P20 – Health & Wellbeing Policy
Newmarket Town Council
Report Title:
Improving the mental and physical health of Newmarket residents: Recommendations from the Health and Wellbeing Working Group
Meeting Date: Monday 31 January, 2022
Author: Chris Pyburn
Public Health Manager
Public Health, Suffolk County Council
Recommendations:
Based on the work of the Health and Wellbeing Working Group, Newmarket Town Council is asked to:
1. Note the work and outcomes of the group
2. Approve the five themes for priority focus outlined in this paper, which will underpin all activity to support health and wellbeing in Newmarket. The themes are:
a. increasing opportunities for physical activity
b. encouraging volunteering and participation in different activities
c. reducing health inequalities by promoting support to marginalised or seldom heard communities
d. encouraging pride in our town
e. embedding healthy behaviours
3. Hold a series of virtual and face-to-face events to raise awareness of and highlight the assets and opportunities to support wellbeing, from volunteering to being physically active
4. Improving health and wellbeing in Newmarket by prioritising the five themes outlined above. This would be delivered in collaboration with groups and networks, co-opting other key partners as required.
Summary of work to date
1. Since 2017, Suffolk’s Public Health team has been working alongside the Town Council and wider Newmarket community to improve residents’ mental and physical health. This work is informed by data which demonstrates indicators of poor health in some areas and a higher prevalence of suicide in the town compared to other Suffolk
2.In November 2018, the town survey was introduced focusing on priority areas of health and wellbeing including increasing opportunities for physical activity, community connectedness and children and young people’s emotional wellbeing (see Table 1).
| Survey Stage | Focus (N.B. General wellbeing is included as a topic at each stage of the survey) | When conducted | Results available |
| 1 | Opportunities for physical activity; general wellbeing | November- December 2018 | June 2019 |
| 2 | ‘Connected communities’ (i.e. what voluntary/ formal support is available to avoid issues associated with social isolation, crime and anti- social behaviour and other issues that can have positive and negative
impacts on local communities) |
September – October 2019 | March 2020 |
| 3 | Young people’s emotional wellbeing and the impact of the local environment on mental health (aged 9-24) | January – March 2020 | March 2020 |
Table 1 – Summary overview of Town Survey topics and timescales
3. In January 2021, the Town Council received a report on the combined results of the town survey and agreed to convene a dedicated Health and Wellbeing Working Group to act on this information and to report back with recommendations.
4. This paper comprises a summary of the work of the Health and Wellbeing Working Group throughout 2021 and sets out recommendations for actions.
About the Health and wellbeing Working Group
5. The Health and Wellbeing Working Group was established in March 2021 as a sub-group of Newmarket Town Council. Its remit was to improve the emotional and physical health of Newmarket residents, including those who live and work in the The group met once a month to understand some of the key factors affecting wellbeing in the town, its many assets and how it could collectively act to influence this important agenda.
Health and Wellbeing Working Group – Timeline
- March 2021:Newmarket Town Council forms new health and wellbeing working group
- April – October 2021: Six themed meetings focusing on key areas of wellbeing
- Late October 2021: Final review meeting to agree recommendations
- January 2022: Final Report to Town Council
6. The group comprised Town Councillors and Suffolk Public Health Manager. Depending on the topic for each meeting, the group co-opted other members of the community who are expert in their area. The terms of reference and membership of the group are included in Appendix 1.
7. The group’s work drew from health indicators and evidence provided by Newmarket’s Place Based Needs Assessment, health profile and other local data. At its opening meeting, the group received a presentation from the West Suffolk Alliance with the intention that the group’s work would inform and complement that of other health and wellbeing partners.
