Health and Wellbeing Advice

The Healthy Hub East Herts is here to help you achieve your healthy lifestyle and wellbeing goals for the rest of the year. Whether you want to participate in groups and become more active or find out about online classes, there is something for everyone.

The following resources are for all ages to help you choose what you would like to do, it could be keeping active in the comfort of your own home or going out and trying something new. The Healthy Hub East Herts is keen to help you whether you are looking to take gentle steps to improve your own health and wellbeing or have tried different approaches and need encouragement to keep going.

Have a look at the categories below which show lots of information across different health and wellbeing areas, including financial wellbeing. 

The Healthy Hub East Herts team has helped over 2000 people in the last five years. We can help you too, in taking those first steps to improve your health and wellbeing or manage better with the situation you are facing at the moment.

If you prefer to have a more personalised approach please see how you can get in touch with the Healthy Hub. 

 

Try self-help weight management

Pregnancy and early years

  • NHS - healthy diet during pregnancy – including information on supplements, foods to avoid, and the Healthy Start card and free vitamins.
  • Start4Life – healthy eating advice from pregnancy until your child's second birthday.

 

Families 

  • Change 4 Life – help your child maintain a healthy weight and stay active.
  • Beezee Families – a free programme to help the whole family maintain a healthy weight.
  • Food facts – find out what’s in the food your family eats.

     

Free Activities

  • ParkRun and ParkPlay events– join a run or game across Hertfordshire, every Saturday morning.
  • ParksHerts – interactive maps, walking, running and activity routes in over 140 parks and open spaces in Hertfordshire.
  • Hertfordshire Health Walks – guided group walks across the county.
  • Cycling - routes, clubs and maintenance help in Hertfordshire.
  • Youtube workouts - featuring our fire and rescue colleagues, these videos highlight the positive effect of 'Healthy Body, Healthy Mind'.
  • NHS Better Health – access free tools and tips to become more active every day.
  • Hertfordshire Wildlife Trust – access nature walks in your local area, discover new places and meet new friends.

Find an Activity in Your Area

Cheap activities

  • Moving More activity finder
  • Leisure centres offer free trials so you can decide if it’s right for you before joining. Find one nearest to you and check out the variety of activities available such as swimming, the gym or an A to Z of classes to suit all abilities.
  • We Are Undefeatable – support for people with a long-term health condition to keep active.
     

Activities for Older Adults – Healthy Ageing

  • Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire – learning events covering topics such as how to reduce risk of falls, frailty and dementia. You can also sign up to their free newsletter and be notified of upcoming events in Hertfordshire.
  • Strength & Balance classes in Hertfordshire – for people wanting to improve their strength and balance while learning some new exercises to help maintain independence.
  • MolyFit have free online wellness and exercise videos and free self-help body awareness eBooks to download.
     

Activities for Children & Younger Teenagers

  • HAPpy Activity Camps is a holiday provision for school aged children from reception to year 11 who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.
  • NHS better health, healthier families - food facts, recipes and activities.
  • Walking Buses is a safe and fun way to encourage children to walk to school together.
  • The Daily Mile is simple, free and gets children out of the classroom for 15 minutes every day to run or jog at their own pace with their classmates. 75% of Hertfordshire primary schools are signed up – check if your school is one of them.
  • BeeZee Families are a dedicated team of nutritionists and behaviour change experts, who can help you make real, long-lasting changes towards a healthier lifestyle, running weight management and healthy lifestyles programmes for adults and families across the UK.
  • Junior Parkrun is a free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for 4 to 14 year olds, taking place every Sunday from 9am, across Hertfordshire.
     

Get Active During and After Pregnancy

  • Moving More - find prenatal and postnatal activities across Hertfordshire.
  • This Mum Moves - find a range of low to high intensity workout videos to suit all fitness levels during pregnancy and after childbirth.
  • First Steps - if you weren’t active before pregnancy, start gradually with a gentle Hertfordshire Health Walk. Move up to 'graded walks' when you're ready.
  • Hertfordshire Family Centre Services offer free activities and support to help you stay active and social as a new parent.
  • Exercising in pregnancy (NHS.UK) - which exercises you can do and which to avoid.
    The benefits of exercising throughout pregnancy
     

  • Better Homes Better Health – obtain free advice about taking preventive steps to make your home more energy efficient to improve your health and wellbeing. 
  • HertsHelp - speak to advisors for free, confidential advice on local services and support.
  • Citizens Advice Hertfordshire - offers a range of advice services, including information on housing conditions like damp and infestations. 
  • National Energy Foundation - get independent expert advice to improve your home’s energy efficiency, save money, and enhance comfort.
  • Shelter - information on what action to take if your rented accommodation, social housing or housing association has damp or mould.
  • GOV.UK - get tailored information on how to get something fixed by your landlord or letting agent, and what to do next if they’re not responding to your requests.
     

•    Access services local support for you and your family members to help with drug and alcohol issues. 

Support services in Hertfordshire

  • Breakeven - free telephone or online counselling for gambling related issues.
  • The Living Room - Free, specialist group therapy for adults experiencing gambling harms. Support groups for affected family and carers. A safe, abstinence-based environment for long-term recovery.
  • Citizens Advice - free confidential advice to help you with financial, legal and gambling-related issues.
  • NHS East of England Gambling Service - get an assessment for access to free Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), individual, couples and/or family therapy, psychiatric reviews, and peer support. 
  • Money Advice Unit - expert advice on managing your finances and dealing with debt to help you regain control.
  • Carers in Hertfordshire – for family, friends and carers. Discuss your practical and emotional concerns around caring. Share experiences with others, and find free workshops and training.
  • Hertfordshire Viewpoint - a charity providing peer support and advocacy for individuals dealing with addiction and mental health challenges.
     

National support services

National Gambling Support Network - free, confidential and tailored advice for people struggling with gambling, and people who are worried about someone else’s gambling. Find the right support based on your situation, location and support preferences - available 24/7.

National Gambling Helpline - call or chat online to an advisor for one-on-one confidential advice and support - available 24/7.

Primary Care Gambling Service - self-referral support and therapy services for anyone suffering with gambling harms, including family members and friends.
 

Self help options

GamCare Recovery Toolkit offers online practical tools and strategies to help you stop or reduce your gambling, including:

  • blocking software
  • self-exclusion information
  • money and debt management advice
  • online peer support
  • chatrooms
  • self-guided workbooks and support tools.
     
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