Annual Report 2008

A Healthier Borough

Helping people to live independent and healthy lives is important for improving the quality of life in Hackney.

Mortality rates from conditions such as heart disease and cancer are falling, yet Hackney’s rates are still above the national average and levels of mental illness are relatively high.

We have a strong partnership with the local health service, for example, our joint mental health teams and joint commissioning services are helping to tackle these challenges.

New and enhanced leisure facilities and opportunities from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will help more people get active. Over 119,000 visits have been made to Clissold Leisure Centre since it re-opened before Christmas, and London Fields Lido continues to attract high numbers of visitors – it welcomed its 100,000th swimmer in December last year.

The borough appointed its first Paralympic ambassador, Dervis Konuralp, this year. Dervis’s work with schools and young people supports our work to ensure 2012 offers opportunities for everyone to become active.

Four of our parks have a Green Flag, the national standard for parks and open spaces, and five of our six leisure centres are now QUEST accredited – the national standard for leisure facilities.

New investment 07/08:

• Sport: we invested in free swimming for under 18s during school holidays.
• Social care: the Council funded an increase in homecare packages, enhanced mental health care services, increased support for carers and work to make Council buildings comply with the Disability Discrimination Act standards.
• Independent living: grants for people with disabilities helped make private homes more accessible.

08/09

• Leisure: there will be ongoing restoration and improvement work to parks and leisure facilities – work will take place in Springfield Park, Shoreditch Park and Abney Park Cemetery.
• Wellbeing: we will increase funding for Looked After Children services to raise adoption and fostering rates.
• Social care: we will provide more support packages to adults with learning disabilities in partnership with the local health service.

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Page updated: 27 Jun 2008