8. At the first meeting of the group, its terms of reference were aligned to the Community Actions within Newmarket Neighbourhood Plan, and six theme areas were selected accordingly to guide the work of the group:
| Topic | Link to Neighbourhood Plan Community Action | Timescale (indicative and
subject to change) |
Subject lead to join group |
| Health needs of the Newmarket population: Place- Based Needs Assessment (review options for fourth
survey) |
B – To improve and promote the wellbeing of all residents | April meeting | Alison Matthews, Senior Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Researcher, Public Health |
| Young people’s mental health | B – To improve and promote the wellbeing of all residents | May meeting | Elaine Wilson, Deputy
Principal, Newmarket Academy |
| Promoting community assets to
support healthy lifestyles / post Covid |
A – To promote and maintain the prosperity of the town
B – To improve and promote the wellbeing of all residents |
June meeting | Frank Carn-Pryor, AC Leisure
Callum James, Flagship |
| resilience | Fiona Butcher, Orbit Housing | ||
| Increasing opportunities for physical activity | B – To improve and promote the wellbeing of all residents | August meeting | Ian Jackson, Sports Partnership Manager, Newmarket Academy |
| Older people’s health (focus on social isolation and
loneliness) |
B – To improve and promote the wellbeing of all residents | September meeting | |
| Review and evaluate impact of group / prepare report to Town Council
meeting |
B – To improve and promote the wellbeing of all residents | October meeting | NA |
Outcome and recommendations
9.Each meeting heard from subject matter experts, supported by health data wherever available. This prompted specific actions including the following examples:
- Promoting support to students through the Kooth service, Emotional Wellbeing Hub and opportunities for support to teachers and teaching staff from Suffolk Mind
- Coordinating volunteering opportunities in the town through local promotion and awareness raising events
- Sharing leisure classes, and opportunities for increasing physical activity at all ages
- Reviewing the Place Based Needs Assessment to understand local strengths and areas for improvement
10.The focused approach to tackle each topic in turn was felt to be effective and the group has recommended a continuing joint focus by leading a wider partnership to bring together community leads and other partners as a successor to the
11.This steering group would be accompanied by a series of community events to highlight opportunities to improve health and wellbeing, celebrate local groups and assets and encourage greater community participation such as
12. Based on work over the last few months, the group has developed five priority areas for continuing this work. If developed into a more comprehensive strategy, and aligned to wider work in the town, these priorities will embed better physical and mental health:
a.Increasing opportunities for physical activity
b.Encouraging volunteering and participation in different activities
c.Reducing health inequalities by promoting support to marginalised or seldom heard communities
d.Encouraging pride in our town
e.Embedding healthy behaviours
13. A more detailed plan, setting out dependencies and links with Community Actions, measures of success and recommendations is set out in Appendix 2.
14. This group will provide future updates on progress and will involve the group as appropriate at future events and activities, ensuring this work links in with other initiatives in and around Newmarket.
Next steps
15. Newmarket Town Council is asked to review the outcomes of the Health and Wellbeing Group and agree the recommendations set out in this
16.The Town Council will continue to lead in this area and receive regular monthly reports on progress.
References and Additional Information
Kooth is a website for young people aged 11-25 in Suffolk, providing anonymous support with emotional wellbeing, including the option to speak to a counsellor. Visit www.kooth.com
Suffolk Mind’s mission is to make Suffolk “the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.” They deliver a comprehensive education programme to schools, businesses and other settings based on the Emotional Needs and Resources Model. Visit www.suffolkmind.org.uk
Newmarket Place Based Needs Assessment https://www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/jsna/pbna
Suffolk’s Annual Public Health Report 2020: A Time to Change – Working Towards Better Health For All www.healthysuffolk.org.uk
Newmarket Health Profile https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health-profiles
Suicide prevention in Suffolk www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/projects/suicideprevention
Improving health and wellbeing in Newmarket https://www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/projects/5-ways-to-wellbeing/wellbeing-in- newmarket
Appendix 1
Newmarket Town Council Health & Wellbeing Sub-group
Terms of Reference
The Health & Wellbeing group is a sub-group of Newmarket Town Council. Its remit is to improve the emotional and physical health of Newmarket residents, including those who live and work in the town. It has been established to support the implementation of actions from the Newmarket Town Survey (2018-20) and wider objective to improve residents’ health.
Objectives:
- To lead on the implementation of actions resulting from the Newmarket Town Survey and related work, reporting back to the Town Council
- To ensure alignment with the wider objectives of the Town Council, including the Neighbourhood Plan and Young People’s Strategy
To ensure join-up with other forums to coordinate activity in Newmarket such as the West Suffolk Alliance, Newmarket Vision and other overarching groups
Principles
The Health and Wellbeing Sub-group will:
- Operate as a time-limited group
- Make recommendations and agree actions based on evidence
- Develop, implement and evaluate measures that show progress against the objectives of the group
- Work with other forums, groups and individuals, co-opting them to support the work of this group as required
Membership
Cllr Michael Jefferys, Mayor of Newmarket and Chairman of Newmarket Town Council
Cllr John Borda
Cllr Christopher O’Neill Cllr Douglas Hall
Cllr Kevin Yarrow
Chris Pyburn, Public Health Suffolk Will Wright, West Suffolk Council
Appendix 2 – Key themes summary
Reporting frequency
Reports to Town Council on completion of first phase of work and shared with other Newmarket forums.
