The Department of Health and Social Care’s Self Care Steering Group has joined forces with Manx Sport and Recreation to launch this year’s Self Care Week. They will be hosting a free ‘Boccia and Bowling for Better Health’ event at the National Sports Centre (NSC), Douglas on Monday 17 November 2014.
 
Everyone is welcome to come and have a free taster session of either of these sports between 10am and 12noon.  Bowling will take place in the Indoor Bowling Hall with a Boccia session taking place at the same time in the Secondary Sports Hall.
 
Opportunities will be available throughout the week, 17 – 23 November, for the public to explore the importance of self care and where to go for advice. This will include poster displays at the NSC, Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital, and at the Community Health Centre on Westmoreland Road.  On Friday 21 November, information stands will be on display at the Isle of Man Airport, along with members of the Self Care Steering Group and staff from different care sectors on hand to explain more about self care.
 
Mr Butt MLC, Member for Health, said: “Supporting self care and encouraging people to stay active is essential to maintaining and improving wellbeing.  The concepts of self care and ill health prevention are a vital part of the Government’s priority to protect the vulnerable.  Promoting Self Care Week enables the public to learn more about the actions they can take for themselves and their families to stay healthy and to take care of minor and long term health conditions and the benefits of these practices.”
 
Norman Kneen, lay representative for the Department of Health and Social Care’s Self Care Steering Group said: “Staying active is an important part of self care.  Indoor bowls is a great game for all the family to enjoy giving the opportunity to help keep fit and socialise.  Boccia is a game derived from bowling, played over a set number of ends, to score as many points as possible by placing – rolling, throwing or kicking – the coloured balls closest to the white Jack ball.  It is a game for all ages and abilities, having been designed for players with severe disabilities as a Paralympic Sport.”
 
Ann Corkill, Senior Nurse Self Care said: “Celebrating Self Care Week is an important way of raising awareness about the important role self care plays in wellbeing.  Supporting people to self care brings many benefits, such as improving confidence, knowledge, skills and overall wellbeing.”
 
For further information on self care please contact Ann Corkill, Senior Nurse Self Care, on Tel: 811830 or email: ann.corkill@gov.im.