Welcome to the Health BOCS update, the monthly update on Health and Wellbeing activities at the Brothers of Charity Services in England.
Read the full Health BOCS 2016 Booklet here.
Click here to view the BOCS Health and Wellbeing Calendar for 2017/2018.
Last month we were promoting:
– Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a worldwide annual campaign involving thousands of organisations, to highlight the importance of breast awareness, education and research.
Click on the following links to find out more information on Breast Cancer.
- Breast Cancer Care – Infographic
- Breast Cancer Care – Facts and Statistics
- Wear it Pink
- Cancer Research – About Breast Cancer
In October, we raised money for Breast Cancer Care through our Dress Down Day. This takes place across the Brothers of Charity Services in England once a month to help raise funds for a chosen charity.
– Stoptober
Stoptober is a national 28-day stop smoking challenge that encourages smokers to quit after those 28 days. If you take part in this challenge and stop smoking for 28 days you’re five times more likely to stay smoke free for good.
We encourage everyone who does smoke to take part in this challenge and see if you can quit!
To find out more about Stoptober, visit their website at: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/stoptober/.
November Promotion
This month we are promoting:
Movember
The Movember Foundation is the only charity tackling men’s health on a global scale, year round. Millions have joined the movement, raising over £440m and funding over 1,200 projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention.
There are three ways to get involved to support men’s health; grow a moustache, challenge yourself to move, or host an event.
The Men’s Group from our Merseyside services are taking part in Movember and growing a moustache to raise awareness of the cause.
Brothers of Charity Services in Merseyside and in Greater Manchester are raising money for Movember through their monthly Dress Down Day.
Find out more information on Movember here.
Alcohol Awareness Week – 13th to 19th November
This year Alcohol Concern are focusing on ‘Alcohol and Families’. They will help to break the cycle of silence and stigma that is all too often experienced by families by sharing the stories of people affected by harmful drinking, as well as case studies of alcohol services doing great work around the country.
To find out more about Alcohol Awareness Week and the resources available to you, click here.
Winter health and wellbeing
We will be promoting how to stay healthy during the colder months through our website and intranet. We will provide information on flu prevention such as good hygiene and flu jabs and how BOCS can reimburse staff the cost of their Flu vaccination. Read more here.
Upcoming Health and Wellbeing Champions meeting:
Merseyside Services – 6th December
Lancashire Services – 14th December
Greater Manchester Services – 22nd December