Blog

Project Prevention in Action was conceived of with a view to addressing gaps and barriers in knowledge among healthcare providers as to the everyday challenges that low-income, disenfranchised, marginalised populations experience, particularly those who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and/or people living with NCDs, when attempting to engage in healthy and active living. To do this, C3 is inviting healthcare providers to join with local community members in using our innovative community engagement, digital health strategy known as Community Health Engagement Survey Solutions (CHESS™) in three communities in England, Ireland and France. Brent The community chosen by... Read More

CHESS (Community Health Engagement Survey Solutions) is an innovative, data-driven community engagement process. Using the CHESS App, people come together to investigate their local environment, assess the factors that make it easier or harder for them to live healthily, and identify positive changes they can make as a community. It was created by C3’s Dr. Denise Stevens and includes a mobile tool that equips local communities to identify and map the daily barriers they face when making choices about diet, activity and healthy living.  Project ASPIRE As a partner in Project ASPIRE, C3 is engaging with 7 different communities across... Read More

Obesity rate in France Obesity has doubled in France during the last 25 years. The new national epidemiological survey on overweight and obesity by  Obepi-Roche (2020) presented last week by “la Ligue contre l’obésité” showed obesity has increased significantly since the last Obepi-Roche survey (2012), 8 years ago. The survey, which involved 12,000 French participants, is also the first report of its kind to study paediatric obesity. The medical definition for overweight and obesity is based on the body mass index (BMI). BMI is measured in units of kg/m2. A BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, above 25 is considered... Read More

If you are passionate about the benefits of health and wellbeing, a healthy diet and physical activity, and have the motivational skills to engage your community, then this role could be ideal for you! C3 Collaborating for Health is looking to recruit within Medway, an enthusiastic community member, who is committed to improving the health of the local population. They need to have a proven track record in community engagement and activity co-ordination. The successful applicant will be employed by C3 Collaborating for Health but work closely with Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) and with community members and local stakeholders in Medway... Read More

The biggest reason for nurses being absent from work due illness in England, Scotland and Wales is mental ill-health. In Northern Ireland, it is the second-biggest reason. C3’s nursing programme aims to develop strategies to promote the wellbeing of the nursing workforce. Our ongoing work to address the healthy weight of nurses has led to the significant consideration and analysis of nurses’ mental wellbeing. In 2020, commentary describing concerns about nurses’ mental health and wellbeing had reached a crescendo. A review of the literature describing the poor mental health and wellbeing of the nursing workforce was conducted by the Society... Read More

Our Nursing Minds campaign to highlight the continued neglect of nurses’ mental health has sparked plenty of interest. Nursing Times followed up its own survey of nurses’ mental health with a news story on 9 April  about C3’s Policy Paper. NT’s survey had found that almost two-thirds of nurses felt their mental health had deteriorated during the pandemic and that national well-being support was still not good enough. This was followed the next week in NT by a comment piece by Tom Sandford, author of the policy paper. Tom wrote: ‘I look forward to us all having the confidence to... Read More

Youth smoking has long enjoyed a high profile in the arena of public health  both worldwide and in the UK, where there has been an associated decrease in youth smoking prevalence since 1982, with rates reduced from 25% in 1982 to 5% in 2018.However, the issue remains serious, now coloured somewhat by the increased popularity of electronic cigarettes in recent years To address youth smoking, it is important to fully understand the broader context. Statistics on Youth Smoking Prior studies indicate that over 200,000 children begin smoking each year in the UK 2 . Indeed, the majority of adult smokers... Read More

  On Thursday the 3rd of June, 2021, C3’s CEO, Christine Hancock joined the George Institute for Global Health to give a talk on: ‘Smoking in the time of COVID: Challenges and opportunities in Australia and the United Kingdom’ to mark World No Tobacco Day 2021. Speaking alongside others including Prof. Martin McKee of LSHTM and Dr. Sarah White at the Cancer Council Victoria, she touched on a number of issues including the effects of tobacco addiction pushing economically vulnerable people into poverty, and the still-high profile of smoking as an associated risk factor in premature deaths in the UK.... Read More

