Where creativity meets walking in the city

The lineup has been announced for the Bristol Walk Fest launch event on Friday 1 May, bringing together artists, advocates and innovators for an evening exploring the meeting of creativity and city walking. The event will be held at Hamilton House, Stokes Croft.

The 2026 launch celebrates walking as a creative and cultural act, with an evening of guest speakers reflecting the breadth of Bristol's arts scene.

• Sheila Hannon, Show of Strength Theatre Company

• Anita Karla Kelly, Misfits Theatre Company

• Hana Sutch, Go Jauntly

• Dr Subitha Bagirathan, Soultrail Wellbeing CIC

Pre-launch walk: an evening that starts on foot

"We couldn't launch a festival of walking without putting on a walk too, so this is an evening that starts on foot," Karen Lloyd, Bristol Walk Fest manager told That's Health.

Launch event attendees are invited to join an exclusive city centre walking tour led by Show of Strength Theatre Company. Created especially for Bristol Walk Fest, the walk is led by Sheila Hannon and actor Gerard Cooke and offers a taste of Show of Strength's walks, three of which feature in this year's Bristol Walk Fest programme.

Walkers will get a glimpse into the Bristol of Blackbeard, Cary Grant, King Henry VII and Long John Silver, and a stop not featured on any other walk (yet), the prison where ten Bristol women were held before being transported to Australia as convicts in 1817.

Details

Friday 1 May

• Evening launch event: Hamilton House, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 7-9pm

• Pre-launch walk: 5.30pm, starts Queen Square area (exact location shared on booking), ends at Hamilton House, 6.45pm (limited spaces)

Tickets: event only £5 / walk and event £10

Book here: www.eventbookings.com/b/event/bristol-walk-fest-2026-launch-event

More information: https://www.bristolwalkfest.com/event/bwf-launch-event

Bristol Walk Fest runs throughout May, coinciding with National Walking Month. With over 400 walks and events across the city, most of them free, there is something for all interests and abilities.

About the speakers

• Sheila Hannon, Show of Strength Theatre Company

Sheila is Show of Strength’s co-founder and one of ten finalists for Visit England’s ‘Tourism Superstar’ award, nominated by Visit West. She writes the company’s theatre walks and leads them along with associate producer Gerard Cooke.

Q&A with Sheila Hannon: 

• Anita Karla Kelly, Misfits Theatre Company

Anita is artistic lead at Misfits and has been working with learning disabled adults to develop their voices and create new work since 2005. Her practice focuses on collaboration, accessibility and creating space for artists who are unheard to tell their stories. Anita will be joined by Bill Loveridge and Rob Traill, both actors, poets, trainers and longstanding members of Misfits.

Q&A & Misfits audio poetry trail: www.bristolwalkfest.com/qa-with-misfits

• Hana Sutch, Go Jauntly

Hana is co-founder and CEO at Go Jauntly, a multi-award-winning walking, wayfinding and nature connection app. The app breaks down barriers to walking by helping people discover urban walks and enjoy outdoor adventures with friends.

• Dr Subitha Baghirathan

Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by UWE for 11 years advancing health equity in Bristol, she collaborates with Soultrail Wellbeing CIC, supporting nature-based programmes for People of Colour and leading Poetry in Nature walks.

Age UK East Sussex and Charles Hunt Centre join forces to strengthen support for older people in Hailsham

Age UK East Sussex and Hailsham's Charles Hunt Centre in have joined together in a new partnership to strengthen support for older people in the local community while preserving the centre’s much-loved identity.

The Charles Hunt Centre is a long-established social hub for people aged over 55, offering freshly prepared lunches, activities and a welcoming space for people to connect. 

Built through community effort and support, the centre continues to play an important role in bringing people together in Hailsham.

By joining Age UK East Sussex, the centre will benefit from increased resilience and access to wider county-wide services, including information and advice, befriending and specialist support. 

There will be no immediate changes to day-to-day services, and the centre will continue to operate as usual for its members.

Sally Stanton, Centre Manager at the Charles Hunt Centre, told That's Health: “We’re really proud of what the Charles Hunt Centre means to our members and the local community. This partnership is an exciting step forward and will help ensure the centre continues to thrive. 

