Children and Young People – Community Health Champions https://chc.vast.org.uk volunteering to promote better health in Stoke-on-Trent Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:10:40 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://chc.vast.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png Children and Young People – Community Health Champions https://chc.vast.org.uk 32 32 New HPV website https://chc.vast.org.uk/new-hpv-website/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:02:36 +0000 https://chc.vast.org.uk/?p=17788

Launch of HPV website for families and professionals

 A new website to help young people and their parents find out more about the HPV vaccine is now available.

The HPV Inform website will help to tackle HPV vaccine misinformation and give families the information they need to make decisions to protect their children’s health.

Research carried out in Stoke-on-Trent found that young people and their parents don’t know enough about the vaccine which aims to protect against cancer and other serious health conditions. 

It also found that anti-vax sentiment and cultural and religious beliefs were contributing to low take-up of the vaccine which is offered to pupils in high school – the number of young people getting the vaccine is about 20 percent below national average for both males and females. 

The HPV vaccine helps to protect against human papillomavirus – a very common group of viruses which is usually spread through direct skin to skin contact, especially during sexual activity. Although not everyone exposed to it will develop symptoms or an infection, in extreme cases it can cause genital warts and cancers including cervical cancer, mouth cancer and cancers affecting the genitals in males and females.  

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Public Health team enlisted VAST’s Community Health Champions (CHC) project to understand why more young people in the city weren’t getting the HPV vaccine.  

A project report made a number of recommendations designed to improve the take up of the vaccine locally. These include the creation of myth busting videos presented by people from a broad range of communities which directly address their concerns.

The new website created by the Health Protection Unit in Evaluation and Behavioural Science at the University of Bristol includes resources developed for young people, for parents and carers, for professional and communities.

This includes videos to answer questions young people may have about the HPV vaccine and prepare them to have the vaccine at school as well as videos to help address concerns parents/carers may have about the vaccine. Other resources include lesson plans about the HPV vaccine for use by schools and healthcare professionals plus a helpful Q&A section.

 

Click here for the HPV Inform website
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]]> New chickenpox vaccine available to children in Stoke-on-Trent https://chc.vast.org.uk/new-chickenpox-vaccine-available-to-children-in-stoke-on-trent/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:23:29 +0000 https://chc.vast.org.uk/?p=17775

New chickenpox vaccine available to children

A new chickenpox (varicella) vaccine has been introduced to protect children from this common but sometimes serious illness.

Now, children born on or after 1 July 2024 will be offered a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine at 12 and 18 months of age.

There will also be a single dose catch-up vaccination available for children aged up to six years who have not received their first dose or have missed a dose and have not had chickenpox before.

Heather Johnstone, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board , said:

“Children, especially those with underlying health conditions, are regularly admitted to hospital with complications from chickenpox. The introduction of the varicella vaccine will make a real difference in preventing these cases and ensuring children stay healthy.

“It’s really important that families take up the offer of vaccination when invited, as it provides the best protection for their children and helps stop the spread of the illness to more vulnerable people in the community.”

Matthew Missen, Consultant in Public Health, added:

“This is a really positive step for families across our area. The chickenpox vaccine has been safely used for decades and is already part of the routine vaccine schedules in several countries, including Canada, Australia and Germany. While many people think of chickenpox as a mild childhood illness, it is highly contagious and can cause serious complications for some people.

From January 2026, parents and carers will receive invitations when their child is due to have the chickenpox vaccine. Vaccinations will usually take place at GP surgeries as part of the routine childhood immunisation appointments.

Children eligible for the catch-up programme will also be contacted by their GP practice. Parents who think their child may have missed a vaccination can speak to their GP, practice nurse or health visitor to check and arrange an appointment.

 

Guide to the MMRV vaccine
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]]> Activate with Joe Wicks! https://chc.vast.org.uk/activate-with-joe-wicks/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:27:38 +0000 https://chc.vast.org.uk/?p=17154

Information from: Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)

'Activate' with Joe Wicks: Summer activities for children

Children across the country are being inspired to move more this summer, with the launch of a new animated series.

Activate has been created by fitness coach, Joe Wicks MBE, and Studio AKA, the team behind ‘Hey Duggee.’ It’s backed by the government as part of a new partnership to reach schools and families across the country.

Physical activity is essential for growing bodies and minds. But over half (53%) of UK children are not meeting daily activity guidelines. Backed by the Department of Health & Social Care, Department for Education and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Activate aims to help address inactivity among children by getting children moving and making fitness fun.

The series promotes short bursts of movement through fun, accessible content that can be easily integrated into your day, whether at home, school, summer clubs or on the go – getting children moving over the summer and beyond.