Over a million people are currently living with dementia in the United Kingdom. Memory problems are one of a number of symptoms that people with dementia may experience. Others include difficulties with planning, thinking things through, struggling to keep up with a conversation, and sometimes changes in mood or behaviour. Dementia is not a natural part of ageing and it doesn’t just affect older people. Over 40,000 people under 65 in the UK have dementia. This is called early-onset or young-onset dementia. Dementia’s risk factors The seven main risk-factors of dementia are: Diabetes Midlife high blood pressure Midlife obesity Physical... Read More

Recent news has highlighted a connection between what you eat, and how you feel- not just physical health wise, but mental health as well. In this blog post, we dive into the science behind these claims, and how they relate to your daily life. Prior research has demonstrated an association between depression and obesity. 55% of individuals living with obesity have depression. Furthermore, individuals living with depression are 58% more likely to experience obesity1. This correlation is well known however, until recently causality and specific details on the connection between what one eats and their mental health has remained unknown.... Read More

The Lay of the Land Commentary on concerns about nurses’ mental health and well-being has reached a crescendo. This started in the spring of 2020 with the RCN Foundation funded Society of Occupational Medicine review of the breadth of the literature describing the poor mental health and wellbeing of the nursing workforce. It progressed through to the RCN Foundation commissioning Suzie Bailey, the Kings Fund director of leadership, to review that related literature from a leadership perspective. Her report, The Courage of Compassion, published in September 2020, set out an action plan to direct a series of related recommendations. They... Read More

We invite nurses and HCAs living in the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Harrow to join our new project: Nurses and Carers for Health. 

Recently, England’s Chief Medical Officer gave a speech to audience members attending a series of lectures around public health at London’s Gresham College. Prof. Chris Whitty opened by noting that people should feel absolutely no shame or embarrassment about obesity. It is purely something to be concerned about from a medical point of view and it was through this lens that he would be discussing the subject. He began his presentation by stating the urgency of the situation: obesity in the UK has increased from 15% of the population to 26% of the population in just two decades. The Association... Read More

The challenge  Obesity threatens public health and is associated with decreased life expectancy and quality of life. Childhood obesity mostly continues into adulthood and leads to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer at a younger age. Moreover, with the worldwide spread of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), obesity and impaired metabolic health emerged as important determinants of severe COVID-19 illness [1]. Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016 with a prevalence among this age range from just 4% in 1975 to just over 18% in 2016 [2]. Once considered a high-income country problem, the prevalence of childhood obesity is now rising in low- and middle-income countries despite continuing levels  of undernutrition... Read More

C3's University of Notre Dame intern, Rafael Kuc, answers: how much have college students been impacted by lack of physical activity? How does a lack of physical activity impact other aspects of life like sleep or performance in class? Is there a way to keep active despite the pandemic?

C3 Collaborating for Health is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and committed Local Project Co-ordinator in Boscombe West to manage the implementation of a community designed action plan, which forms part of the ASPIRE project in Boscombe. If you are passionate about the benefits of health and wellbeing, a healthy diet and physical activity, and have the motivational skills to engage your community, then this role could be ideal for you. BCP Council are supporting C3 in this recruitment process, and will be working closely with the successful applicant.

We are proud to announce our first four nominees for C3 ESTEEM, our new initiative to capture and recognise nurses’ achievements during the pandemic and its aftermath. We are seeking nominations for individuals or teams who, during COVID-19, are exemplifying “nurses for health” and doing great things to support healthy lives for themselves, their colleagues, patients, families, or others in their communities.

C3 is thrilled to be launching its brand new series of online Workplace Health Breakfast seminars this Autumn in partnership with the Society of Occupational Medicine and RAND Europe.

Because the menopause is so often misunderstood or overlooked, women going through it often don’t know how it affects their body, and that they may be at higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This blog attempts to shed some light on the link.

