Social Prescribing in Faversham. Networking Meeting Faversham

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1 Voluntary and Community Sector Social Prescribing in Faversham Red Zebra Community solutions and Swale Community and Voluntary Services (Swale CVS) are working with local GPs and other NHS staff to set up a fully integrated service that connects people with community organisations for non-clinical services in Faversham. This Social Prescribing service is a great opportunity for community groups to support more people to improve their health and wellbeing. Networking Meeting Faversham You are invited to the networking meeting for organisations in Faversham on March 1st. Please let us know if you are able to attend - just one person per organisation please as there is limited space. We hope to hear from you soon. Similar networking opportunities are being held in Canterbury and Whitstable to introduce and support the new Social Prescribing service being set up as part of the Vanguard site GP project. We also hope to hold a district wide forum in the summer, once the service is up and running, to reflect on how the service is going and how it supports wider health and community needs. These networking meetings are a chance for charitable organisations or groups working in the community to learn from each other, potentially collaborate, develop efficient evidence gathering and avoid duplication as well as possibly cross-refer and more. March 1st 10am - 12 midday Jubilee Room Alexander Centre 15-17, Preston Street Faversham ME13 8NZ This meeting will be focusing on explaining how the new Social Prescribing service, Connect Well, will work, and what it means to be listed in the directory. Swale CVS and Red Zebra Community Solutions teams will be there to answer any questions. If you want to book a place at this event, please contact Sandy Hammock on or sandy.hammock@swalecvs.co.uk SCEN Contact: Sandy Hammock office@swalecvs.co.uk

2 Voluntary and Community Sector Social Prescribing in Faversham Red Zebra Community solutions and Swale Community and Voluntary Services (Swale CVS) are working with local GPs and other NHS staff to set up a fully integrated service that connects people with community organisations for non-clinical services in Faversham. This Social Prescribing service is a great opportunity for community groups to support more people to improve their health and wellbeing. Connect Well Launch Event - Health Fair We are holding a Health Fair event for Faversham on Saturday April 23rd. The Health Fair will launch Connect Well Kent while providing residents with lots of fun activities and taster sessions. We would love as many organisations as possible to hold a stall so you can talk to people in the town and inform them about what you do and how to access the services or activities you run. There will be similar launches in Whitstable on Feb 6th at St Mary's Hall, 10-1, and in Canterbury on April 2nd. Please do come and see. Connect Well Health Fair, Faversham April 23rd 10am 1pm Gatefield Hall Alexander Centre Faversham ME13 8NZ Please let me know to book your place to run an interactive activity or have a stall at the Health Fair. Places are free. We especially welcome healthy eating, sport and leisure tasters and music performances. I look forward to hearing from you soon and meeting you at one of the events. If you want to book a place at either or both events, please contact Sandy Hammock on or sandy.hammock@swalecvs.co.uk

3 Voluntary and Community Sector Swale Borough Council Voluntary and Community Sector Review Swale Borough Council will be checking how it is supporting local voluntary and community groups, to make sure help is getting to the groups that need it. The review is part of the preparations to update the council s approach when working with voluntary and community sector organisations, and will help the council to better understand how the support it provides is making a difference to local people. Cllr Mike Whiting, Cabinet Member for localism, sport, culture and heritage at the council, said: The voluntary and community sector is a vital source of help for thousands of local people, so it is essential we make sure our approach is effective. We provide more then 1m to support hundreds of local groups across the borough, and we want to make sure this is helping as many people as possible. This review will give us a clear insight into where the support is going, where there may be gaps, and if there are areas which could benefit from additional support either from ourselves, or other groups working in the same field. Once we have this clear picture, we ll be able to make sure our own strategies and plans are helping deliver the right outcomes for local people. Christine White, Director of Swale Community and Voluntary Services (Swale CVS), said: This review is a timely and necessary look at how the voluntary and community sector is supported locally. The outcomes of this review will help to shape the future of the sector and ensure that help and support is getting to the groups and services that need it most. We are looking forward to seeing the findings of this review, which will highlight the true and valuable impact that voluntary and community sector organisations are having in Swale. The council will begin working with voluntary groups in the next few weeks to explain the review, which will take place over the spring and summer. A report on the findings will be published in the autumn. The council will begin working with voluntary groups in the next few weeks to explain the review, which will take place over the spring and summer. A report on the findings will be published in the autumn.