Theme 1: Increasing opportunities for physical activity
Focus of theme/key audience: All demographics
Community assets that support theme:
Sports Centre, Newmarket Academy, sports & activity clubs, youth organisations, the Racing Centre, Social clubs. Potentially the St Felix site. Family Trails programme.
Run Newmarket.
Health and Wellbeing Working Group recommendations:
Collaborate and support other organisations to promote opportunities for physical activity to residents of all ages. Develop junior boot camp / mini assault course (consider equipment needed).
Measures of success:
Increasing participation (to be determined)
| Community Action | Descriptor of Community Action / other dependencies or links |
| B7 | Community Sports and Recreation Area
As a priority, NTC will investigate and take forward options to improve and consolidate the delivery of outdoor sports and informal recreation activities in Newmarket, focusing initially on the George Lambton Playing Fields and St Felix site. The George Lambton Playing Fields, the Yellow Brick Road and the Severals would all be good locations for trim trails (open air gyms) |
| E4i | NTC will encourage the connection of Cycle Route 51 with other cycle ways in the town, and promote the use of the whole network. 4 3 3 SCC/East Cambs |
| E4ii | NTC will request that the SCC should consider which pavements in the town shall be developed for safe shared use by both pedestrians and cyclists, and that where the road is wide enough, major thoroughfares should have designated cycle paths or lanes. Particular consideration for cycle paths should be given to Fordham Road,
Old Station Road and Cheveley Road. |
| E4iii | NTC will discuss with SCC and Cambridgeshire County Council how junctions could be made safer for cyclists. |
| E4iv | NTC will liaise with SCC to develop safe cycling initiatives |
| E4v | Cycling: NTC will work with the Newmarket Vision Transport Delivery Group to carry out a consultation and audit to establish the need for further cycle racks and their
most suitable location. |
Theme 2: Encouraging volunteering and participation in different activities
Focus of theme/key audience: All demographics
Community assets that support theme:
Newmarket Community Arts, The NHRM, church organisations, Islamic community centre (former 5 Bells), schools, skateboard park. Link to Volunteer Suffolk. Local clubs, groups and societies.
Health and Wellbeing Working Group recommendations:
Showcase and support voluntary and community organisations in the town and promote volunteer opportunities through local events and the Town Council’s website. Introduce and promote small grants scheme to support local groups.
Measures of success:
Increasing support and coordination around volunteering and the groups run by volunteers
| Community Action | Descriptor of Community Action / other dependencies or links |
| B5i | Participation in the Arts: NTC will encourage and support collaboration between organisations to promote engagement across the community with the Arts (including music, drama and dance as well as
the visual arts). |
| B5ii | Participation in the Arts: NTC will promote and publicise organisations in the town which enable residents to appreciate and participate in the Arts. |
| B5iii | Participation in the Arts: NTC will continue to help develop the annual Newmarket Music and Arts
Festival. |
| B5iv | Participation in the Arts: NTC will encourage use of local churches as possible spaces for Arts activities. |
| B6i | Leisure Activities for All: NTC will work with other agencies, including the District Council, to identify sites for leisure activities for all ages and backgrounds (such as cinema, youth drop-in centre, soft play area, ten pin bowling, horse riding for
recreation). |
| B6ii | Leisure Activities for All: NTC will promote the development of the existing skate park site (on the George Lambton Playing Fields, adjacent to the Yellow Brick Road) as a playground, once the new skate park has been opened. |
| B6iii | Leisure Activities for All: NTC will encourage the placing of trim trails (open air gyms) suitable for older children and adults around the town; possible locations might
include the Yellow Brick Road, The Severals and the George Lambton Playing Fields. |
| B6iv | Leisure Activities for All: NTC will work with all partners to develop youth provision. |
Theme 3: Reducing health inequalities by promoting support to marginalised or seldom heard communities
Focus of theme/key audience: Isolated elderly, different communities such as Islamic community.
Community assets that support theme:
Churches together. Schools. Social clubs. Foley House, Racing centre. Newmarket Dementia Action Alliance. Befriending service. Coronavirus Action Group.
Health and Wellbeing Working Group recommendations:
Developing a directory of support services to advise people in need. Implement training for community leads (eg town councillors) to signpost to support.