"It will allow us to build on what we already do so well, providing friendship, support and a welcoming place for people over 55, while opening up new opportunities for the future.”

Steve Hare, Chief Executive of Age UK East Sussex, added: “The Charles Hunt Centre is a fantastic example of a community-led service that makes a real diference to people’s lives, locally. 

We are delighted to welcome the centre into Age UK East Sussex. By working together, we can strengthen support in and around Hailsham and ensure the centre continues to provide vital services for many years to come.”

The Charles Hunt Centre will continue to offer its regular programme of activities, including weekday lunches, social sessions and specialist services such as foot health and hearing support clinics.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting older people to stay connected, active and independent, and to ensuring that local community services remain strong and sustainable.

For more information about the Charles Hunt Centre, call 01323 844398.

For more information about Age UK East Sussex, visit www.ageukeastsussex.org.uk.

Landmark military hearing loss claims judgment is a major win for UK Armed Forces veterans

A new High Court judgment is being welcomed as an important step forward for UK Armed Forces veterans living with hearing loss and tinnitus after service.

The case, Abbott and Others v Ministry of Defence [2026], looked at claims for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) brought by former members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. 

For many veterans, this decision could be life-changing, as thousands of similar cases have been waiting for guidance from the courts.

Military life can expose service personnel to extreme levels of noise. Weapons fire, explosions, aircraft, armoured vehicles, engineering work and maintenance duties can all create long-term damage to hearing. 

While these risks are often accepted as part of service, the lasting impact can continue for decades after leaving the forces.

Hearing loss and tinnitus are often dismissed as minor problems, but for many veterans, they affect every part of daily life.

Something as simple as chatting with family at home, following a conversation in a busy pub, or hearing clearly in a restaurant can become frustrating, exhausting and, at times, impossible. Many veterans begin avoiding social situations altogether because they feel embarrassed, anxious or isolated.

Some also report knock-on effects reaching much further, including depression, loss of confidence, substance misuse and social withdrawal.

The High Court ruling recognised military hearing loss should not simply be assessed in the same way as industrial workplace hearing loss. The Court found the traditional CLB method, commonly used in factory and workplace claims, is not generally suitable for military cases.

Instead, the Court preferred a military-specific diagnostic approach known as rM-NIHL, which better reflects the unique noise exposure faced by service personnel.

The judgment also looked at how hearing loss should be measured, how military hearing tests should be treated, how tinnitus claims should be approached, and whether private hearing aid costs may be recoverable.

This clarity matters.

Veterans deserve fair assessment, proper support and recognition of the injuries they have sustained while serving their country. Hearing damage may not always be visible, but its effects can be deeply personal and long-lasting.

Alongside legal support, there is also growing recognition that recovery goes beyond compensation. The newly established Sentinel Foundation aims to support injured veterans with issues including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, addiction and homelessness, helping them access treatment and long-term rehabilitation.

Because for many veterans, the battle does not end when service does.

If someone has given years of their life in uniform, often at enormous personal cost, they deserve to know they will not be left to struggle alone.

Sometimes, being heard starts with recognising the silence hearing loss can create.

Sentinel Legal has welcomed the judgment. Sam Ward, Director of Sentinel Legal told That's Health: “Today’s judgment is a major moment for UK troops and veterans.

“For many former service personnel, hearing loss and tinnitus are not minor issues. They can affect conversations at home, family life, work, confidence and day to day independence."

“Sentinel Legal has spoken to hundreds of veterans who have described the devastating impact these injuries can have."

http://www.thesentinelfoundation.com

Mind selects HappierMe to expand prevention-first mental health support to 20M people

Top mental health charity Mind, has selected HappierMe for inclusion in its curated mental health app library, extending access to over 20 million people annually following an extensive review process.

The move reflects a growing shift in mental health, from crisis response to prevention, helping people build self-awareness and resilience before problems escalate.

Mental health services globally are under increasing pressure, with rising demand and long waiting times, driving organisations to seek scalable, early intervention solutions.

Stephen Buckley, Head of Information at Mind told That's Health: "Mind is delighted to welcome HappierMe to our app library. We realise working upstream to prevent mental health problems is important and self-awareness can play a really important role in managing our mental health."

HappierMe is a digital mental health and life-skills platform focused on prevention. Powered by Olly AI, it guides users only to its own expert content for safe, effective support.

There are separate sections for teens, parents and adults. HappierMe empowers each person with self-awareness tools to deal with adversity, manage their emotions, protect their own mental health and build stronger relationships. HappierMe can be accessed via the Mind website and all major app stores.

Suzanne Oades, a psychotherapist and app user told us: ‘’By knowing more about how my mind works, I have learned to make better choices in how I think, behave and act. The HappierMe app is a space where I feel supported to grow into the person I want to be. ‘’

Dr Manoj Krishna, former surgeon and the founder of HappierMe told us: "Just as we go to the gym to be physically healthy, HappierMe helps users develop their self-awareness and emotional resilience to manage their mental health and build stronger relationships.

"This partnership with Mind, is not only a validation for HappierMe, but also a recognition that we need to work upstream, empowering people with tools to prevent mental health problems before they escalate."

HappierMe website: https://happierme.app

Mind website: https://mind.org.uk

New NHS digital exercise and lifestyle programme to benefit patients with kidney disease, heart conditions and diabetes

People living with kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes and other closely linked health conditions are being offered a powerful new way to improve their health, without even leaving home.

A new NHS-commissioned digital programme across parts of London is giving patients free access to Kidney Beam, a specialist app designed to help people with cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic (CKM) conditions become more active, eat better, and manage their health more effectively.

For patients in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, this could be a real game-changer.

Why This Matters

CKM conditions are rising fast across the UK, and the numbers are alarming.

Around 7.2 million people are living with chronic kidney disease, 7.6 million have cardiovascular disease, and around 6 million have diabetes. Many people are managing more than one of these conditions at the same time.

Add in obesity and high blood pressure, and the pressure on NHS services becomes even greater.

Charity Kidney Research UK has awarned the growing number of cases represents a “public health emergency” that could overwhelm the NHS by 2033.

What Is Kidney Beam?

Kidney Beam is a digital health platform offering physiotherapist-led exercise sessions, education classes, dietary guidance and personalised health coaching.

Unlike generic fitness apps, this programme is specifically designed for people living with CKM conditions, so the advice and activity plans are tailored to their medical needs.

Patients with early-stage disease can even self-register for online classes, helping them take action before their condition becomes more serious.

For those with more advanced illness, clinicians from Royal Free Hospital can refer patients for extra support, including a structured 12-week virtual programme with specialist health coaches.

Exercise Really Can Change Outcomes

Professor Sharlene Greenwood, consultant physiotherapist at King's College Hospital London and co-founder of the Beam programme, told That's Health that the benefits are "significant."

Regular movement for people with kidney, heart and metabolic disease can reduce mortality, improve overall health, and lower the need for hospital treatment and medication.

That is not just good news for patients, it also helps reduce pressure on overstretched NHS services.

Proven Results. This is not just theory.

A major clinical trial published in The Lancet Digital Health found Beam significantly improved patients’ quality of life and delivered NHS savings of around £580 per patient.

That is a strong reminder that prevention and rehabilitation are often far more effective, and affordable, than waiting for health problems to worsen.

A Smarter Future for Healthcare

This programme shows exactly where modern healthcare should be heading: prevention, early intervention, and support people can access from home.

Sometimes improving your health does not start with another prescription.

Sometimes it starts with simply getting moving.

http://www.kidneybeam.com

DNA Day: Why Our Genetic Blueprint Still Fascinates Us

Every year on 25 April, DNA Day gives us the perfect excuse to celebrate one of the most important scientific discoveries in human history, the understanding of DNA, the tiny molecular instruction manual that helps make us who we are.

For a health blog, DNA Day is more than just a science lesson. It's a reminder of how much our genes influence our health, our families, and even the future of medicine.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is found in nearly every cell of the human body. It carries the genetic instructions that determine everything from eye colour and hair type to how our bodies process certain medications and our risk of developing specific illnesses.

The discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure by James Watson, Francis Crick, and the crucial but often under-recognised work of Rosalind Franklin changed medicine forever. 

It opened the door to modern genetics, cancer research, inherited disease screening, and personalised healthcare.

Today, DNA testing is no longer limited to research laboratories. Many people encounter it through NHS screening, family health investigations, or even home ancestry kits. 

Genetic testing can help identify inherited conditions such as cystic fibrosis, certain cancers, and heart conditions, allowing earlier treatment and better prevention strategies.

For example, some people carry BRCA gene mutations, which can significantly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Knowing this early can be life-changing, allowing for regular monitoring, preventative treatment, and informed healthcare decisions.

But DNA is not destiny.

Having a genetic predisposition does not always mean illness is inevitable. Lifestyle still matters enormously. 

Diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, stress, and sleep all play huge roles in overall health. Think of genetics as loading the gun, while lifestyle often pulls the trigger.

DNA Day also raises important conversations about ethics. As genetic testing becomes more common, questions around privacy, insurance, data security, and informed consent become increasingly important. Just because we can know something genetically does not always mean we are emotionally prepared for what that knowledge brings.

The future of healthcare is becoming increasingly personalised. Pharmacogenomics, tailoring medicines based on your genes, is already helping doctors choose safer and more effective treatments.

Cancer therapies are becoming more targeted, and rare diseases are being diagnosed faster than ever before.

DNA Day reminds us that inside every one of us lies a remarkable biological story written in four simple letters: A, T, C, and G.

It is science, certainly, but it's also deeply personal.

Because sometimes, understanding your health starts with understanding your code.

Why Looking After Your Family’s Dental Health Should Never Be an Afterthought

It's remarkable how many people will happily service the car every year, insure the boiler, and replace a phone screen at the first crack, yet postpone a dental check-up for months, sometimes years.

Dental health is often treated as something we only think about when there is pain involved.

Unfortunately, by the time your tooth is throbbing at 2am, the problem is usually no longer small, simple, or cheap.

Good oral health is not just about having a bright smile for photographs. Your teeth and gums play a major role in your overall wellbeing. 

Gum disease has been linked to wider health concerns including heart disease, diabetes complications, and inflammation elsewhere in the body. Poor dental health can also affect confidence, speech, eating habits, and quality of life.

For children, building strong dental habits early is even more important. Teaching regular brushing, sensible sugar intake, and routine dental visits helps prevent bigger issues later in life. It also helps remove the fear factor that many adults still carry from childhood dental appointments.

The basics are not complicated. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss or use interdental brushes, cut back on sugary snacks and fizzy drinks, and do not ignore bleeding gums or sensitivity. These are warning signs, not minor inconveniences.

Regular check-ups matter because dentists often spot problems long before you feel them. A small filling is far easier, and far less expensive, than root canal treatment, crowns, or emergency extractions. Preventive care nearly always costs less than crisis management.

This is where dental insurance becomes worth considering.

Many people assume dental insurance is unnecessary until faced with an unexpected bill for urgent treatment. Private dental work in the UK can be expensive, particularly if NHS appointments are difficult to secure in your area. Emergency treatment, specialist work, orthodontics for children, or restorative work can quickly add up.

Dental insurance or dental payment plans can help spread costs and reduce the financial shock of sudden treatment. Some plans cover routine check-ups and hygienist visits, while others provide support for more advanced procedures. The key is understanding exactly what is included and what is not.

It is not about expecting disaster. It is about sensible planning.

Much like home insurance, you hope you will not need major intervention, but when you do, you are very glad the cover is there.

Ignoring dental health rarely saves money, it usually delays a bigger bill.

A healthy smile is not vanity. It is health, confidence, comfort, and prevention rolled into one. Looking after your family’s teeth should sit firmly alongside every other part of responsible healthcare—not somewhere at the bottom of the list, just below “sort out the garage.”

Because when toothache strikes, trust me, it shoots straight to the top.

I decided to write this post whilst waiting for my appointment for a couple of fillings at our BUPA dentist.