Published: Tuesday 14th March 2017 | 3.39pm
People in Cannock Chase are celebrating the launch of a new support tool, which will enable people with physical, learning and health needs to access vital information to improve their quality of life.
The Well Active website has been created by the local community and uses film, animation and a voice aid to ensure services, support and information on pathways to employment, independent living and local activities are more accessible.
With support from a wealth of individuals, carers, businesses and local organisations all working together, to design and build the content, Well Active aims to address equality. Much of today’s online information is proven too difficult to read, navigate or is not engaging enough by our most vulnerable, so by working alongside Inspiring healthy lifestyles – Creative Development, our disabled community developed their own solution.
In 2016, the website won a national Sporta `Community Impact Award` on its co -production and engagement approach.
Staffordshire County Council commissioned the development of Well Active to raise the profile of the wealth of activities, information and support available to assist people to live independently, and covers topics from interview skills to assistive technologies.
The community’s achievement was celebrated at an official launch ceremony last week which was held at Chase Leisure Centre. The event also supported Disability Access Day and helped to promote the new website to partners and the wider community.
Lisa Shephard, Creative Development Manager for Inspiring healthy lifestyles, said: “By involving nearly 200 members of our local community in the process of creating this website, it has helped individuals develop important life skills and celebrates ability, not disability. I, and the artists involved, are very proud to have been a part of its journey over the last few years.”
Staffordshire County Council funded the project and Alan White, the Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing said: “Promoting health and wellbeing activities for people with disabilities while increasing their independence remains a priority for the County Council. This is a great resource that will support young people and adults with a disability and their families to help improve their physical and mental health and their wellbeing. Over 300 people helped design the website with thousands of people now accessing it. We now look forward to getting the programme rolled out across the county so we can help even more people become more active, live independently and move closer to the jobs market.”
Councillor Christine Mitchell, Cabinet Leader for Culture and Sport said, “I`m pleased to see the Council supporting such a valuable resource which will help young people and adults with learning, physical or long-term health needs to live well, work well and play well. The website will provide a central place for people to access information as well as promoting the opportunities in and around the District”.
To find out more about Well Active, visit the new website at www.well-active.co.uk or contact Lisa Shephard at Inspiring healthy lifestyles on 07812 332964.