4 Voluntary and Community Sector Micro-fund supports creative groups to take part in Voluntary Arts Week Voluntary Arts Week, run by Voluntary Arts, is a week-long series of events showcasing the nations creativity. Taking over the UK & ROI between 6 and 15 May this year, the Week s programme is made up of a wide variety of creative and cultural events run by groups and organisations of all shapes and sizes. To help groups hold an event during Voluntary Arts Week, Voluntary Arts England is inviting volunteer-led groups to pitch for one of the 100 grants. The events must aim to engage new participants or volunteers in their activity. This opportunity has been made possible with the support of the Spirit of 2012 trust and is currently available for groups based in the Midlands, South East and South West of England. Voluntary Arts Week (6-15 May 2016) is an annual celebration of participation in cultural activities across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Groups based in the Midlands, South East and South West of England wishing to take part in Voluntary Arts Week can apply for a 100 grant to help run their event. The grant deadline is 7 March 2016 and the application form is available here. A variety of event toolkits and practical guides to support and inspire groups are also available on the Voluntary Arts Week website. There are no boundaries as to the type of cultural activity groups can register as part of this special Week. In previous years activity has included everything from open rehearsals and one-off performances, to creative taster sessions, CraftBombs (eye-catching outdoor crafty installations), music and song Flashmobs and Woollen Woods featuring woolly creations exhibited in forests. The Voluntary Arts Week website offers practical advice to participating groups, including guidance on how to write a press release and engage people on social media. Event toolkits have been developed to help groups take part in nationwide events such as the Woollen Woods, Flashmob, CraftBomb or to hold a Come and Sing / Come and Play day, which is being promoted by Making Music UK. The toolkits include examples, guidance on planning, organising, implementing and publicising the project as well as links to additional useful resources. Ideas Test, a grass roots arts organisation established to increase creative opportunities in Swale and Medway are offering to host events for free during Voluntary Arts week. If you want to put on an event in our space at No.34 High Street, Sittingbourne to raise the profile of your group and attract new people we have space available in our shop front and meeting rooms. Contact Neelam neelam@creativepeopleplace.info for more information. Find out more about our organisation and No. 34 on our website ideastest.co.uk/no-34/.

5 Voluntary and Community Sector Swale CVS Befriending scheme provides companionship to individuals over 60 years of age that are socially isolated and have little to no social contact. It is a service whereby volunteers visit individuals in their own homes for an hour or two a week to provide company and friendship. In addition, we are currently setting up a telephone befriending service that will involve a volunteer phoning an isolated, elderly individual regularly, at an arranged time, for a chat and to be a listening ear for the individual. We also provide a monthly lunch club where our clients can come to a monthly lunch outing. We go to varying restaurants across Swale, and transport can be provided free of charge. Our clients are required to cover the cost of their meal, but there is usually a varied priced menu available. Referrals to our befriending scheme can be made by the individual themselves or a professional on their behalf. We are always looking for new volunteers and welcome new referrals - if you would like more information about joining our scheme, as a client or as a volunteer, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can telephone Charissa Taylor on , charissa.taylor@swalecvs.co.uk, or pop in to our office at Central House, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne.

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7 Health This is a fantastic once in a life time opportunity to attend an Informative lecture by both Andrew Marr and Jackie Ashley. The broadcasters and journalists, Jackie Ashley and Andrew Marr, will be speaking for the very first time about the impact on their shared lives of the major stroke that Andrew survived in In a discussion ranging from personal experience to national policy, they will address the importance of practical help in keeping people with disabilities independent. DLF (Disability Living Foundation) is part of Shaw Trust and will be hosting the event on the 17 th March. Please contact events@shaw-trust.org.uk and quote KENT to book a place. Lecture, reception and dinner is 85, or why not book a table and take advantage of the discounted rate of 800 for a table of 10. Alf Morris Lecture Thursday 17th March from 6.00pm The Shaw Theatre and the Pullman St Pancras Hotel, London NW1 2AJ Please contact Michael Foster on Michael.foster@shaw-trust.org.uk or if you would like more information. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at this prestigious event.

8 Health **** Get Into NHS ***** Are you 16-25, currently not in employment, education or training and living in Kent? Join our free training programme based in the Medway area. Gain essential skills needed to work in the NHS including Clinical, Administrative and Health & Social Care Roles Receive training in: Dementia Awareness, Infection Control, Health & Safety in the Health Sector, and Safeguarding Achieve your First Aid Qualification Complete work experience with Medway Community Healthcare in a variety of clinical and non clinical roles Identify the best career option for you and get help with applying for Apprenticeships and Jobs Access up to 6 months progression support from The Prince's Trust to help you move into employment, education or training Information day: 1st March 2016 Taster day: 3rd March 2016 Main Programme: 7th March to 24th March 2016 Lunch and travel will be provided throughout the duration of the programme.

