A recent progress report has found that the ‘C’mon Catrine – It’s Your Future’ initiative is well on its way to making Catrine a healthier place to live.

 The Healthy Weight Communities initiative, which began in 2009, encourages people living in Catrine to embrace healthy eating, physical activity and healthy weight as part of their everyday lives. Catrine was one of eight communities throughout Scotland selected by the Scottish Government to deliver pilot programmes initially until April 2011. Funding for the initiative has since been extended to March 2012.

Project officers Nikki Carstairs and Jane Moore have organised numerous events and activities for all age groups in Catrine including Primary School Health Week; a visit by the Cooking Bus; the creation of a Young Mum’s Group and the establishment of an annual Celebrate Catrine Family Fun Day in 2010. The team has also been working hard to improve the uptake of breastfeeding initiatives and are regularly invited to attend
PTA meetings to provide updates and support.

A national evaluation of the Healthy Weight Communities initiative found that the approach was proving effective due to the local community focus of the project, the creation of a local partnership of key agencies, and a focus on practical action to raise awareness and join up existing activities.

Councillor Kathy Morrice, Spokesperson for Community Health and Wellbeing, said: “The progress made so far by the C’mon Catrine team has been excellent. Part of the reason the project is working so well is that Catrine is a place that has a very strong sense of community and the residents have really engaged themselves in the initiative. The other reason is that Nikki and Jane have been out and about carrying out door-to-door surveys and face-to-face discussions with residents to find out their attitudes, beliefs and motivations so that the right activities can be planned for them.

“Our priority right now is to look into options to continue delivering the initiative beyond the pilot funding period so that Catrine continues to be a healthy, happy and enjoyable place in which to live and work.”

For more information on C’mon Catrine, contact Nikki Carstairs on 01563 554891 or email cmoncatrine@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.

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