2020 is Florence Nightingale's bicentennial year, designated by World Health Organisation (WHO) as the first ever global Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Announced early last year, WHO can have little idea how 2020 would start for the world’s nurses. As COVID-19 sweeps across every continent, a very contagious virus with no cure and little treatment, the skills of nurses are shown to the world as rarely before.

Thank you nurses for all that you do.

Coronavirus has moved rapidly from China through South East Asia and into Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.  Each country has tackled the pandemic in its own but different ways and research studies are being quoted to justify different approaches.  However, some of the facts now emerging are pointing to problems that will outlive the virus, which we need to remember.

Just 2 weeks ago we at C3 were moving forward with a fairly packed agenda of innovative ideas to prevent chronic (non-communicable) disease or NCDs. While we all worry about the impact of the virus on our friends and families we will also take the time to reflect on our work.

Although not as nationally renowned as Christmas or Easter, National No Smoking Day (11 March), is a day worth celebrating. C3's intern, a US university student, shares the differences between the smoking and vaping culture in the US and UK. Here in the UK, e-cigarettes seem to be advertised largely as a healthier alternative to smoking and a way to achieve smoking cessation. In the US, however, the story is quite different.

Here at C3 Collaborating for Health, we try to look at issues that impact nursing, but which generally don’t generate enough mainstream commentary, despite being serious concerns for nurses and the health community. It’s remarkable that so little has been done to reduce the incidence of this distress.

People tend to assume cancer is mainly passed down through families, but genetic factors only play a major role in 5% - 10% of all cancer types. In fact, most cancers are caused by DNA mutations that occur during a person’s lifetime due to environmental factors. Did you know that alcohol – even in moderation – has been linked to cancer as one of those factors?

With 10,000 steps as the goal for healthy living, we might assume that it’s the magic number to help eliminate our risk for heart disease, clear up our skin, give us the body of Beyoncé... right? Well turns out there is less scientific evidence to the magic number than we might think. Only now are researchers beginning to look into the effects of achieving 10,000 steps a day.

Each new year the Internet explodes with overwhelming advice about becoming better, healthier versions of ourselves. Here are C3's 5 simple tips for a healthy new year.

A growing number of employers are recognising the benefit of raising alcohol awareness in the workplace – not because they suspect employees are drinking on the job, but because they believe it is just as valuable to promote a healthier relationship with alcohol as it is to promote a healthy diet and exercise. Not convinced? Here are 10 reasons why every employer should be promoting Alcohol Awareness.

It is a common trope in global health that young people should be involved in discussions, research and policy development – but often youth representation is a tokenistic afterthought, with middle-aged ‘experts’ dominating the conversation. How can we better engage young people?

Sometimes people say they don’t understand why we do certain things but we are true to our core mission to create changes that make it easier for people to stop smoking, improve what they eat and drink and do more physical activity.

Why should we, as public health and healthcare advocates, care about a climate initiative?

“Frustrated” was the word used several times to describe the mood of people interested in combatting NCD (non-communicable disease) at a meeting at Chatham House last week.

Google ‘Health and Wellbeing providers in the UK' and you will find over 40 million to choose from. Is it time for a system of accreditation for this burgeoning industry? Find out more in this article written by C3’s workplace health associate Jane Abraham and published on the People Management website. 

5,300 nurses from 140 countries met at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress in Singapore. C3 enjoyed a high profile at the event, with C3 director Christine Hancock (former ICN president) giving a keynote and meeting with the WHO Director General.

C3's new film about nurses' health elicited very positive to very uncomfortable feedback. C3's director Christine Hancock explains how the film came to be and why addressing nurses' health is an uncomfortable but necessary topic.

C3's long-standing supporter and Empactis Director Employee Health, Dr Steve Boorman, shares his thoughts after attending the launch of our film about supporting nurses' health in collaboration with Human Story Theatre and Nice Tree Films.

Florence Nightingale, the founder of professional nursing, was about heath and prevention as much as treating sickness, and the world needs her here now to preach her message.

Missed the London debut of The Wellbeing Symposium? Read about lessons learned and where to access speakers' presentations.

