Richmond Council, in partnership with its volunteer Community Health Champions, is hosting its first summer health and wellbeing fair this Saturday (15 July) at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.

The theme of the free walk-in fair (12pm to 3:30pm) is to encourage residents to think about their health and wellbeing, and will bring together representatives from local services across the borough, sharing information about what they can offer residents in their local area and providing practical advice around a range of health and wellbeing issues, including diabetes awareness and prevention, positive mental health support, healthy eating, support to stop smoking, childhood immunisations, cancer care and support, and ongoing support available to help residents through the cost of living crisis.  

Attendees will also meet residents of the borough who volunteer as Community Health Champions, who help to keep their communities aware of and up to date with the information they need to stay healthy and well, and to access the local health and wellbeing services they need. 

Cllr Piers Allen, Lead Member for Health and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: "It's very important to us that residents of Richmond upon Thames are aware of the local health and wellbeing services and information available to them, and that they can easily and conveniently access these resources.  

"That's why we prioritise working collaboratively with local services and resident volunteers like our Health Champions to bring information and practical services directly to our communities, through events like this summer fair and others, like our Health Bus and Full of Life Fair.   

"Through these events, we aim to get people thinking about caring for all aspects of their health and wellbeing proactively, as we know that prevention is often the best form of medicine. The summer fair is an equally important opportunity for residents who are living with or caring for someone with a health condition to find out about local support and services available." 

At the fair on Saturday, residents will have the opportunity to enter a free raffle for a range of prizes, which will be drawn by the Mayor of Richmond, CllrSuzette Nicholson.  

There will be free children's face painting available.  

For more information about the fair, visit the Richmond Council website.