivering the best possible care for people living with diabetes. This is the sixth year of the programme and we are looking to expand our reach further to recruit the diabetes leaders of the future to transform the care and lives of people living with diabetes.”

At the turn of the year, staff and volunteers at St Giles Hospice have been on a high after receiving an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.

St Giles Hospice, which provides individually-tailored care both on-site and in patients’ own homes, is one of just a handful of hospices to ever have been awarded the highest possible accolade.

Under the new CQC inspection regime, hospices are also subject to the same level of scrutiny as hospitals, making this ‘Outstanding’ rating incredibly special.

Publishing the full report on its website, the CQC praised St Giles for its “compassionate” range of speciality services.

Inspectors highlighted how staff treated patients, families and their carers with dignity and kindness, stating: ‘People were truly respected and valued as individuals. They were empowered as partners in their care, practically and emotionally, by an exceptional and distinctive service’.

Jo Maidment, Chair of Trustees at St Giles Hospice, said: “We know that our staff and volunteers strive to deliver outstanding care every day, but to have this acknowledged by the CQC is truly wonderful and a very exciting start to 2020!

“On behalf of our Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees, I would like to say a massive thank you and congratulations to each and every member of our St Giles family.”

Helping more than 7,000 people a year facing the challenges associated with a potentially terminal illness, St Giles staff was also commended for aiming to “make every day meaningful for people who used the service” and “consistently displaying determination and creativity” in delivering care.

The hospice was noted for going “over and above what was expected of them”, having previously hosted several weddings and arranging for a patient’s pet horse to visit, with one member of staff spending three days of her own time writing family ‘goodbye letters’ for a patient who was unable to.

Chief Executive of St Giles Hospice, Emma Hodges, said: “I am absolutely delighted that everyone involved in making St Giles such an excellent charity has received the recognition they deserve from the CQC.

“This fantastic achievement is testament to the hard work, compassion and unwavering commitment of our staff, volunteers and not forgetting, our loyal supporters – without whom this would not have been possible.”

“We’re outstanding, because you’re outstanding. Thank you!”

Sandwell Council has approved a new cycling and walking plan – to get more people active and healthier and help tackle pollution and reduce congestion on the roads.

The Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan has been approved by the council’s cabinet and proposes to provide a safe and convenient network of routes.

The proposals include cycle and walking routes to provide cost effective and sustainable access to public transport hubs, education, jobs and services throughout Sandwell.

Councillor Jackie Taylor, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for sustainable transport, said: “It is vital we do more to encourage people to cycle or walk to work, school or leisure activities in a bid to improve people’s health and reduce pollution-producing car journeys in the borough.

“Walking and cycling are some of the cheapest ways of moving around and we have come up with a plan to spread the routes across the entire borough to benefit as many Sandwell people as possible.”

Councillor Taylor said inactivity could lead to poorer health, less productivity at work, a more isolated society and to reduced educational attainment.

The new plan has been drawn up as a long-term approach to developing local cycling and walking links, ideally over a 10-year period, to increase the number of trips on foot or by cycle.

The plan was approved by the council’s cabinet earlier this month (5 February).

 A national campaign aimed at preventing child abuse is being supported by Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Children’s Trust.

‘Together We Can Tackle Child Abuse’ is run by the Department for Education and aimed at informing people about the different types of child abuse and the signs to look out for.

Councillor Kate Booth, Cabinet Member for Children’s Wellbeing, said: “Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and we can all look out for signs of abuse. As well as educating people about the issues this campaign offers reassurance about how the reporting process works and the support offered throughout.

“One of the key messages of the campaign is that a fear of being wrong should not prevent anyone from reporting their concerns. Don’t forget, child abuse comes in many forms and doesn’t always leave a mark that you can see.

“So if anyone is worried that a child is in danger, please report it, it can be done anonymously.

“If you think it, report it, and together we can tackle child abuse.”

 Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice is aiming to ensure more people can benefit from expert end of life care with its new three-year strategy.

Published in January 2020, Making Every Moment Matter: Our Three-Year Strategic Plan 2020-23 sets out ambitious plans for the hospice to provide more care into the future.

Launched during the hospice’s 110^th anniversary year, it aims to build on John Taylor’s unique legacy of caring for generations of families.

The strategy had three priorities – consolidating the current business, extending clinical services and maximising income.

