Schools across Walsall are being encouraged to take part in Self Care Week by becoming community champions.

NHS Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group has launched a competition giving Primary and Secondary schools across the Borough the chance to promote health and wellbeing amongst their communities.

Schools taking part in the first Walsall Self Care Competition have to create a campaign that promotes self care in their local community, whether that is within their school, a nearby care home or even a community centre.

The campaigns will then be judged by the CCG, with four primary school finalists and four secondary school finalists being announced early next year. The finalists will then be given £50 each to make their campaign a reality.

The event put on by the school will then be judged with the winners from both categories being announced on March 31, where they will be presented with a trophy. Professor Simon Brake, Chief Officer at Walsall CCG said:

“Self Care is extremely important and getting schools involved is a fantastic way of promoting all the different ways people can maintain and improve their health and wellbeing. I look forward to seeing what the pupils come up with.”

The competition has been launched in conjunction with this year’s Self Care Week, which runs from November 13 until November 19.

Self Care Week is an annual national awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self care across communities, families and generations. This year’s theme is engaging and empowering people with the strap line 'Embracing Self Care for Life'.

For more information on Self Care Week, you can visit selfcareforum.org. To submit an entry for the for the competition, email walsall.medicines-management@nhs.net