Measures of success:
Integrating and involving seldom heard communities through local events that increase participation and engagement.
| Community Action | Descriptor of Community Action / other dependencies or links |
| B2 | Social Hubs – NTC will support well-being by promoting the sustainable growth of social hubs, working in partnership with them to build strong community networks, and publicising their work with the intention of reaching any member of our
community who is isolated or vulnerable. |
| B4i | Learning Hubs: NTC will enable and encourage the sustainable growth of widely
advertised learning hubs in the community, promoting collaboration between councils, businesses and voluntary groups. |
| B4ii | Learning Hubs: NTC will encourage partnerships with Newmarket Academy, West Suffolk College and other academic bodies to deliver courses for literacy, numeracy and skills for life, as well as adult education and the possibility of vocational and
academic further education courses. |
| B4iii | Learning Hubs: NTC will publicise learning opportunities in the Town Calendar. |
Theme 4: Encouraging pride in our town
Focus of theme/key audience: Young people, all residents
Community assets that support theme:
Litter picking (NTC). Planting. Empty shop window displays
Health and Wellbeing Working Group recommendations:
To recognise the importance of a clean and tidy town to the wellbeing of residents and to work with other authorities to improve the cleanliness of the town. To improve the planting throughout the town to enhance the natural environment.
Measures of success:
To increase the sense of pride in the town. To increase participation among residents in maintaining and enhancing the local environment (eg litter picking).
| Community Action | Descriptor of Community Action / other dependencies or links |
| B9 | Open Spaces – NTC will encourage the development of open spaces, which can be enjoyed by all and are beneficial to
all (such as play areas, pocket parks, community woodland, sensory garden or smellscape). These open public spaces and children’s play areas shall be dispersed throughout the town |
| F3i | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that the town is well presented throughout the year, with regular maintenance and cleaning; all litter shall be removed, damaged signs should be repaired immediately and the owner of any buildings, particularly listed buildings, which are falling into
disrepair shall be required to remedy the problem. |
| F3ii | NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that any future redesign of the High Street delivers high quality public realm, including sufficient
accessible seating areas, appropriately sited litter bins, and a planting scheme for flowers and trees in the town centre. |
| F3iii | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that any road signage does not detract from the attractive street scene. |
| F3iv | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that in any redesign of Newmarket High Street, the emphasis should be changed from vehicles towards pedestrians and cyclists, by creating safer pedestrian crossing
points. |
| F3v | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that
there is appropriate provision of public toilets and changing facilities, including a ‘Changing Places’ fully accessible toilet for the disabled. |
| F3vi | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that Newmarket is a ‘dementia-friendly town’ |
Theme 5: Embedding healthy lifestyles
Focus of theme/key audience: All residents
Community assets that support theme:
Community activities, sporting and cultural. Newmarket Alliance.
Health and Wellbeing Working Group recommendations:
To work with schools and medical practitioners to improve healthy lifestyles. To work with partners such as Abbeycroft Leisure on whole town approach to healthy eating. Create directory of healthy lifestyle support and services on Town Council website and through wider promotion (eg newsletter).
Measures of success:
Reduction in obesity / improved health indicators. Increasing use and participation in open spaces.
| Community Action | Descriptor of Community Action / other dependencies or links |
| B11 | Allotments – NTC will continue to value and celebrate the two allotment sites within
the designated area, which are recognised as community assets, and continue to invest in their infrastructure, including security |
| B7 | Community Sports and Recreation Area – As a priority, NTC will investigate and take forward options to improve and consolidate the delivery of outdoor sports and informal recreation activities in Newmarket, focusing initially on the George Lambton Playing Fields and St Felix site. The George Lambton Playing Fields, the Yellow Brick Road and the Severals would all be good locations for trim trails (open air
gyms) |
| B9 | Open spaces – NTC will encourage the development of open spaces, which can be enjoyed by all and are beneficial to all (such as play areas, pocket parks, community
woodland, sensory garden or smellscape). These open public spaces and children’s play areas shall be dispersed throughout the town |
| E4i – E4v | See above. |
| F3iii | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that any road signage does not detract from the attractive street scene. |
| F3iv | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that in any redesign of Newmarket High Street, the emphasis should be changed from vehicles towards pedestrians and cyclists, by creating safer pedestrian crossing
points. |
| F3v | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that there is appropriate provision of public toilets and changing facilities, including a
‘Changing Places’ fully accessible toilet for the disabled. |
| F3vi | Public Realm: NTC will work with appropriate partners with the aim of ensuring that Newmarket is a ‘dementia-friendly town’ |