Within these streams are a host of aims including extending the community-based Hospice at Home service so it is available round-the-clock, improving care for people with dementia and continuing to develop personal health budgets for more people as they approach the end of their lives.

The hospice also plans to open more shops to raise income, to make increased use of technology and to continue to develop partnerships with other organisations. John Taylor Hospice is working closely with Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, Birmingham and Solihull Sustainability and Transformation Partnership and other hospices to ensure end of life services are available for patients when, how and where they need them.

CEO Penny Venables said: “It has been nearly ten years since John Taylor Hospice left the NHS and today we are a charity caring for around 2,000 people each year as well as providing help and support for their family and friends.

“As we begin our 110^th anniversary year it is important that we build on John Taylor’s special legacy of care in our plans for moving forward. When we opened in 1910 we were only able to provide care for a handful of patients – today we are not only supporting hundreds of people but also ensuring their care is specialised and tailored to their needs.

“Our strategy will ensure we continue to grow John Taylor Hospice so that we can achieve our mission – a compassionate and dignified death for all.”

 Over 300 high-street heroes across Birmingham and Solihull are ready to help people take the drama out of nasty winter illnesses such as colds, itchy eyes, upset tummies, sore throats, coughs and earache.

The advice given by pharmacists can help people of all ages stay well, prevent an illness getting worse, take the best course of action, and get well sooner.

Across Birmingham and Solihull there are 330 pharmacies of all sizes, which offer different opening hours.

Their trained pharmacists are on hand to provide the best clinical advice and over-the-counter treatment to safely manage unpleasant but minor illnesses. People just need to step through the door and ask – there is no need for an appointment, and a confidential consultation room can be used if required.

If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the clinical training to ensure people get the help they need immediately and can refer patients to a GP or A&E when necessary.

Every pharmacist trains for five years in the use of medicines before they qualify, and they are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.

Professor Mark Dasgupta, Birmingham and Solihull CCG’s Associate Director, Medicines Management, said: “Winter is a time when a broad range of illnesses and conditions make people feel unwell, miserable and uncomfortable. Our pharmacists are primed to help people manage these illnesses and relieve their symptoms, which are horrible but can often be treated with over-the-counter products.

“Pharmacies are fast and convenient to access. Most people live within easy reach of one. Nine out of 10 people live less than a 20-minute walk away from their local pharmacy and many of these offer extended opening hours in the evenings and at weekends. Using a pharmacy also takes pressure of GP practices, enabling them to focus on treating people who may have more serious and complex conditions.”

Having a dog in the office can dramatically improve employee productivity and wellbeing while at work, research conducted by flexible office specialist, Workthere, reveals.

Workthere conducted research to determine UK office workers attitudes towards having a canine companion at their place of work and found that almost half (44%) think having a dog in the office would be beneficial to their productivity. What’s more, a third (34%) believe a workplace pooch would make them happier, and a quarter (25%) think it would improve their work/life balance.

Delving further into the research findings, Workthere also found that it is, in fact, the younger population that are most in favour of having dogs at work, with nearly half (43%) of 18-24-year old’s admitting they would be more likely to apply for a job that allowed dogs in the office.

Alternatively, while the survey found that two in five (41%) of 45-54-year olds currently own a dog, the highest of any other age range, a vast majority (80%) have never worked somewhere that allows them to bring their dog to work.

 When it comes to the gender divide, it seems dogs aren’t a man’s best friend - they’re a woman’s! The research found that a third (32%) of women would be more attracted to a workplace that allowed dogs, compared to just a quarter (24%) of men.

Commenting on the research findings, Cal Lee, head of Workthere, says: “Whilst having a dog in the office may not be for everyone, and you must understand the needs and consensus of your employees, it is clear that a canine colleague can boost overall productivity, mood and happiness, while reducing stress. It could therefore be a great consideration for employers to bear in mind looking forward.”

Community organisations from around the city came together to showcase the work they do for the city’s youngsters and their families as part of the HeadStart Wolverhampton programme.

The showcase, named ‘Reclaiming Our Community’ saw representatives from HeadStart’s providers in its four city areas tell stakeholders, including city councillors, about the activities and support they offer on a daily basis to improve the emotional wellbeing of young people in the city.

The event was opened by Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, and saw stakeholders watch videos, musical performances and listen to first-hand experiences from young people discussing the impact the HeadStart programme has had on their life and emotional wellbeing.