Each 5-minute episode features an animated Joe Wicks, alongside original characters known as the Activators, and upbeat music courtesy of Universal Music UK, who are the exclusive music partners. The first few episodes of ‘Activate’ are available for free on The Body Coach YouTube channel, with further episodes released weekly over the holidays.

How can you help?

You can help get children moving this summer by:

  • Sharing this web page using the buttons below.
  • Sharing this Facebook post.
  • Sharing this image on Instagram with the caption: Get ready to Activate this summer! ☀ Joe Wicks and partners have launched a brand-new workout series, ‘Activate’, full of high-energy, fun, 5-minute workout ‘Challenges’ to keep kids active this summer holidays. The Challenges bring together new characters and bright animations and upbeat music 🎶👯 Head to The Body Coach channel on YouTube for the first episode! #SSoTHealthyCommunities #SoTHealthChamps
  • Download and print this poster to put on your CHC notice board and venues within your community. If you’d like us to print some for you, please email chc@vast.org.uk and we’ll get them ready for you to collect from the Dudson Centre.
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]]> Help parents find out what childcare support they’re eligible for https://chc.vast.org.uk/help-parents-find-out-what-childcare-support-theyre-eligible-for/ Fri, 08 Aug 2025 06:35:53 +0000 https://chc.vast.org.uk/?p=17129

Information from: Start for Life, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Help parents find out what childcare support they’re eligible for

From September 2025 and in addition to the support already available, working parents may be able to access 30 hours of childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year (a normal school years’ worth of childcare).

This is all part of the government’s Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life by making high-quality early years education and childcare more affordable and accessible for working families.

For working families that may be entitled to this free childcare to start in September, the deadline is 31st August 2025.

For others, the free childcare hours start the term after children are nine months old.

Find out more about free childcare hours

How you can help

You can help working families access the support they’re entitled to by:

  • Sharing this article using the share buttons below.
  • Encouraging working parents and carers to visit the Childcare Choices website where there’s lots of information and an eligibility checker for the free 30 hours of childcare. 
  • Downloading this image and share it on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media channels you use.
  • Download and print this leaflet to put on your CHC notice board, workplace, community venue, or anywhere you think it will be useful. If you would like us to print them for you, please email us at chc@vast.org.uk and we’ll get them ready for you to collect from the Dudson Centre.

Resources in other languages

If you would like to share some of these resources in other languages, please email us at chc@vast.org.uk and we’ll be able to send you some more information, print some leaflets, and share social media images for you to use. You can also download them here.

These resources come in the following languages:

  • Arabic
  • Bengali
  • French
  • Gujarati
  • Italian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Punjabi
  • Romanian
  • Spanish
  • Ukrainian, and 
  • Urdu.

Benefits of early years education and childcare

Research suggests that early years education and childcare helps children grow in confidence, communication, and curiosity – all through play!

Watch the video below to find out more about the benefits of early years chilcare. 

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]]> What’s the deal with vaccines? Young Voices, Expert Answers https://chc.vast.org.uk/whats-the-deal-with-vaccines-young-voices-expert-answers/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 07:31:41 +0000 https://chc.vast.org.uk/?p=17109

Information from: Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board

Young Voices, Expert Answers

Vaccines are safe and effective.

In this video, Dr Victoria Stanford and two local young people discuss some key questions about vaccines including:

  • Why should we get vaccines?
  • Are they safe?
  • Who should we trust if we want more information?

For information about vaccines offered to young people and which diseases they protect against, please click here.

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]]> UKHSA webinar: childhood immunisation schedule changes https://chc.vast.org.uk/ukhsa-webinar-childhood-immunisation-schedule-changes/ Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:37:08 +0000 https://chc.vast.org.uk/?p=17013

Information from: UK Health Security Agency

Childhood Vaccination Programme Changes Webinar

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Immunisation Team is hosting a webinar to talk you through the changes to routine childhood vaccinations. This includes infromation about the selective hepatitis B (HepB) programme starting in July, as well as the introduction of a new routine vaccination appointment at 18 months of age. 

This webinar is aimed at health professionals involved in the commissioning and delivery of childhood immunisations including those working in primary care, screening and immunisation teams, health visiting teams and integrated care boards (ICBs). 

  • Webinar Date: Wednesday 11th June 2025
  • Start and End Time: 2:00 – 3:15 pm

There is also an opportunity to pre-submit any questions to the panel. You can do this on this form. This will help us ensure the presentations are tailored to what attendees want to know. There will be an opportunity for live Q&A in the session.

Register for this webinar
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