Viewers have shared Tasty videos, BuzzFeed's "hands and pans" approach to cooking demonstrations, on social media over 800 million times. How are these videos affecting food choices and nutrition awareness?

Do we really have to suffer through exercise or can it be fun? C3's director responds to Barbara Ellen's opinion piece 'Let’s stop pretending exercise is fun. Like work, you’ve just got to do it.'

This was a really unusual and enjoyable week which started in the smart offices of a multinational finance company where I was supporting a successful small business which shares our passion for health and wellbeing.

In support of No Smoking Day on Wednesday 13th March 2019, C3's intern summarises what progress the UK has made so far in the field of smoking cessation.

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating three of the amazing women key to C3’s success.

How to reduce sugar consumption? Produce less! The UK needs less and dearer sugar. Here are 5 ways the UK can do this, from C3 network member Professor Jack Winkler's new publication.

No sign of Spring yet in London but this week has been full of optimism with wonderful people offering us their time and support as well as amazing belief that we should think really BIG!

What makes C3's community-engagement programme unique? An innovative, evidence-based approach that shifts decision-making to local communities by engaging them as ‘citizen scientists’ in an investigation about their health and the built environment.

C3's director Christine Hancock details the interesting organisations she's met this week in her inaugural "Director's Diary" post.

C3's intern reflects on her habits and explores if there is a link between frequent caffeine consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

A new report tells us that Britain’s High Streets are getting unhealthier. The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) studied 70 major UK towns and cities, and measured the healthiness of different types of shops and businesses on the high street.

How can we get to actionable, sustainable, and cost-effective ways of preventing NCDs? Why complex is not the same as complicated, and the different thinking we need to address complex challenges and systems thinking in relation to non-communicable disease.

As a twenty-year-old in an age group at risk of developing these habits, I can confidently attest that factors such as the flavoured e-liquid, an emphasis on vaping being ‘healthier’ than smoking and the misconception that vaping is not addictive really has an effect on young people.

Every year on 29 September the World Heart Federation raises awareness of cardiovascular disease through World Heart Day. This year they are asking everyone to make a promise (or more!) of how they will take simple steps to live healthier lives. Here are C3's six promises. 

Why is the upcoming third UN High-level Meeting on Non-communicable diseases important? C3's intern reviews what the meeting will cover and shares six organisations you can follow who are working in NCD prevention.

C3's Trustee, Caroline Stanger, is raising money for C3 by walking the London Marathon Walk on Saturday 22 September 2018. Any amount you can contribute is greatly appreciated. The money raised will help C3 continue to combat chronic disease through our programmes, events and global knowledge sharing.

As Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) campaigners gear up for the 3rd UN High Level Meeting on NCDs later this month, C3's partners Primary Care International have been challenging everyone to make sense of the rhetoric around ‘multi-stakeholder collaboration’ and ‘multi-sector working’.

Download C3's latest report: CHESS™ on the Collingwood Estate, a C3 community investigation commissioned by Tower Hamlets Council as part of their flagship Communities Driving Change programme.

Now the NHS has turned 70, and with the Government preparing a long-term plan for the service in England, a broad range of leaders in charities and voice organisations have come together to offer our views on what should happen next to improve health and care – within the NHS and beyond. 

Download our latest annual review to read more about our successes, future plans, and ways you can get involved in making the healthy way the only way to live.

Watch our latest video for 5 facts about our International Breakfast Seminars, our popular seminar series showcasing best-practice examples of chronic disease prevention from around the world.

Has the Soft Drinks Industry Levy been successful? C3 network members J T Winkler and Tam Fry write about a 'radical change' in a popular, mass-market product. Have we successfully given people economic incentives, and not just moral injunctions?

In 2017, C3 Collaborating for Health was commissioned by the Health Foundation to hold a series of workshops that brought together UK third-sector community-based services that support young people aged 14 to 24.

Have you heard about the One Health and Planetary Health initiatives? This blog explores the link between these multi-disciplinary approaches and C3's work addressing non-communicable diseases.