Charity aims to make 'healthier behaviours easier'

Early intervention and prevention has helped make peoples lives healthier, a new report says.

In its 2025 report, the Health Improvement Commission for Guernsey and Alderney said "significant progress" had been made in helping people live healthier.

The report focused on healthy nutrition, physical activity, healthier weight, substance use and said 301 referrals had been made to Bailiwick Social Prescribing, with link workers making more than 1,000 referrals into community activities and support services.

Commission chief executive Dr Simon Sebire said: "Health improvement is about creating, environments and systems that make every day healthier behaviours easier."

Sebire added he was very grateful to teams, funders, sponsors, and partners for their "vital contribution to creating opportunities for healthier living".

The 2025 report showed 86% of those who completed their support from social prescribing in 2025 met their goal.

More than 1,000 children had been helped think positively about vegetables through growing and tasting experiences as part of the Growing Gang initiative, it added.

The charity, which is funded by the States of Guernsey, said it additionally raised £85,000 in 2025, of which £24,000 was raised jointly with other charities.

It added there was a "significant growth" in active travel among schoolchildren, with primary school active travel levels increasing from 48% to 58% in a year.

A consultation into future of tobacco control saw 900 responses which the charity said "demonstrated strong public support for further action to reduce tobacco-related harm".

Chairman Mike Bane said: "Our dedicated team has continued to deliver practical, evidence-based work focused on the leading causes of preventable ill health.

"While the benefits of health improvement are often realised over the long term, the progress highlighted throughout this report shows the value of sustained investment in prevention and strong partnership working across our community."

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