Borough congratulates youngest ever Health Chatters

Health Chats are quick discussions aimed at helping people to lead healthier lifestyles and a growing number of Health Chatters are being trained to talk to fellow borough residents about healthy lifestyles and provide information about making positive changes to their lives.

Those trained as Health Chatters work towards a recognised Level 2 qualification in Public Health - certified by the Royal Society for Public Health - and learn about the wider risks of health and how to put that knowledge into practice at local level.

Training was delivered by Rochdale Training in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council.

Helen Skidmore, Public Health Manager for Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It’s great to be able celebrate our youngest ever Health Chatters gaining their awards and it’s a real boost for the students to gain an accredited qualification in advance of starting their GCSE exams. We hope that the students will use their Health Chats skills to improve not only their own health and wellbeing, but also that of their friends and family.”

Rochdale Training Tutor Rebecca Hey said: “Year 10 and 11 fully enjoyed the subject of health improvement. They used their knowledge to help encourage other people to make lifestyle changes. All students were fully engaged and felt they gained a great deal.”

Sue Astin, Healthy Schools Programme Manager, said: “This provided a wonderful opportunity to gain a qualification which will enable young people to promote positive health messages to peers, and for the girls to receive an extra qualification, especially as many of them are aiming to pursue a career in a health-related area.”

The training comprises two half-days which end with the completion of a multiple-choice exam. More than 1,300 Health Chatters are now trained throughout the borough.

If you’d like more information about becoming a Health Chatter, contact Helen Skidmore, Lifestyles Manager, on 01706 927074 or health.chats@rochdale.gov.uk.