During the event there was also a presentation from three of HeadStart’s parent champions, who each gave an emotional account of the help that HeadStart have offered to them – ensuring not only their children but they themselves have a brighter future.

At the end proceedings there was a market place session where stakeholders could find out more about what activities organisations hold as part of the lottery-funded programme - as well as opportunities to meet the young people who benefit directly from them.

Councillor Reynolds said: “This event has shown first-hand the immense impact that HeadStart has had on young people and their parents across Wolverhampton. It has been fantastic to hear all of their experiences and how the programme has changed their lives for the better.

“Young people will shape the future of our city and it is vital that there are programmes like HeadStart to ensure they have the best possible start in life.”

HeadStart Wolverhampton, part of a £56 million National Lottery funded programme set-up by the National Lottery Community Fund, is designed to improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 10 to 16 by giving them the skills they need to cope with the challenges of modern life.

HeadStart Wolverhampton runs a series of specific programmes in its four key target areas: Low Hill, The Scotlands and Bushbury South; Heath Town, Park Village, Eastfield, Springfield and Old Heath; Bilston East; All Saints, Blakenhall, Parkfields and Ettingshall. Citywide help is available through the HeadStart Wolverhampton Support and Guidance Directory at http://support.headstartonline.co.uk which provides emotional mental health and wellbeing resources from different organisations, including information targeted at young people, parents and carers, and professionals.

To find out more about HeadStart, please visit www.headstartonline.co.uk, follow @headstartfm on Twitter or Instagram, or find HeadStart on Facebook at www.2343ec78a04c6ea9d80806345d31fd78-gdprlock/headstartfm.

NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is advising members of the public to stay at home and self-treat if they get norovirus, as cases of one of the most common stomach bugs are being seen in the community. Doctors suggest that people who get norovirus stay at home, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and eat plain foods to help fight off the bug.

Members of the public should also take the following action to help stop the spread of the virus:

• Stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have passed.
• Do not visit anyone at hospital while you are still contagious.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing food. Don't rely on alcohol hand gels, as they do not kill the virus.
• Disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated. It's best to use a bleach-based household cleaner.
• Wash any items of clothing or bedding that could have become contaminated separately on a hot wash to ensure the virus is killed.
• Don't share towels and flannels.
• Flush away any infected poo or vomit in the toilet and clean the surrounding area.
• Avoid eating raw, unwashed produce.

Dr Richard Mendelsohn, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG said ‘’Norovirus affects between 600,000 and 1 million people each year and it’s vital that members of the public work with us to prevent the spread of the disease.  The message is to stay at home, make sure you have a well-stocked medicine cabinet and call NHS 111 if you are concerned and need further advice.’’

For more information on how to stay well this winter visit www.nhs.uk/staywell.

Powered Access Hire firm Nationwide Platforms have announced that it has recently completed the purchase and installation of a defibrillator at their Birmingham depot.

The site it just one of the company's business sites equipped with a life-saving defibrillator, with a further 37 premises and communities across the UK also benefiting from the investment.

Registered with the Ambulance Services, the devices are available for use in the event of an emergency by both employees and the general public in the immediate vicinity.

In the UK there are approximately 60,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests per year. Of these, the Ambulance Service attempts resuscitation in approximately 28,000 cases only, as the person is often beyond resuscitation by the time they arrive. The only definitive treatment against serious cardiac arrest is the life-saving shock from a defibrillator. Pairing this with effective CPR can increase a victim's chance of survival from 6 per cent to 74 per cent if delivered within the first 3-5 min of collapse.

Health, Safety and Environmental Director, Mark Keily said: "Putting people's safety first is at the very heart of Nationwide Platforms and nothing could be more important than the health and wellbeing of the people that operate within our business. The roll out of these defibrillators really could mean the difference between life and death.

We found that some of our company sites are more than 6 miles away from the nearest potentially lifesaving defibrillators. And with the closest Accident and Emergency facilities sometimes more than 10 miles away, closing the gap on defibrillator locations not just for our employee's but also the communities we operate in could only ever be a good thing."

He added: "The defibrillators are within easy access for public use and we have also trained designated employees at all of our sites in the hope that should someone suffer a cardiac arrest we're doing our very best to significantly improve their chances of survival."

With concerns growing over the rising rates of self-harm among Black women, the alarming invisibility of older Black women experiencing mental illness has inspired ‘Close to the Edge’, a new play to be showcased tomorrow (December 6) at Thimblemill Library, Smethwick, in the West Midlands.

