Forest Heath District Council (FHDC) has a broad interpretation on what it believes is needed and contributes towards creating A Healthier Forest Heath - To work proactively and collaboratively with partner agencies to create healthy, safe environments for people to live, work and visit as part of the districts wider economic development. The council will act as an advocate for health provision, using education and promotion to tackle some of the barriers to active living and better health (e.g. affordability of services and entitlement to benefits) with the aim of creating the seamless, timely and accessible services people require to live healthier lifestyles throughout all ages of their lives.

There are many factors in everyday life that contribute to the health of a community, from what people eat, their employment status and style of housing, through to the environment around them, such as quality of air. Each service of the council is continuously working to achieve its own aims and objectives, while at the same time contributing to building A Healthier Forest Heath.

In addition to healthy communities being a FHDC corporate objective aim, health is one of the Councils priorities. The priority targets for health are (1) To increase the number of people undertaking the Councils Exercise on Referrals Scheme. (2) To reduce the number of people who smoke or are affected by other people’s smoke. (3) To reduce the number of vulnerable households suffering from fuel poverty.

Forest Heath District Council has a Health Improvement Forum, which is made up of respective health agencies and acts as a consultative body on all health issues in Forest Heath. Following on from the Forum is the Forest Heath District Council Health Working Group which exists in order to keep members informed of key health issues in the district. Both are chaired by Councillor Marion Fairman-Smith.

The Council is working in close partnership with other organisations in West Suffolk. Particularly through the Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership (WSLSP) Health Inequalities Network (HIN), Forest Heath District Council wants to try and achieve the vision of the WSLSP Community Strategy 2006-2016 ‘Making Life Better’. The vision is to make life safer and healthier, providing a clean and green environment, making the community prosperous and learning, making life active and creative through an inclusive community.

For further information, please contact the Health Improvement Coordinator on 01638 719246 or email healthimprovement@forest-heath.gov.uk