Self-care is what we can do as individuals, taking small but simple steps each day to look after our mind, body and soul, and not waiting until we get sick.

We all know it’s important to take good care of ourselves so we are happier and healthier, but life can be very busy and ‘me-time’ is usually last on the agenda. Sometimes we can even feel guilty about taking the time required to take care of ourselves. 

The Healthier Futures Programme is designed to support you to take time out. By helping to build your confidence, knowledge, skills and resilience, it will help you to recognise that taking time out is a positive investment in your own health and wellbeing.

Looking after yourself will not only help you feel better, it can also help to improve other areas of your life. This will have a beneficial effect on your work and play, as well as your relationships with friends and family. 

Self-care is different for everyone - everyone has different needs. Are you ready to take this next step?

If you live or work in North Kensington and have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, you are eligible for free access to Healthier Futures self-care activities. These services can help you to become healthy, live well and take care of the people most important to you.

So what is self care? Self-care simply describes taking care of yourself. Self-care activities can be as easy as brushing your teeth, choosing to eat healthily, or making time to exercise.

Taking care of ourselves can help us to better cope with the short and long-term effects of difficult life experiences and help the healing process. Start by reflecting on the last week and how you have felt, this can help to identify some areas where you need might need some help?

• How did you sleep?
• What made you stressed
• What did you eat and how did it make you feel?
• Screen time – did you have enough time away from screens?
• Exercise – did you go outside for a walk?
• How much did you drink?
• What did you do you enjoyed?
• When did you feel good? Stressed or emotionally drained?

Tools to help you assess how you're doing

• Get your mind plan
• How are you quiz?

Health and wellbeing apps are helpful in assessing and tracking your mood, levels of activity and wellbeing.

• Sleepio – get into a better sleep routine
• One You – for healthy eating and much more
• My fitness pal – help yourself get fit
• Thrive – for your emotional wellbeing
• Catch it – Learn to manage negative thoughts and think more positively

Healthier Futures (North Kensington's self-care programme)

Healthier Futures is the name given to North Kensington self-care programme.

This programme helps residents of North Kensington to take more control of their mental health and physical wellbeing, and build social contact with access to community, leisure, education, arts and volunteering opportunities.

The services are available for individuals aged between 18-64, who live and/or work in North Kensington and have been affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. They are grouped into four categories:

• Exercise and Wellbeing Services.

• Advice

• Group services

• Training

Additionally, family self-care activities include gardening and family coaching, ​​​​exercise & wellbeing classes. Boxing, women’s only boxing and yoga are popular choices, as well as cookery classes, health workshops and the Men’s Shed. 

Residents can access the full range of Healthier Futures self-care activities by speaking to their GP practice (who will signpost them to their service of choice). All of the activities and details on how to join are also available on the Kensington and Chelsea Social Council (KCSC) website: click here. 

You can find a full list of voluntary and partner organisations via their directory Social Prescribing (Self-Care) Directory | Kensington & Chelsea Social Council (kcsc.org.uk)

Hear from local people the benefits they've felt from taking up some of the services and activities in the area.

“It was nice to talk to someone outside my family, whom I could be honest about how I was really feeling. North Kensington resident."

"I was surprised to see there was so many activities in my local area”

"I had been self-isolating and was anxious about having to shield because of my health issues, however, the weekly cooking phone group has given me something to look forward to and the chance to cook again”. He continued “Prior to lockdown I took it for granted that if I want something I just had to go to the local shop and often I would be buying something to eat off the shelf. Now I make home cook meals at least every 2 -3 days and feel so much happier for it”.