Written and directed by Viv Manjaro of Planet Arts and co-produced by Red Earth Collective co-founder Sandra Griffiths 'Close to the Edge' explores the limited opportunities available to older Black women in Britain and its detrimental impact on their mental wellbeing.

Through the central character Francesca (played by Sharon Jones), the comedy-drama explores trauma, highlights coping strategies for survival and how to rise above adversity when your mental stability is threatened.

Studies show that post traumatic syndrome is higher in Black women, related to the higher levels of sexual assaults that they experience.

However, Black women are less likely to report or seek help for assaults or trauma. Also, Black women have the highest rates of depression but are least likely to seek and receive treatment, and are more likely to demonstrate maladaptive coping in response to depression, such as self-harm and obesity.

Viv says: “Close to the Edge is about Black women in crisis. Many of us put on the mask of the strong Black woman as we step out of the door as a way of holding it together. But behind closed doors some of us fall apart. Francesca, the play’s main character, appears to be falling apart but she manages to pull her life back from the brink by developing different coping strategies, which I used when I was close to the edge. Taking off the mask and letting go can be scary, but I want women to know that there is help out there and that many of us have walked this path - and survived.”

Director of undergraduate journalism courses at Birmingham City University, and winner of the Journalist of the Year Mind Media Awards 2019, Marverine Cole, said: “As a woman of Caribbean heritage who has experienced periods of depression, I produced and presented a documentary for BBC Radio 4 called ‘Black Girls Don’t Cry’ about this very topic.

“Black women in Britain are more likely to be diagnosed with more common mental health problems than white women and face the ‘strong Black woman’ stereotype that prevents some women from seeking support for their mental health. Much of the debate around mental health outcomes focuses on Black men and leaves the views and experiences of Black women invisible.”

Alicia Spence, director of services at the African Caribbean Community Initiative (ACCI), said: “The Black mental health agenda has been dominated by the lived experiences of Black men for a long time. Yet Black women are the foundation of the community, often working as unpaid carers.

“When Black women go under, so does the family and the community.

“We are noticing that older Black women in faith communities feel unable to express when they are feeling stressed, or even grieving, at their church.

They believe that they are expected to manage everything and to leave the pain and stress ‘with the Lord‘.

“‘Close to the Edge’ will allow us to have an urgent discussion, which will hopefully lead to action.”

Sandra Griffiths added: “Older Black women’s lives aren’t of interest to politicians, the media or policymakers.

“When they do appear in research, it’s in relation to the ‘strong Black woman’ stereotype; warrior women who can cope with anything life throws at them. We want the play to encourage older Black women to talk about their mental health and we want policymakers, commissioners and the community to listen to them because Black women’s mental health matters too.”

Funded by Arts Council England, ‘Close to the Edge’ brings together a team of older Black women who have experienced emotional distress and draws on their personal experience of self-care and coping strategies.

HSBC UK has won a National Dementia Friendly Award in the category ‘Dementia Friendly Organisation of the Year – Large Category’.

The Birmingham-based winners were announced at the prestigious awards ceremony that took place in London, where Sun journalist and Loose Women panellist, Jane Moore, hosted the ceremony.

HSBC was one of three finalists in the category ‘Dementia Friendly Organisation of the Year – Large’. This award, open to all businesses and organisations including leisure, tourism, the arts, emergency services, finance, health and social care, recognises an organisation that has implemented a dementia friendly initiative.

HSBC – one of the world’s largest banks serving 14.5 million customers in the UK – partnered with Alzheimer’s Society for three years between 2016 and 2019. HSBC engaged teams from across the bank to implement dementia friendly initiatives including the Customer Support team and Customer Care Needs team to support customers with dementia.

Anna Inman, Customer Experience Manager at HSBC UK in Birmingham, collected the award. Anna said: “It feels incredible to have won the Dementia Friendly Organisation of the Year – Large Category Award. We are so delighted to have won the award. Anyone thinking of nominating a person or a group or an organisation for a Dementia Friendly Award I’d say just go for it.”

HSBC wanted to become a Dementia Friendly business so through focus groups with people living with dementia and awareness sessions such as Dementia Friends training, HSBC formed a greater understanding of how they could improve their services and the way they communicate with customers living with dementia, with key feedback including, ‘I don’t want to have to keep repeating my needs’, ‘Give me more time’ and ‘Get to know me as an individual’.

