05 July 2010
Health boost for homeless men in Coventry
A Healthy Living Day for homeless men is being held at the Chace Centre to raise awareness of the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle.
The event on Thursday, July 8, at the Willenhall-based Centre, is promoting the relevant services across the city and how people can access them.
The event follows the announcement by the National Audit Office* that the life expectancy gap between rich and poor communities is widening.
Life expectancy for men in deprived areas is 75.8 and 80.4 years for women, compared to 77.9 and 82 years in more affluent areas.
Whitefriars Housing Group is tackling the problem amongst homeless men in the city with the Healthy Living event, which will see a wide range of organisations give people advice on different areas of their lives.
Services attending the event include spiritual and holistic therapists, housing services, mental health and education providers, as well as Smarter Travel, Willenhall Library, Blood Donors, Coventry Partnership, Alzheimer’s Society and Sure Start. There is also a BBQ at the event.
Support services manager for Whitefriars’ Independent Living Team at the Chace Centre, Gail Phillips, said: “We recognise that there is a health gap between different groups in society. At the Chace Centre we provide services to homeless men so we are trying to signpost them to services that will help them learn more about the benefits of making healthy lifestyle choices.
“Hopefully the event will raise people’s awareness of services available in the city. Everybody has the right to a healthy lifestyle and as a housing provider we want to see our residents make better health choices.”
Whitefriars Housing Group runs the Chace Centre, which is a 201 bedroom hostel for homeless males aged over 18. Agencies, such as the Coventry City Council, Cyrenians, police and health authorities can refer people as well as people referring themselves directly to the hostel.
For more information on the event contact Gail Phillips by calling 024 76214369 or email gail.phillips@whitefriarshousing.co.uk
Notes to editors
* The National Audit Office carried out a report into the Department of Health’s targets in tackling inequalities in life expectancy in areas with the worst health and deprivation. In 2002, the Labour Government refined this target to reduce inequality by 2010 by 10 per cent as measured by life expectancy at birth. The NOA report found that, although life expectancy overall has increased, the Labour Government’s target is unlikely to be met. Visit www.nao.org.uk to view the full report and executive summary.
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a not-for-profit housing and regeneration organisation established in 2000 that owns and manages approximately 18,000 homes across Coventry.
Whitefriars Housing Group is part of West Mercia Housing Group (WMHG), which is the lead partner of Spectrum Development Partnership. WMHG consists of Whitefriars Housing Group, Harden Housing Association, Nexus Housing, Kemble Housing and Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project. The new combined group, which is a development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency, manages around 23,500 homes across Coventry, the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Whitefriars has a key role, in partnership with others, across the West Midlands to develop new affordable homes and regenerate communities.
Since transfer, Whitefriars has spent £340 million to repair and improve its housing stock. The vast majority of its homes now meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard –ahead of schedule. It is currently embarking on a campaign, Services on the Up, aimed at improving the core services received by residents.
In addition to providing homes, Whitefriars works in partnership with communities and other agencies to provide training and employment opportunities and support services for local residents, with the aim of building sustainable communities.
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a charitable industrial and provident society.
For further information please contact Lucy Beaumont or Nikki Cheung at The Bridge Group on 024 7656 0440 or l.beaumont@bridge-group.co.uk