Guest lecture for HESS students from Southampton City Council's Dave Shields.

Southampton Solent students got an insight into how Southampton City Council work to make the city's communities healthier this week.  Dave Shields, manager of the Healthy Communities team, gave a guest lecture to a group of Health, Exercise and Sport Science students studying Physical Activity and Public Health Interventions, outlining some of the excellent work that goes on within priority neighbourhoods in the city.  The students were given an overview of the state of health in the city, and learnt about innovative schemes such as the Thornhill Health and Well-Being project.  They also gained an insight into physical activity interventions such as Walk, Talk and Eat, which aims to help to get residents with mobility issues out into the fresh air to gain some exercise.  Dave has been working collaboratively with Solent's Dr Marie Stopforth to enable students to get practical experience of working in a physical activity intervention within the city.  Dr Stopforth says "This type of partnership work between Solent and Southampton City Council will improve students' practical skills and knowledge, whilst making them more employable, and providing important networking opportunities".

Fitness and Personal Training students refine their skills.

Third year Fitness and Personal Training students from Southampton Solent University, under the direction of Glynis Young from the Health, Exercise and Sport Science portfolio are refining their skills with clients who want personal training sessions to help improve their conditions as well as their overall fitness.  Clients are referred from GPs and the Physiotherapy Department at Southampton General Hospital.  The students will work with clients who present with a wide-range of conditions including arthritis, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis and Parkinson's Disease. Students on this unit have the opportunity of gaining a specialist REPs qualification for working with patients with medically referred conditions.

Guest lecture for HESS students from Southampton City Primary Care Trust

Jenny Davies from Southampton City Primary Care Trust came in to Solent this week to give a guest lecture to the Health and Fitness students who are studying Physical Activity and Public Health Interventions. Jenny is a nutritionist, and leads the Fit for Life strategy for the Southampton area. She gave the students an insight into her role within the PCT, and discussed the skills and knowledge that are essential for gaining employment in this area. Jenny has also agreed to set up a short work placement where students can get hands on experience of working on a physical activity project in the city. Dr Marie Stopforth hopes to be working closely with Jenny in the future to provide students with further opportunities to become involved in research projects in the area of physical activity and public health.