Dementia is the 21st century’s biggest killer. Someone develops the condition every three minutes – but too many face it alone. Alzheimer’s Society’s 2019 Dementia Friendly Awards recognise, celebrate and promote the inspirational achievements of those uniting to making a real difference to people living with dementia.

Awards host, TV presenter and journalist, Jane Moore, said: “I’m delighted to have hosted this year’s Dementia Friendly Awards 2019 in London. This year’s awards celebrated individuals, organisations and communities leading and inspiring a change that will transform the lives of people living with dementia across the country forever, challenging misunderstandings, changing attitudes and taking action. My own mother-in-law had dementia so I understand what a heart-breaking condition it can be, stripping people of their memories. All of the winners and nominees have done incredible and inspiring work to help people living with dementia and they should all be incredibly proud.”

Jeremy Hughes, Alzheimer’s Society CEO, said: “It is amazing that HSBC UK has won the Dementia Friendly Organisation of the Year – Large Category Award and it is a testament to their tremendous dementia-friendly work.

“The level of nominations received this year was truly phenomenal and there were some exceptional stories heard at the awards ceremony. There are over 441 Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland ensuring people with dementia are empowered to live a life they. All the finalists and winners at the Dementia Friendly Awards have demonstrated how we can unite against dementia and support those affected by the condition.”

This year there were ten awards in categories for Trailblazer of the Year, Dementia Friendly Community, Dementia Friends Champion, Dementia Friendly Organisation (Small/Medium), Dementia Friendly Organisation (Large), Inspiring Young Person, Youth Organisation, Championing Diversity and 40th Anniversary - Lifetime Achievement.

According to research1 conducted by the health and wellness booking app, MINDBODY, over half (55%) of those who exercise frequently say they are least motivated to exercise during winter.

Leading UK Sports Performance Mind Coach Nick Davies explains: "Winter is that time of year where temperatures get a lot colder and we get a lot less sunshine. This can lead to low mood in some people and a desire to curl up in the warmth of our own homes, meaning the likelihood of going to the gym is a lot less than in warmer months.”

With these figures in mind, MINDBODY has shared five simple tips to help beat the seasonal slump this year, to keep you on track to meet your health and wellness-related goals.

1. The perfect playlist

Whether you’re struggling to find the motivation to hit your fitness goals, or you’re in need of a little energy boost mid-cardio, the right music could be the missing ingredient in your workout.

Professor Andy Lane, Sports Psychologist at The University of Wolverhampton, explains: “Music is excellent for motivation and can definitely help with endurance during exercise. Listening to music can enhance your mood and help divert your attention away from feeling tired or bored which can often arise through the repetitiveness of certain exercises.”

MINDBODY recently curated a playlist in collaboration with leading studios, full of songs that are most likely to increase motivation during a workout:

• Pinnacles - Four Tet • Freaks - Timmy Trumpet • Run boy Run - Woodkid • Rapture – Nadia Ali • Losing It – Fisher • Differentology – Bunji Garlin • Higher Ground – TNGHT • Chameleon – Pnau • Play – Jax Jones • Old Friend – Elderbrook

2. Workout with a friend

Having someone alongside you during a tough workout can go a long way when it comes to motivation. In fact, over a third (34%)3 of gym-goers believe having a partner to workout with increases their motivation and makes them work harder. One in four (24%) even said it improves the effectiveness of their workout.

Moreover, having a workout buddy also holds you accountable for your workouts. After all, you can’t cancel last minute because someone else is relying on you to turn up!

3. Tune your alarm

That early morning alarm is probably up there with the worst sound in the world. But, what if your morning alarm actually made you excited for the day ahead?

Change the boring, painful tune you’re familiar with to something you love. Maybe it’s your favourite song, or music that makes you feel energised. By doing so, you'll wake up with a spring in your step and ready to fit in that early morning workout!

4. Try a new class

From Pilates to Barre, HIIT, Bootcamp and Spin – whatever your fitness goals may be, there will be a class suitable for you.

Not only do most classes take place indoors (so you’ll stay nice and warm), but they are also great for your motivation as you’ll be working out alongside other class participants with an encouraging instructor guiding you through the routine to ensure you’re always hitting your personal best.

