Publish date: 24 July 2023
Region unites in ambition to Make Every Contact Count for 3 million people
No matter who we are, where we work, or where we live, we can all make a positive difference by using every-day conversations to promote health and wellbeing.
That was the key message at an event last month which brought together people from across the region with an interest in promoting healthy lives, to set an ambitious target to reach three million people and improve lives across the North East and North Cumbria.
The region’s Making Every Contact Count (MECC) Programme held a conference to acknowledge and celebrate the positive impact the MECC approach has had on people’s lives and how to spread this even further.
MECC is an evidence-based approach to behaviour change which supports people in public facing roles to recognise opportunities to talk to people about what they would like to do or change to support their health and wellbeing. Everybody within the region can make a difference, no matter who they are or what they do.
A great example of MECC in practice was presented by Stuart Jackson, aged 56, from Gateshead. Like many others, Stuart felt that the pandemic took a toll on his physical and mental health. After seeing his friend go through a major health scare, this prompted him to sign up to Falcons Fit linking his love of rugby to improving his own health through the club.
The health and wellbeing programme, delivered by Newcastle Rugby Foundation, has resulted in significant improvements in his health and lifestyle.
“I feel so much better both physically and mentally and I now know how to manage my health a lot better through exercise and diet,” he said. “Before, I saw exercise as a chore, but now I really enjoy it and aim to do at least 30 minutes a day. It makes me feel very accomplished.
“As well as improving our health, the sessions also helped us form friendships where we encouraged and supported each other, and I can honestly say we all left those sessions with smiles on our faces.
“I’m so grateful for the difference MECC has made to my life through the Falcons Fit programme.”
Darren Greco, funding and development manager at Newcastle Rugby Foundation, said: “Incorporating MECC into our Falcons Fit well-being programme has enabled us to make a positive impact to the health of our community in the North East.
“Utilising the Falcons brand, fan base and stadium facilities, we’re able to engage rugby fans who may not access traditional NHS services. Falcons Fit enables us to support them and make improvements to their lifestyle through a non-clinical well-being programme.”
A key focus of MECC is about the prevention of ill health and the changes that we can all make to maintain health and wellbeing, and ensure longer, healthier, and happier lives.
Jill Harland, chair of North East and North Cumbria MECC said:
“We know that there are significant gaps in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy within the North East and North Cumbria in comparison to some other parts of the country and this is unacceptable.
“Brief conversations can encourage people to consider what impacts their health and explore the opportunities they have or the support that is available to help them make changes to live a healthier life for longer. We can all play a part.
“MECC is universal, it’s not just healthcare professionals who can have these conversations, absolutely anyone can – hairdressers, customer service representatives, any role that involves speaking to others. Everybody has the power to help someone through their conversations and we encourage as many people as possible to get involved in MECC.”
The conference, which was held at Durham University, brought together a large variety of people and organisations from the region and across the country, including Frameworks UK, Money and Pensions Service and Royal Society for Public Health. With representation from the NHS, emergency services, universities, professional sport club's charities and local authorities, attendees were able to network and share practice.
Craig Robson, regional MECC lead added: “Primarily, MECC includes conversations about physical activity, weight, smoking, alcohol, and mental health. However, we’ve developed MECC in our region to include things that shape the health and wellbeing of society overall. This may include financial wellbeing, affordable warmth, green space, and loneliness.
“Our MECC Gateway website includes details of services and resources available where people live. It can be used as a signposting tool which can support you to have conversations to help others. It’s open to anyone in the region who would like to make a positive impact, including individuals, businesses, NHS Trusts and local authorities.”
The regional MECC training programme forms part of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System’s (ICS) work to ensure we achieve better health and wellbeing for all in the North East and North Cumbria, to help people live healthier lives for longer and is hosted by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
To learn more about MECC and how you can get involved, visit www.meccgateway.co.uk/nenc
Media contact:
Jesse Ngonyama, marketing assistant apprentice, Northumbria Healthcare
jesse.