Blackburn with Darwen Public Health

05/02/2026

Today marks Time to Talk day!

This year we would like to focus on encouraging conversations around mental health💛

Hazel, a We are Undefeatable storyteller, started to struggle with her mental health as her strength and mobility declined as she started to find gardening difficult. This was her source of happiness.

This was until she discovered the Greenhouse Project at Witton Country Park.

Together with her friend, Hazel never misses the weekly sessions at the local gardening club.

The Greenhouse Project is more than just a place to garden – it’s a community that fosters connection and growth. It’s a place where Hazel has formed new friendships beyond her usual social circle and embraced opportunities to learn and visit new places.

If you are struggling with your mental health try reach out to a friend or a mental health service who can direct you to receive the help you need 😊

If you would like to read more on Hazel's story click

https://bewellbwd.com/active-living-hazel/

OR

If you would like to know more about the Greenhouse Project click

https://www.lancswt.org.uk/witton-greenhous

Blackburn with Darwen NHS re:fresh Blackburn with Darwen We Are Undefeatable
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust IMO_Charity Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

05/02/2026

Coming to Audley this Friday! 📣

Lots of women have used the NHS’s Living Well bus to have their first ever cervical screening test while it’s been in Lancashire. 🚐

Tomorrow the bus will be outside Audley Children’s Centre on Pringle Street between 11am and 4pm.

If you know a woman who is overdue a cervical screening test – or is over 25 and has never had one – please encourage them to go along. They don’t need an appointment.

It takes less than 10 minutes to have the test in the safe, comfortable and private space on board the Living Well bus. It’s a lot like having it in your GP practice, with female NHS staff.

Cervical screening has the potential to save lives – it tests for HPV (or human papillomavirus) which can cause cervical cancer, meaning treatment can be given before it can turn into cervical cancer. It’s offered to women from the age of 25.

There’s more detail on cervical screening on board the Living Well bus on The Shuttle news website – see link in comments. ⬇

02/02/2026

Shout out to all our We Are Undefeatable story tellers!

This national Storytelling week, we would like to celebrate all those who have come forward throughout the years and shared their inspiring journeys with us, helping those with similar long term health conditions to not lose hope.

From sharing posts on our social media to attending events you have all been great help in sharing the importance of the We are Undefeatable campaign.

If you would like to stay active and learn more about the campaign, please visit the We are Undefeatable app down below

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.weareundefeatable.app&pli=1

OR

If you would like to read more on our story tellers and their inspiring stories visit the Be Well website via the link below 😊

https://bewellbwd.com/?s=we+are+undefeatable&id=119

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust re:fresh Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn with Darwen NHS Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council IMO_Charity

29/01/2026

For all kinds of reasons, some of us struggle more with poor mental health over winter.

If your mental health is getting worse and you need support, please know that help is always available to people who need it in Blackburn with Darwen.

Before it gets to crisis point, there are a range of support services that you can access.

Look out for these bright orange Get Help Now stickers around our borough, signposting people to urgent support.

The eye-catching stickers have a QR code that takes people to the Be Well BwD website with details of all the support available locally and nationally.

Whether someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, issues with substance use, gambling that’s severely affecting their health, or problems with addiction, help is available.

By scanning the Get Help Now QR code, they can find the right support for them.
Find out more about the support available when it all gets too much – click the link in comments.

29/01/2026

The Recipe 4 Health Award recognises food businesses, including schools and nurseries, that promote healthy eating, environmental issues and social responsibility. It looks at:

Cleanliness and fairness – making sure food is accurately described and safe to eat

Allergen awareness

Alcohol awareness

Healthy eating

Environmental focus – reducing food miles and getting rid of waste responsibly

This nursery is a new gold award holder. The award is free and available on three levels;

Bronze - for businesses with a minimum of a 3* food hygiene rating
Silver - for businesses with a minimum of a 4* food hygiene rating
Gold - for businesses with a minimum of a 5* food hygiene rating

If you are a local food business, you can apply for a free award that shows your commitment to providing healthier alternatives via the link below

https://bewellbwd.com/a-z-services/recipe-4-health/

To register you will need to complete the business details and answer the questions, attaching any supporting information, as requested 😊

29/01/2026

Today we focus on Women’s Health as part of Health Information Week. 💙

Dilwara, one of the We Are Undefeatable storytellers has a rare endocrine long-term health condition with symptoms that has affected her for most of her life. Her symptoms include fatigue , severe headaches, hormonal changes and repeated kidney stones as well as being perimenopausal.

Dilwara wanted to be as healthy as she could be despite her lifestyle being very busy. She decided to raise money for charity by walking. As the challenge became a regular occurrence, she discovered that she loved to walk on the canal as they are ideal for beginners, flat and easy to navigate. ‘I’ve discovered so many beautiful places in the borough beyond – Darwen Tower, Sunnyhurst Wood, Rivington, Pendle Hill – which I wasn’t aware of until I started walking, I found coming to the canal was my thing. Finding that ‘me’ time, being close to nature and seeing it at different times of the year is amazing.”