5. Recover

If you’re really struggling to find the motivation to work out, then don’t. Instead, focus your attention on rest and recovery, which has a whole host of benefits ranging from injury prevention, to minimising fatigue, and reducing stress.

Rest and recovery doesn’t necessarily mean staying at home doing nothing. According to MINDBODY data, the recovery trends and treatments growing in popularity this year are:

1. Cryotherapy 2. Water Therapy 3. Sports Massage 4. Recovery through Nutrition 5. Restorative/Yin Yoga

Commenting on the research, a spokesperson from MINDBODY, says: “Everyone struggles with their motivation at this time of year, and although it can be difficult, it’s important to remember why you’re on the health/fitness journey, and the goals you want to achieve.

“If you miss a workout, don’t worry, you’re only human! However, take these motivational tips into consideration and start again the following day.”

The UK register of approved plumbers, WaterSafe, is urging homeowners to stop, find, check and label their internal stop tap and make this job the top of their ‘to-do’ list this winter.

The internal stop tap will shut off the water supply quickly if pipes burst during a sudden freeze or thaw, which can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to homes and their contents.

Data from the Association of British Insurers shows that during a spell of freezing weather, a claim to repair a burst pipe costs an average of £8,800 – and can often be more.*

Repair costs can be significantly reduced if the stop tap is used to turn off the water as quickly as possible – so knowing where your stop tap is and checking it regularly to make sure it is working is essential.

The internal stop tap, sometimes also known as a stopcock or stop valve, should be turned clockwise to turn off the water supply. Common places to find it include:

• Under the kitchen sink
• Kitchen cupboard
• Downstairs bathroom or toilet
• Garage or utility room
• Cellar
• Under the stairs.

Property owners are responsible for the internal stop tap so if you can’t locate it or it’s not working, contact an approved plumber for help at watersafe.org.uk.

WaterSafe’s timely advice is supporting the Met Office’s ‘WeatherReady’ campaign, which encourages everyone to think about what they can do to prepare for and cope with severe weather.

Head of Civil Contingencies at the Met Office, Will Lang, said: “As we approach winter, it is important to know where you can access expert advice and guidance to help you prepare for the potential impacts of severe weather. Taking a small amount of time to prepare now can make a big difference in keeping family, friends and neighbours, as well as property and businesses safe throughout the months ahead.”

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “This year we are focussing our winter messaging on one critical piece of advice for households which is take the time to locate the internal stop tap, and importantly, to check that it’s working, in case of a plumbing emergency this winter.

“It’s a good idea to label your stop tap once you’ve located it – and to add the number of a WaterSafe approved plumber in case you need it in a hurry, because the consequences of not doing so and potentially facing the misery of flooding do not bear thinking about.”

Pipes in unheated areas should always be protected against winter temperatures with insulating lagging to help prevent them from freezing and bursting in the first instance.

A Sandwell Council employee has won a national award for her working in helping hundreds of people in the borough to lose weight.

Maxine Dixon won the UK Public Health Practitioner Award for Improving Public Health Practice for the council's much-praised Weight2GO programme.

Maxine, who is a weight management project manager in Public Health leads on the Weigh2GO programme which uses a combination of the latest 'smart scale' technology and an online app with good old-fashioned community partnership work.

The programme is run through partners including the voluntary sector, libraries, leisure centres and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital which are supported to establish their own bespoke weight management support groups tailored to the needs of the people who use their services.

All of these partners are trained to run the programme effectively and they support their clients with access to the smart scales which allow people to weight themselves independently, receive real-time weight data through their smart phones, and track and monitor their weight through the app.

The programme allows people to be in control of their own weight management plans while harnessing the power of local community groups to offer support.

There are no joining fees, no pricey diet products and no stigma involved in the programme.

Lisa McNally, Sandwell's director of public health, said: "We are proud that our public health employees have won another top award and Maxine has helped so many people on their weight loss journey."

The programme has proven to be popular and Maxine's analysis of the data shows that hundreds of people have engaged with the programme and been successful in achieving  a healthier weight.

Library manager, Jean Fenn, said: Library customers can monitor and access information about their weight and BMI. This is a great weight management tool and it's so easy to use. The scales are used by individuals and groups and are a great addition to our health and well-being resources.

Jenny Wright, health and wellbeing manager for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital NHS Trust, said: "The programme has been a huge success with NHS employees and subsequently NHS  staff have encouraged patient groups to participate in the programme through local community groups."