9 Health There has been an ever growing focus on mental health we now need to translate that into real change. Today, NHS England have published a report by the Mental Health Task Force. The Five Year Forward view commits the NHS in England to major transformation of mental health care. It coincides with the start of a ground breaking series across the BBC focusing on mental health In The Mind. The Mental Health Foundation believes that these developments, mirrored by an increased focus on mental health in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, mark a pivotal moment in the fight for a mentally healthier nation. We worked closely with Public Health England to develop prevention focused recommendations for the Taskforce report, and were commissioned by them to review the relevant evidence. We are therefore delighted that the Taskforce report has underlined the critical importance of prevention. Commenting Jenny Edwards CBE, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said: The Mental Health Foundation has been calling for a greater focus on prevention and we are delighted that this is clearly reflected in the report. Prevention was the key priority to come out of the public engagement consultation that fed into the report. We specifically welcome the creation of a Prevention Concordat to drive forward change. We unequivocally endorse the Taskforce report when it states that prevention matters it s the only way that change can be achieved. Beyond the economic cost of 105 billion a year, poor mental health is destroying lives. The report acknowledges that we need to do far more to ensure good mental health for all and this means stepping in at the first opportunity. At present, too little is done to prevent mental ill health both with the population at large and with at risk groups. Providing the right range of support, including prevention, has enabled us to become a physically healthier nation. This must now be replicated in mental health. The report, if acted on, provides a once in a generation opportunity to achieve this. In the coming days and weeks we will be working hard to help make sure that we make the most of this opportunity. But in the meantime we wanted to keep you posted on these important developments and to thank you for your support. For ultimately, it is because people have been willing to shout mental health matters that we are now on the cusp of much needed change.

10 Health Today the Mental Health Taskforce, an independent body set up by NHS England, has published its five year strategy to improve mental health outcomes for everyone across England. It was chaired by Paul Farmer, Mind CEO and the vice-chair was Jacqui Dyer, an expert by experience. The Taskforce comprised health and social care leaders, professional bodies, charities and experts by experience.. To implement these, the Taskforce estimates an additional 1billion per year is needed by 2020/21, which the NHS has committed to invest. Some key recommendations include: Secure care: better approaches to commissioning so that people do not stay longer than necessary in secure or other restrictive settings. Access to high-quality services close to home: ensuring that local community services are immediately available so that people experiencing a mental health crisis do not need to wait. If people need to use hospital services, they should not have to travel out of their area for the right care. Co-production: people living with mental illness and carers should be involved in the design and delivery of mental health services. Prescribing: new standards for health professionals who prescribe medication to improve the way they involve people in decisions about their treatment. Better carer engagement: health professionals should be trained to better involve carers. Services should also have to show evidence that that they effectively engage with carers as part of their inspections. Action on physical health: people with mental illness should get enhanced help with their physical health through better screening and lifestyle support. Research: calls for a 10 year strategy on mental health research, including details of the funding commitments to make this happen. For further information on the Mental Health Taskforce, visit

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12 Health Kent Community health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) are delighted to invite you to an event we are hosting on Thursday 10 March 2016 from 10am to 1pm at Aylesford Village Community Centre, 25 Forstal Road, Aylesford Kent, ME20 7AU. The event is for carers and carers organisations and KCHFT staff. There will be presentations from an adult and a young carer about their experiences of caring and this will be followed by group discussions to help us consider what our carers strategy action plan should contain for the coming year. You will also be able to find out about KCHFT s commitment to carers and pick up copies of our new carer s leaflet. If you are attending in your capacity as a carer we would ideally like you to be caring for someone who has used community health services in the past two years however, this is not essential. We would respectfully advise you this event is not a suitable way to discuss personal complaints or problems and would like to direct you the to our Customer Care Team on or kcht.cct@nhs.net if you would like to raise a personal issue. If this event is of interest to you and you would like to book your place, please contact me on beverley.bryant2@nhs.net or

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14 Job Vacancies Social Prescribing Coordinators Annual salary: 21,000 pro rata, One year fixed term Hours: 30 hours per week Location: Based in Whitstable, to cover Whitstable, Faversham and Canterbury Red Zebra Community Solutions are looking to recruit 3 Social Prescribing Coordinators to cover the Whitstable, Faversham and Canterbury areas. You will be responsible for the management and operational delivery of the Social Prescribing project, providing a referral system for GPs and other Healthcare professionals in East Kent (Canterbury, Faversham, Whitstable). The post holder will work closely with the newly formed CHOCs in the Encompass project area. The role will require supporting clients to access a range of health, social care, welfare advice and other support services. The role will require proactive engagement with healthcare professionals to stimulate referrals into the programme and with community based providers of services and activities. Clients will be supported on an individual basis to identify activities that will improve their health and wellbeing. Clients interested in volunteering will be supported to access opportunities with brokerage. If you are interested in applying for this post, please download the job description and application form, or contact Liz Shihabi at info@redzebra.org.uk for further information. Applications to be ed to info@redzebra.org.uk Please note CVs will not be accepted. Closing date 11th March. Interviews will be held week commencing 21st March