This health information week, try and discover what physical exercise works for you! It could be cycling, gardening, yoga or walking like Dilwara. The We Are Undefeatable apps gives you tailored exercise programmes to follow anywhere, anytime if you also have a long term health condition.
Visit 👉 https://weareundefeatable.co.uk/.../we-are-undefeatable-app/ to download,

BwD Healthy Living BwD Leisure Blackburn with Darwen Public Health Blackburn with Darwen NHS The 180 Project We Are Undefeatable Ribble Rivers Trust

28/01/2026

It’s a fact that damp homes can affect our health.



Damp encourages the growth of mould and mites, which can increase the risk of respiratory illness.



The biggest cause of damp in our homes is condensation.



And there’s a really simple way to get rid of damp air that leads to condensation – house burping!



Watch this animation that explains what house burping is and how it can help get rid of stale, damp air in our homes.



Opening windows at the front and back of your home for just 5 to 10 minutes a day is enough – a short, sharp blast of fresh air can flush out the damp air without giving your walls, floors or furniture time to lose their warmth.



It’s particularly important in rooms that are most prone to damp — kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.



There’s advice on reducing damp and mould in our homes on the Be Well BwD website

https://bewellbwd.com/damp-and-mould/

re:fresh Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn with Darwen NHS Care Network Hub

This is "House_Burps_V7" by Blackburn with Darwen Council on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

27/01/2026

Anyone who is eligible for a flu jab on the NHS can get theirs on the mobile ‘vaccine van’.

It’s out today in BwD at:

Royal Blackburn Hospital
Haslingden Road
BB2 3HH

From 9am – 3pm

AND

Shadsworth Family Hub
Rothesay Road
BB1 2RH

From 10am – 4pm

No appointments are needed, just arrive any time.

Keep an eye on the schedule for where the vaccine van will be when: https://bit.ly/winterjabs

23/01/2026

Women! Get a cervical screen on the NHS Living Well bus at Blackburn ASDA this Saturday, 24 January, between 11am and 4pm.

Watch as Blackburn GP Dr Madiha Chowdhury explains what happens when women go for their cervical screen on board the bus.

99.8% of cervical cancer cases are preventable if they are caught early, which is why screening is so important. In short, it saves lives.

If you are a women due a cervical screen – or know someone who is – please share this video with them.

Click below for the full list of dates and locations for the Living Well bus over the next couple of months.

https://lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/cervical-screening-bus

This is "Cervical Screening Video" by Blackburn with Darwen Council on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

21/01/2026

Living in a damp home can cause respiratory illnesses and make conditions like asthma much worse.



So it’s important to do what we can ourselves to reduce condensation causing damp and mould at home.



These three houses are helping us to spread the word about ‘house burping’ – give our animation a watch!



If you haven’t heard of house burping before, it’s the name given to opening windows for a short time each day to get rid of stale air, and let fresh air into our homes.



It’s a really simple way to get rid of stale, damp air that can cause condensation and encourage mould and mildew to grow.



Opening windows at the front and back of your home for just 5 to 10 minutes a day is enough – a short, sharp blast of fresh air can flush out the damp air without giving your walls, floors or furniture time to lose their warmth.



It’s particularly important in rooms that are most prone to damp — kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.



There’s advice on reducing damp and mould in our homes on the Be Well BwD website

https://bewellbwd.com/damp-and-mould/

Care Network Hub re:fresh Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn with Darwen NHS

This is "House_Burps_V7" by Blackburn with Darwen Council on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

19/01/2026

On Monday 19 January, it is Brew Monday – a national day that encourages us to pause, connect with one another, and look after our mental wellbeing during the winter months.

We know that this time of year can feel challenging for many people, so Brew Monday is a great opportunity to create space for friendly conversations, shared moments, and simple actions that help you and others not feel alone.

Get involved this Brew Monday by:

· Plan a brew break with your friends, family or even colleague to grab a tea, coffee, or hot chocolate together.

· Use this time to catch up and ask how everyone’s doing. A quick chat can brighten someone’s day.

· Whether it’s in person or virtually, keep it simple, the goal is to make a connection.

Make sure to tag us and use the to show us how you spend Brew Monday this year!

17/01/2026

Living in a damp home can cause respiratory illnesses and make conditions like asthma much worse.

So it’s important to do what we can ourselves to reduce condensation causing damp and mould at home.

These three houses are helping us to spread the word about ‘house burping’ – give our animation a watch!

If you haven’t heard of house burping before, it’s the name given to opening windows for a short time each day to get rid of stale air, and let fresh air into our homes.

It’s a really simple way to get rid of stale, damp air that can cause condensation and encourage mould and mildew to grow.

Opening windows at the front and back of your home for just 5 to 10 minutes a day is enough – a short, sharp blast of fresh air can flush out the damp air without giving your walls, floors or furniture time to lose their warmth.

It’s particularly important in rooms that are most prone to damp — kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.

There’s advice on reducing damp and mould in our homes on the Be Well BwD website

https://bewellbwd.com/damp-and-mould/

This is "House_Burps_V7" by Blackburn with Darwen Council on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.