Are you looking to make new friends, exercise and enjoy the countryside?

Southam Ramblers would be delighted to meet you

They can offer:

  • A regular programme of fortnightly walks on Wednesday mornings throughout the year, mostly 4-6 miles long

  • 6-8 evening walks in the summer, finishing at a local pub (optional)

  • Occasional longer walks, mostly in the Cotswolds

  • Other social gatherings, Christmas dinner, mulled wine walk, etc.

  • A warm welcome and good company

The first three walks are treated as ‘tasters’, and there is no charge. After three walks, they expect people to join The Ramblers, who charge a modest fee.

Most of the Southam Ramblers walks are in Warwickshire, but they also travel to Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. They meet at the rear of Wood Street car park at 9.15am or 9.30am and share cars to the start of the walk. Alternatively, some people drive to the start.

If you let Richard know on 07969 960968 that you are joining them for a walk, they will look out for you, but you can just turn up.

Walks include a coffee stop, with the option of a pub lunch for those that want it at the end.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Sorry, no dogs except for assistance dogs. Suitable footwear, e.g. walking boots, must be worn, as walks are often muddy and cross uneven ground. All walks are listed on southamramblers.org.uk, with postings on Southam News & Views. Members receive updates by email and WhatsApp.

Recovery & Wellbeing Academy Courses Available: February 2026

The Academy offers a wide range of courses and workshops designed to empower your mental health and wellbeing, provided by a number of partner organisations working together

Courses are delivered face to face and online via Zoom. All Academy courses and workshops are completely FREE OF CHARGE and open to anyone over the age of 18 living in Coventry and Warwickshire who wants to better manage or understand their mental health and wellbeing.

To book visit: https://www.recoveryandwellbeing.co.uk

Coventry Adult Education Service (CAES) - Dance Spring Term 2025/26. What's YOUR Next Move?

Coventry Adult Education offers courses in their Community Learning and Leisure Programmes

Their Community Learning Programme offers a range of courses to build confidence and improve health and wellbeing. The Leisure Programme offers competitively priced courses for personal interest and pleasure.

These no longer require as much tracking of progress and achievement while still developing skills and knowledge across a range of disciplines.

To find out more information and to enrol, go to www.coventry.gov.uk/adult-education or call them on 024 7697 5200

Time To Talk Day - 05/02/2026

Time to talk day is an annual event that encourages open conversations surrounding mental health, and aims to reduce stigma.

If mental health is affecting your life, or someone you care about, reaching out for support is an important first step.

For more information on mental health and the help available to you on the NHS, please visit our website: Mental Health — St Wulfstan Southam Surgery

You can also contact your GP for an appointment.

World Cancer Day - 04/02/2026

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment

The primary goal of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer and is an opportunity to rally the international community to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer.

The theme for the years 2025-2027 is 'United by Unique’, which places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the conversation.

Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2026

This week is Kidney Cancer Awareness Week (2nd - 6th February 2026), kidney cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the UK

Yet, many people are diagnosed late because symptoms can be subtle, mistaken, or ignored.

Common signs:

  • Dull back ache that won’t go

  • Feeling very tired all the time

  • Blood in your wee

  • Constant night sweats

If you are experiencing these symptoms, or something doesn’t feel right, please contact your GP. Early diagnosis can save lives.

Kidney cancer uk

For more information, you can visit the Kidney Cancer UK website here:

February is Heart Month!

February is Heart Month, which aims to bring awareness about cardiac health

Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in England and Wales.

The risk of heart disease can be minimised, if you:

  • Stay active - even short walks can help!

  • Sleep well

  • Remember to take your medication as prescribed

  • Quit smoking

  • Eat balanced meals - with more fruits/vegetables and less salt/processed foods

The NHS Healthy Choices Quiz

The Healthy Choices Quiz provides an easy first step for those who want to feel healthier but may not know where to start

How does the quiz work?

The quiz will first capture some basic demographic information for you and will explore different health motivations, then the quiz will ask you a series of lifestyle questions across six main themes:

  • movement

  • eating

  • alcohol consumption

  • smoking and vaping

  • mental health

  • sleep

You will then receive an overall score out of 10 based on your answers. This score indicates how your lifestyle could be affecting your health and wellbeing and how you are doing in each lifestyle area. Most importantly, it recommends what to do if you should need to make any changes. This includes directing you to NHS apps, advice and resources to help you get going with confidence. You can also sign up to an email programme to get additional information and support on key lifestyle areas straight to your inbox.

Who can take the quiz?

This quiz is designed for all adults aged 18 and over. The service is particularly keen to reach 40 to 60 year-olds who are undertaking risky health behaviours.

Who is the quiz not suitable for?

• Anyone aged 17 and under

• Anyone with an existing health condition, like diabetes or heart disease

• Those who are worried about their health should speak to a GP

• Those who are pregnant should speak to a midwife or GP

take the healthy choices quiz

How many smoke alarms do you have?

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS), as part of the Fire Kills campaign, is asking people to make sure they fit smoke alarms on every level of their home and to test them regularly

Many people see January as an opportunity for a fresh start, and fire safety should be top of the list. So, this month WFRS is encouraging everyone to make sure they have enough smoke alarms in their home and that they work. It only takes a few seconds and could save lives. 

Councillor Dale Bridgewater, Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue and Community Safety, said:

“The start of a new year is a great time to check that you have enough smoke alarms to cover your home and test them regularly, at least once a month.

If you don’t have enough or they’re not in the right place, you might not be alerted in time. You should have at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home, ideally placed on the ceiling in hallways or landings. Placing them next to sleeping areas and in rooms where electrical items are present can also give you another means of warning.

No matter how many smoke alarms you have, you should test them on a regular basis to make sure they are working properly. To help you remember to test your smoke alarms, you could set a reminder in your phone. In the event of fire, having working smoke alarms gives you time to get out, stay out and call 999.” 

To keep people safe, here are some top smoke alarm tips from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service:

  • Test smoke alarms regularly, at least once a month

  • Make sure smoke alarms are fitted on every level of the home

  • Whatever happens, never remove the batteries in smoke alarms unless replacing them. Some require new batteries every year.

  • Plan and practise an escape route and make sure that everyone in your home knows it

  • In the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999

  • Test smoke alarms for those people who are unable to test their own

For more advice on fitting or maintaining smoke alarms in your home, visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/smokealarms.

More home fire safety tips can be found at https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fire-safety-home.

How To Access Healthcare for Young People

It is really important that we all understand how to best access Healthcare when we need it, and where we can go for help

This video talks through how to access an NHS GP, use the NHS App, book appointments, and access help from Pharmacy, Mental Health services, Sexual Health services, drug and alcohol services and others. Please see our webpage for more information:

Healthcare for young people