Hull Clinical Commissioning Group is today announcing its backing for Hull UK City of Culture 2017 by becoming a major partner to Hull 2017.
Hull CCG Chief Officer Emma Latimer and CEO and Director of Hull 2017 Martin Green will join trainees at CASE Training, a well-established Hull organisation working with people with learning disabilities, to mark the partnership by putting the finishing touches to their own ‘Moth for Amy’.
Emma said: “The UK City of Culture team has created some very special health-related elements within the wider programme of world class arts and cultural activities which we are delighted to support. Our partnership with Hull 2017 will mean we are able to improve the health, wellbeing and aspirations of people living in our city in a unique way. Through a range of interesting, fun and inspiring activities, we will be able to reach and engage with people in ways we have never done before; from dance sessions to arts and crafts and an ambitious volunteer recruitment scheme.”
Martin added: “We are delighted to have Hull CCG on board as a major partner. Culture and its many art-forms are recognised as being beneficial to people's health and well-being. Whether attending or taking part in Hull 2017 events, we want to bring individuals and communities together, inspire joy, spark imaginations and trigger creativity. In doing so we hope it will transform lives.”
The Hull 2017 programme will include pioneering projects, which help to reduce social isolation, encourage physical activity and improve wellbeing. Hull CCG will promote healthy lifestyles, emotional wellbeing and integration of communities as widely as possible through the activities and aim to ensure 2017 creates a lasting legacy of people in Hull looking after their health.
A particular focus will be the Hull 2020 Health Champions, local people empowered and able to promote health messages and make changes within their local community, and with their family and friends. The aim is to create a ripple effect of improved health throughout the city, starting on the street. Already underway, the Champions plan to link with the army of 2017 volunteers to spread the health message far and wide.
NHS Hull CCG has funded CASE twice through its Healthier Hull Community Fund. In 2014 the organisation was awarded a grant to produce its own newspaper “The Easy Reader”. In 2016 funding has helped them organise and deliver sports and health-related activities for trainees.
Steve Rusling, Marketing Manager at CASE, added: “I’m really looking forward to getting our trainees at CASE getting involved with Hull City of Culture 2017. I think they will really benefit from it in many ways such as social inclusion, healthier living, learning new skills and of course from volunteering, attending events during the year and taking part in their own dedicated workshops and activities.”
