Telford & Wrekin Council are on the lookout for people who want to volunteer their time to support their local communities as a health champion.
Health champions offer general health advice to neighbours, friends, family and community/faith groups. While not medically trained, health champions receive free training to help them support residents.
We are specifically looking to recruit more health champions from a diverse range of backgrounds to help us carry out a community blood pressure testing project.
Can you lend a hand?
We are specifically looking for volunteers interested in taking blood pressure readings at arranged events. These events will be made up of two or three volunteers, talking to passers-by about blood pressure and offering to take their reading.
Most people are unaware they have high blood pressure, as it usually presents no symptoms. However, it is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the UK. Health champions who conduct these blood pressure checks will be lifesavers for many in the borough.
Newly trained health champions will start testing in communities in mid-June. People interested in volunteering can give as much or as little of their time, e.g. once a month, once a week, or whenever you have time. You do not need to be an expert, as training will be provided.
Volunteering as a health champion can help bring people together and make communities stronger and more resilient. We know that volunteers who do this experience a boost to their wellbeing and gain a sense of purpose – they also make new friends and gain skills.
A training day has been arranged for Friday 26 May. If you want to help support the project, the first step is to apply to be a health champion on the Volunteer Telford website.
If you are unable to attend the training then please still get in touch, as further training will be planned through June and July.