February is World Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of Cardiovascular health. On Valentine’s Day, Saturday 14th February, Blackpool organisations united to support the Lancashire ‘Healthy Hearts’ campaign.
The Healthy Hearts campaign is a collaboration between Lancashire County Council, Lancs and South Cumbria ICB, the national We Are Undefeatable campaign and Together an Active Future.
Using LCC public health and insight from the British Heart Foundation, the campaign focuses on nine districts in the county where premature mortality from Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) is higher than the national English average.
To help raise awareness locally, partners hosted a match-day activation at Blackpool Football Club to encourage adults to ‘Know Your Numbers’ and have their blood pressure checked regularly.
The NHS ‘HARRI’ van (Health, Advice, Recovery, Resilience, and Information) was parked outside the stadium and offered fans quick blood pressure checks and heart health advice.
Representatives from Blackpool FC Community Trust (BFCCT), Move Together Blackpool, Active Blackpool, Blackpool Population Health Team and Lancs & South Cumbria ICB handed out specially designed ‘z card’ leaflets sharing Darren’s inspirational story, a local man who through attending a range of sessions provided by Blackpool Community Trust and through moving more, has made a remarkable recovery following a stroke.
“We’re so proud of what Darren has achieved. Darren’s story is a real reminder of how important it is to know your numbers and get your blood pressure checked. Small steps into physical activity can lead to life-changing results. Through our programmes and community sessions, every week we see how moving more not only improves physical health but also mental wellbeing and confidence. We are delighted to be working alongside our partners to spread these heart health messages to reach more people and help prevent others going through what Darren did” says Dave Maclean, Active Through Football Manager at Blackpool FC Community Trust.
The z card also includes information from Dr Arif Rajpura, Blackpool Council’s Director of Public Health, on the importance of blood pressure checks and details of Active Blackpool’s exercise referral programme.
The cards were placed on the tables in the corporate hospitality area, in the club shop and campaign promotion was included in the match day programme and on the large digital screen during half time.
Sport England recognise the importance physical activity messaging can play in preventing and managing long term health conditions. TaAF provided the resources and capacity to turn the idea into reality in just four weeks.
The Impact
The match attracted 9858 fans and 25 people took the opportunity to have their blood pressure checked, with two individuals advised to seek further medical advice. This demonstrates the value of providing accessible health checks and how they can make a difference in early detection and prevention.
This event was the first time the organisations involved have collaborated in this way to boost local awareness of heart health.
Next Steps
Following the success of the event, Vicki Wagstaff, CVD and LTC Prevention Manager at Lancs & South Cumbria ICB has shared the digital ‘z card’ with other football clubs across the county, hoping to encourage similar initiatives.
Over the next few weeks, a targeted social media campaign will reinforce the match-day activation and continue to share important heart health messages:
- Raising awareness of the importance of ‘knowing your numbers’,
- Signposting residents to their local pharmacies and BFCCT for blood pressure checks
- Promoting the role physical activity can play to support people living with heart conditions to improve their health and wellbeing.
If you like to find out more about this initiative, please email alison.whittaker-stewart@blackburn.gov.uk