ACTIVITIES and services which are available to people living in rural areas will be highlighted during Rural Health Week This year s theme is Reaching Out: Enabling access to services for the vulnerable and hard to reach in rural areas . The week runs f

ACTIVITIES and services which are available to people living in rural areas will be highlighted during Rural Health Week

This year's theme is 'Reaching Out: Enabling access to services for the vulnerable and hard to reach in rural areas'. The week runs from tomorrow (Sunday September 27) to Saturday October 3.

Helen Dear, senior health improvement specialist with NHS West Essex - which is involved with the week and helping to promote the various activities - said: "The aim of the week is to highlight activities and services which are available locally to support people who are looking to improve their lifestyles, health and well-being."

She added: "The benefits are enormous. People can improve their quality of life by taking part in positive local activities such as walking, social activities and volunteering."

Rural Health Week activities include a Health and Social Care Community Drop-in Event at the Uttlesford District Council offices, Saffron Walden, between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday September 29.

The event, led by Council for Voluntary Service Uttlesford, aims to increase awareness of and access to support services in local communities. The informal drop-in event will be attended by representatives from some of the organisations which work in area.

Visitors will be able to wander around the displays set up by local groups, gather information and ask questions.

Twenty-two groups will have stands, including the Alzheimer's Society, Carers UK, Mind, Stroke Association, Citizens Advice Bureau and NHS West Essex.

Local businesses interested in the benefits volunteering can have for their staff can join Essex Wildlife Trust at West Wood Nature Reserve, on the B1051 (between Thaxted and Great Sampford) from 2pm to 4.30pm on Thursday October 1.

Local businesses are invited to this taster session to learn about the value of encouraging employees to take part in 'volunteer days'. They will have a chance to sample the activities that volunteers do on Essex Wildlife Trust reserves and talk with Essex Wildlife Trust staff to learn about opportunities for their staff.

Uttlesford Health Walks are another way for people to keep active and healthy.

Led by Walking the Way to Health-trained walk leaders, the free walks are available across the Uttlesford district. Lead walks are available in Saffron Walden, Stansted, Little Hallingbury, Hatfield Heath, Great Dunmow, Great Chesterford, Newport, Thaxted, Hatfield Forest and Henham.

An additional walk, in conjunction with Uttlesford MIND, is being held on Saturday October 3.

The Barnston Health Walk, covering about three miles, starts from outside Barnston Village Hall at 2pm. The walk will last about an hour.

For more about the walks, contact Paul Goddard on 01799 581720 or e-mail CLMUttlesford@leisureconnection.co.uk