Public Health leaders in Somerset are appealing to sports and community clubs in Somerset to partner with them to help reduce the number of suicides in the county. The suicide rate in Somerset currently stands at 12.7 per 100,000, which…

More than 90 staff at Leonardo in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters, know their numbers after taking part in the blood pressure awareness campaign yesterday – 17th September 2024. ‘Take the Pressure Off’, a joint initiative between Public Health…

Somerset Council is reducing the number of its Lead, Shadow and Associate Member roles, resulting in significant savings for the Local Authority. The Executive will be reduced from eight Lead Members to seven, Associate Lead Members will be reduced from…

Somerset Council’s ‘Walk for a Life’ event, aimed at raising awareness of suicide prevention, returns for a third year on Saturday 7 September. The walk starts at 10:30am at the Quaker Meeting House in Taunton and will pass through Taunton…

A consultation is being launched to help shape Somerset’s future Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy. Somerset Council, working in partnership with the Somerset Homelessness Reduction Board, is inviting Somerset residents and those closely involved in the sector, including social care,…

Press release issued on behalf of Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service. A Somerset farmer has been ordered to pay more than £50,000 for failing to test chickens and eggs for salmonella before they went into the food…

Somerset Council’s Public Health team have joined forces with Somerset Drug and Alcohol Service (SDAS) to offer free health checks across the county from 1st – 5th July 2024, as part of Alcohol Awareness Week. The theme of this year’s…

With Glastonbury Festival opening its gates in less than a week, Somerset Council’s Public Health team and the UK Health Security Agency are reminding visitors to stay safe and be aware of possible risks to their health when attending the…

June sees the launch of Regain, a new innovative programme that will equip Job Centre Plus staff with specialised training to enhance their skills and knowledge to assist individuals facing challenges with substance use, that may be affecting them successfully…

A project to support young people’s wellbeing by discovering what makes them happy has resulted in a new e-zine. 30 organisations and 620 young people in Somerset have taken part in the “What Makes You Happy?” community project. The year-long…

A new campaign has launched in Somerset to end opioid overdoses by equipping communities with access to lifesaving information and medicine. The Carry Naloxone campaign promotes a new app which helps people find locations that supply free naloxone – a…

Purple chairs are being installed in libraries across Somerset to provide a clear beacon of safety for women and girls. The ‘Purple Chair Scheme’ provides a safe space for women and girls to get information about health and wellbeing, as…

As families eagerly anticipate celebrating Easter at home, Somerset Council is calling on friends and family to be vigilant and stand up against domestic abuse during this holiday season. Recognising that home may not always be a safe place for…

In an important step to improve community health across the county, NHS Somerset and Somerset Council have partnered with Yeovil Town Football Club as part of their ‘Take the Pressure Off’ campaign, raising awareness of the importance of testing your…

This year’s National HIV Testing Week is the 5th to 11th February, and Somerset Council’s Public Health team are using this opportunity to encourage people to look after their sexual health by getting a test, particularly if they have had…

The new initiative kicked off with a launch event at the school on Friday January 5th which was attended by Gold Heptathlete Seren Rodgers. At the event, Rodgers gave an inspirational talk to the children about her experience of winning…

Each year, thousands of people across the UK go alcohol free for Dry January, a national campaign to improve drinking habits across Britain. The benefits of going dry for 31 days include better sleep, increased energy levels, improved mental health…

On Friday 1 December, Somerset Council’s Public Health Team will be encouraging people across Somerset to ‘Claim their status’ by having an HIV test. World AIDS Day is held on December 1 each year. It is a day of solidarity…

A range of green improvements are on the way for Alcombe Children’s Centre thanks to Somerset Council and government grants. It is estimated the revamp of the building in Minehead will deliver carbon savings of nearly twelve tonnes per year,…

A new campaign aims to raise the profile of lesser-known types of domestic abuse and encourage those who may not realise they are being abused to come forward for support and advice. Launching on White Ribbon Day and at the…