Dr Richard Wright is a GP at Caterham Valley Medical Practice and the Growing Health Together GP lead for the North Tandridge area, covering Caterham, Warlingham, Whyteleafe and surrounding areas.
Richard is working with a wide range of citizens and local partners to support the establishment of new health-creating initiatives that respond to locally-identified need, and to support and promote existing projects that are supporting health and wellbeing in the area.
A small selection of these projects may be found below. For more information, please follow the links provided or email info@growinghealthtogether.org
A great new exercise activity is launching in September at de Stafford Sports Centre. This is a fun, exciting activity that is low impact and can be played one on one or as doubles. This is suitable for all abilities whether you have never picked up a racquet or are a seasoned pro! Meet new people, socialise and make new friends, this is a wonderful activity for over 60s to enjoy.
For more information contact Juliet at hctandridge@freedom-leisure.co.uk
Growing Health Together were one of several partners in the Caterham area who came together to respond to a need expressed by young people for more fun activities to do in the evening in a safe environment. With support from Active Surrey and Our Time Youth Agency, the Friday Night Project was born, hosted by Freedom Leisure at De Stafford Sports Centre in Caterham.
It runs every Friday in term time, offering sports, dance, games, music and much more to young people aged between 11 and 16 years. The programme is shaped by the young people attending, who report improvements in their mental, physical and social health and wellbeing. Click here for more information and booking details
Growing Health Together has supported the Prospero Theatre Company to continue running the Friday Club for people with disabilities and mental health conditions at The Arc in Caterham. The Friday Club has been supporting individuals with mental ill-health and disabilities since 2010. The Friday Club is about social inclusion and ownership and is run every Friday for 48 weeks of the year from 9.30-3.30pm.
Responding to increased reports of loneliness and low mood amongst care home residents following the pandemic, Growing Health Together programme manager Amanda Johnlewis acted swiftly to introduce the Intergenerational Music Making project to East Surrey, kicking off in the North Tandridge area. Children from local schools have been making music, having fun and being active with people living in care homes, with superb feedback from all participants and those supporting them.
You can watch a video of this great project which features Dr Wright providing a short overview of this fantastic initiative.
A formal evaluation of the project by South Bank university is underway, and we will share the results of this when available. This was just the first round and there is more to come! Watch this space!
Wellbeing initiatives have been launched for NHS staff at Townhill practice, by administrator Jade Whaley, supported by Dr Radhika Vohra, local GP and former Growing Health Together GP lead. Together they have also been supporting a revitalised Practice Health Champions initiative at the practice.
Practice Health Champions are volunteers who are working alongside practice staff with the aim of building on an already social and friendly community. They run a regular coffee morning for patients of the surgery, with further activities planned. For more details and updates, see Introducing our Health Champions | Townhill Medical Practice
The Westway Community Cafe and Wellbeing Centre is a warm and inclusive community hub, offering a phenomenal range of services, facilities and activities for people of all ages living in Caterham.
From Men in Sheds, to Tai Chi, seated exercise, competitive Paralympic sport Boccia, flower arranging, singing and a repair cafe, there is a huge range of health-creating activities on offer for low cost.
As their medical advisor, Growing Health lead Dr Wright is working closely with the Westway to encourage even more people to benefit from all that is on offer, and to support its seamless integration with health services for people of all ages, as well its long term sustainability.
For their current timetable and more information please visit their revamped website at The Westway
The opening workshop which brought together local residents and community partners who wanted to implement real change in improving health and wellbeing within their local area took place on 28th February 2023. Dr Wright is now seeking to capitalise on the subsequent Network Meetings that have taken place with the citizens being the driving force leading the meetings so communities can be strengthened in developing what has been identified as missing within the community. The next meeting is scheduled for September and will focus on Learning Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
