Highercroft Citizens Jury

The Higher Croft Citizens Jury is an attempt by local residents to place themselves at the centre of deciding how obesity should be tackled in the area.

All households in the Higher Croft ward received a letter in early 2008 from the Blackburn Healthy Living Centre inviting them to take part. A group of 20 were chosen from those that replied, to ensure that there was a diverse mix of age, gender and interests. The group now meets on Tuesday nights to share their personal opinions and experiences and to hear from a range of ‘experts’ on how best to tackle obesity in the area. After 8 sessions the group will make a set of recommendations which will form the basis of the Healthy Living Centre’s Obesity strategy. The group will also try to influence the policies of the local Primary Care Trust and Council.

In the first session the group shared their experiences of living in the area and discussed which local factors may contribute to obesity levels and which factors may reduce local obesity levels. They also talked about the kinds of people they would like to hear from during the course of the Jury.

The second session began with an introduction from a local dietician followed by a presentation from three representatives of the local Primary Care Trust.

Each session follows broadly the same format. The ‘expert’ is given 15 minutes to introduce themselves and make their presentation. They are then asked to leave the room. For the next ten minutes the participants sit in small groups of 4 or 5 to discuss the presentation and come up with questions which they write on pieces of paper. The ’expert’ is then invited back into the room and they answer the questions which are read out either by the citizens themselves or by the facilitator. This Question and Answer session lasts for 25 minutes.

On the following pages we will take you through each week’s sessions as they happen. With photos, a list of the questions asked and video clips which you can comment on and so join in the debate.

		Session 2 In the second week the session was attended by four 'experts' or 'information providers', including a dietician and three senior members of staff from Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust

		Session 3 In the third session the group questioned staff from the local Council's Health and Fitness department and Alison Giles from the Strategic Health Authority (North West) and Director of Our Life

		Session 4 After listening to a presentation from Di Grimshaw of Blackburn with Darwen Council's Healthy Schools Team the group came up with a long list of questions.

		Session 5 The group was joined for a lively discussion by local dieticians Tracy Parkington and Sajida Manzoor and the Chair of the Council's Health Scrutiny Committee Councillor Roy Davies.

		Session 6 The group faced a packed session with a Panel comprising of representatives from Twin Valley Homes, Lancashire Wildlife Trust (on access to local open spaces) and the Police.