This is the first website of its kind for Croydon and across all local authorities, to be a go-to resource for residents for help and support with eating a more nutritious diet and keeping to a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol, being more active, improving mental health and well-being, cutting out smoking and maintaining healthy sexual relationships.
JustBe Croydon – built by Social Change UK, a social research and campaign company – features a health MoT, inviting residents to complete an online assessment to get started on their journey to better health. In addition, there are motivational apps, podcasts, videos, expert advice, diet plans and exercise routes, all designed to make it even easier for people to look after themselves.
The website also signposts users to where they can receive further support from local community organisations and health services, if needed.
Next year, services available on JustBe Croydon will expand to deliver one-to-one support from experts, lasting up to 52 weeks, based on current best practice around behaviour change. This will include a specialist lifestyle service in Croydon University Hospital for residents who are pregnant or have long-term conditions, and a lifestyle service in Mind in Croydon for residents with mental health issues.
Councillor Louisa Woodley, cabinet member for families, health and social care, said: “Croydon Council is increasing its digital offer to residents, providing online services to meet the growing needs of a mobile and online community. The new JustBe Croydon website means residents are just a click away to self-help and encouragement to lead happier and healthier lives."
Rachel Flowers, Croydon’s Director of Public Health, said: “I’m pleased to introduce Croydon’s first interactive online health platform. We’ve selected the best tools to help residents make a positive change, from losing weight, being more active and stopping smoking to drinking less alcohol, maintaining healthy sexual relationships and getting tips to improve mental health and well-being.
“We’ve worked closely with residents and local agencies, including the Clinical Commissioning Group, to develop JustBe Croydon to ensure that this website can be a go-to resource for health advice across the borough. These partnerships will remain, working as the Live Well Croydon Alliance to continue improving Croydon’s public health offer for residents.”