Step-Up Cardiovascular Disease Project
Last year, our bid for a portion of the Step-Up fund was successful – where we have designed a pilot project aimed at boosting heart and vascular health in Birkenhead. This initiative is all about weaving cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention into the fabric of our community by teaming up with local social supermarkets, food banks, allotments, growers, and household fund providers. Our focus is on creating an approach that can help people of all ages, promoting a healthier lifestyle for everyone.
Head to the bottom of the page to help us choose a name for the project 👇
What’s the Plan?
Our goal is to enhance the efforts in preventing CVD within Birkenhead A (Bidston Hill, Claughton North & South, Birkenhead Central & South, Noctorum North, Upton East and Oxton North). By partnering with local food networks and community groups, we’re embedding effective heart health strategies into daily routines.
This means working closely with our partners and the individuals they support to pinpoint the resources, training, and educational opportunities that are most needed. This project aligns with Wirral’s Core20PLUS5 plans and Health and Wellbeing Strategy, focusing on:
- Personalised health coaching: Offering one-on-one support to encourage heart-friendly habits.
- Community involvement: Building strong connections with local groups to spread awareness about CVD.
- Collaborative partnerships: Joining forces with organisations that share our vision to maximise our impact.
- Ongoing education: Providing lasting knowledge to help the community understand and prevent heart disease.
Why Is This Important?
Heart disease is a leading cause of illness in the UK, especially in areas like Cheshire and Merseyside. In places such as Birkenhead A, economic challenges often lead to higher rates of conditions like high blood pressure, which increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, vascular dementia and kidney issues. Residents in the most deprived communities are 30% more likely to experience high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for CVD.
Diet plays a crucial role in preventing heart disease. However, many low-income households struggle to access and maintain a heart-healthy diet. Financial constraints, limited availability of fresh and nutritious foods, and a reliance on processed options contribute to higher CVD risks. Social and cultural factors, a lack of nutrition education, and limited time for meal preparation further hinder the adoption of healthier eating habits.
By boosting health knowledge, promoting heart-healthy diets, and improving access to care, this project aims to benefit residents of Birkenhead A and serve as a model for tackling health inequalities in other underserved communities.
Working Together
We’re delighted to have Amy Butterworth from Make It Happen helping to connect us with local food banks, allotments, growers, and household fund providers. Still in the first phase, we’re meeting with these groups to build relationships, understand their daily operations, learn about who uses their services, assess the impact on individual health, and gauge their current understanding of cardiovascular disease. This phase also involves identifying potential training needs to effectively implement CVD prevention strategies.
This project not only supports the NHS’s focus on preventing cardiovascular disease, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan, but also aligns with national efforts to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for all.
We encourage both professionals and community members to join us in this vital effort to combat heart disease and foster a healthier, well-informed community.
We Need Your Help
We’re trying to decide on a project name and have come up with a few options. Please vote for your favourite 👇