The Retrospective Blog - 4. The Preston Health Melas - 11/04/20

The Retrospective Blog - 4. The Preston Health Melas - 11/04/20

Apr, 11 2020


~Welcome to ‘The Retrospective Blog’. Each week I’ll be looking back on some of the positive events The CCG  has had the pleasure to be a part of. This week I’ll be highlighting The Preston Health Mela.

It wasn’t long after the birth of The Creative Communities Group in 2012 that a strong alliance was formed  with the team behind The Health Melas.

In it’s early days it delivered on it’s message to raise awareness about the importance of safety at home, in the workplace and in the community.

Each year The Health Mela has continued to encompass local people into it’s template. It does so by encouraging them to have health checks and take part in the activities which challenge and motivate us.

Another familiar template is the breakfast meeting which usually takes place to the interested public entering the building. Attendees to this include those who have an organisation and officials which keep the health mela afloat.

The stalls are designed to raise awareness and to introduce the public into organizations which they may have not previously considered or, they may have been diagnosed with a recent health condition and wish to find out some more information. Those that represent the stalls are always readily obliged to assist people in any health related concern they may have.

Another strong asset that unites people to these events is the wide variety of food, music and dance. Due to it’s Asian context many of the professional dancers perform set pieces to Indian based music and it really captures the attention of those present and also lifts the mood on somewhat serious health issues that may be prevalent during the event.

Last year (2019) was another successful Preston Health Mela and Lynne Livesey, Joint Institutional Lead for UCLAN expressed these positive words in response to the event,

“The initiative has become a national beacon of community partnership, and chimes well with our own civic mission to work collaboratively with a range of organisations and service providers. Once again, people from across the region will come together to lend their support and expertise to promote health and wellbeing. Helping to alleviate the health inequalities faced by people and communities across the North West is our shared goal.”
 
As many people know the 2020 Preston Health Mela was due to take place on Saturday 4th April but had to be cancelled in light on the recent corona virus pandemic.

The National Forum For Health and Wellbeing thanked all those organisations and individuals who have already committed good-will, time and resources into preparing for this year’s Health Mela.

It was a difficult decision to make as organisers are highly aware of the importance of the event and this is highlighted further when a serious health issue threatens to disrupt our life and the lives we cherish.

But their first responsibility is to protect the health of :-

  • Visitors
  • Organisers
  • Contributors.

Once thing is completely guaranteed:- when the current crisis is ended, NFHW will be even more active in promoting health and wellbeing amongst all of us.

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger