Want To Know More About sessions are suitable for anyone with an interest in or responsibility for promoting health in Leeds. These short sessions cover a wide variety of Public Health topics and aim to develop professionals’ awareness and practice around the subjects covered.
At a typical 'Want to know more about ...' session you will:
- learn how to identify the public health issue being covered
- discover local services that are working to improve the issue
- understand ways you can help, should you choose to
The sessions are free of charge and are presented by friendly and knowledgeable facilitators who are experts in their fields, including specialists from the Leeds Public Health team.
Upcoming sessions
Want to know more about… Suicide prevention and unpaid carers
Thursday 21 March 2024, 11:30am to 1pm
Suicide is a complex and devastating event and leaves lasting impacts on families, friends and entire communities. Many factors can contribute to suicide including poor mental health, social isolation, economic pressures, relationship breakdowns and more. In this webinar you will hear the latest evidence on suicide risk in unpaid carers and explore the factors that put carers at risk. Drawing on the lived experience of carers, and recent deaths by homicide-suicide, the webinar will also consider steps that local authorities, third sector organisations and health and social care professionals can take to identify and support at-risk carers. The session is suitable for anyone who works with carers in Leeds or anyone who is interested in suicide prevention.
This session will cover:
- an overview of suicide prevention in Leeds
- the latest evidence on suicide risk in unpaid carers
- what works to prevent suicide in unpaid carers
- projects and services to help prevent suicide with unpaid carers and support those affected by suicide in Leeds
This session will be delivered by:
- Siobhan O'Dwyer, Associate Professor of Social Care, University of Birmingham
- Claire Turner, Chief Executive, Carers Leeds
- Rachel Buckley, Health Improvement Principal (Public Mental Health), Leeds City Council
Want to know more about… Bowel cancer
Thursday 18 April 2024, 10am to 11am
Bowel Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK and screening can help prevent bowel cancer or find it at an early stage, when it is easier to treat.
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and is a great opportunity to find out about more about, and raise awareness of, bowel cancer and bowel cancer screening.
We know that cancer can be an emotive topic so we aim to keep the session informative, light hearted and engaging.
This webinar is suitable for anyone working or volunteering within organisations supporting individuals with their health and wellbeing including health, social care and the third sector or anyone interested or involved in promoting community wellbeing in any capacity.
This online session will cover:
- what bowel cancer is, signs and symptoms and when to seek support
- the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme – who is eligible and what it involves
- bowel cancer in Leeds – current screening uptake and examples of work to support uptake
- how you can help – signposting and resources
- Q&A
This session will be delivered by:
- Leeds Health Awareness Service
- Lydia Brown, Harrogate, Leeds and York Bowel Screening Service
- Chloe Rankin, Leeds City Council Public Health Cancer Team
Want to know more about… Measles and the MMR vaccine
Wednesday 24 April 2024, 10am to 11am
World Immunisation Week, starting on 22 April, aims to highlight the action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable disease with this year's theme being: Prevent. Protect. Immunise. Due to the increase in measles clusters across the UK, with cases notified in Yorkshire and the Humber, this WTKMA session will have specific focus on measles and how the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination can prevent illness and protect others.
The session is suitable for anyone from health, social care and wider public health related disciplines, especially those who have a role in engaging with families and communities.
This session will cover:
- vaccination timeline and the current UK schedule
- overview of national and local MMR data
- signs and symptoms of measles including infectious period and exclusion criteria
- exploring reasons for the decline in MMR vaccine uptake including vaccine hesitancy and MMR myths, such as false claims around links to autism and porcine alternatives
- ways to access the MMR vaccination and local and national initiatives around this
- practical advice and useful resources
The session will be delivered by Donna Whitelock and Lisa Hammond from Public Health, Leeds City Council.
Dying Matters
Wednesday 1 May 2024, 10am to 11.30am
Every year, people around the UK use Dying Matters Awareness Week as a moment to encourage all communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them.
This year, the Leeds Dying Matters Partnership is encouraging conversations about end-of-life with healthcare professionals, families, friends, and colleagues, because the way we talk about Dying Matters.
This webinar is suitable for anyone working or volunteering within organisations who work with people in Leeds. We know that Dying Matters can be an emotive topic, so we aim to keep the session informative, light-hearted and engaging.
This session will cover:
- having conversations about Dying Matters
- work of the Dying Matters Partnership
- support for Dying Matters in Leeds
This session will be delivered by the Dying Matter Partnership with contributions from wider partners.
Breastfeeding, climate and health - everybody's business
Thursday 16 May 2024, 11am to midday
The session will introduce you to the work of the Yorkshire and Humber Breastfeeding and Climate Change group. It will offer a brief outline of climate change and share the importance of breastfeeding for population health and the health of our planet.
The session is suitable for anyone with a professional interest in any or all of these areas and will enhance your knowledge when working with families and the public.
The session will cover:
- climate change – an important health threat
- how breastfeeding contributes to healthier mothers and babies and improves public health
- how different feeding methods make a difference to the health of our planet
- how breastmilk and breastfeeding contribute to local food security
- Yorkshire and Humber Breastfeeding and Climate Change resources
This session will be delivered by Sally Goodwin-Mills from Leeds City Council, Children and Families Public Health Team.
NHS Healthy Start scheme
Tuesday 21 May 2024, 10am to 11am
The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps families and pregnant people on low incomes to get healthy food, milk and vitamins. However, we know many families in Leeds are not accessing the scheme and we need to do more to promote the scheme and support families to access it.
This session has been designed to provide you with more information about the scheme to better equip you to raise awareness and support families.
The session is suitable for anyone who has contact with families with young children (birth up to 4 years); whether you are a healthcare professional or someone working or volunteering in settings such as early years setting, library, school, hub setting, food pantry etc, all are welcome.
This session will cover:
- what the Healthy Start Scheme is - who can benefit and how
- local context - uptake in Leeds and local initiatives
- how you can support families
- question and answer session
This session will be delivered by Nicola Goldsborough – Advanced Health Improvement Specialist (Maternity and Infants) Children and Families Public Health Team.
Want To Know More About films
Some of the Want To Know More About… sessions are recorded and published to YouTube.
You can watch recorded webinars and other training films on the
Leeds Public Health Training playlist on YouTube
External link, at a time that is suitable to you. If you attended a session that was recorded, this is where it will be published.
Leeds Public Health training playlist
Delivering a Want To Know More About… session
If you are interested in delivering a Want To Know More About session to raise awareness of a particular public health issue or service, please contact us at
phforall@leeds.gov.uk for a discussion.