Working Together for a Healthier Community
A report on the impact of the Sefton NHS Clinical Commission Groups’ investment in the local voluntary, community and faith sector 2014-2017
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sefton CVS and the VCF sector, in particular, for all their hard work over the past few years which is showcased in this report. We have built up a great relationship Working closely with Sefton CVS The grants managed by Sefton with Sefton CVS who play a valuable and the sector, the Sefton CCGs CVS have clearly highlighted the role in working alongside the NHS grants have helped residents to potential ‘reach’ of the funding – far to improve the health and wellbeing support themselves and each other beyond the direct beneficiaries – of the communities we all serve and as individuals, in groups and in local but deep into people’s families and represent by offering the people of communities. communities. Sefton the chance to join worthwhile The main aim of the grants was to With the significant financial community groups and to meet like improve people’s sense of inclusion challenges the NHS faces going minded people. and involvement which in turn forward, it is vital that we work We recognise the valuable role helps their health, wellbeing and closely together in the years ahead the groups play in achieving better independence. Drawing on local in order to balance these competing health and wellbeing for our Sefton skills, knowledge or experience demands. residents. This is reinforced by what in designing and delivering local We look forward to the next three local people consistently tell us, services and activities can also help years working with the team at that these groups are important in to build additional capacity within the Sefton CVS, keep up the great work! providing them with support. communities across Sefton. Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer, NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG
Between April 2014 and March 2017 the two Sefton-based NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups invested £2.5 million in a grant scheme that has enabled 52 different groups and organisations to deliver projects which have benefited more than 2,881 children and young people, 3,291 older people and 3,443 adults. This report documents the wide Sefton has a vibrant and homegrown The impact of all the schemes will variety of projects that took place to VCF sector that has both a deep ultimately assist in reducing demand improve the health and wellbeing of understanding and a passionate on the hard-pressed frontline our citizens. commitment to their communities. services of the NHS and, at a unit This has enabled the fund to work cost of under £240, we believe that Whether it was to employ staff, so well and in such a variety of this has proved to be excellent value pay for resources and equipment ways. The funding has also been for money. We hope that local grant- or go towards offering day trips instrumental in encouraging more making schemes will be funded in and activities, the fund has been partnership working to create better the future, not just in Sefton but instrumental in ensuring the lives pathways and services for our nationwide. of over 10,500 people have been citizens. enriched in a fundamental way. A national campaign entitled As a result of this vital investment, Grants for Good - www.dsc.org. The services benefited massively we can say, with confidence, that: uk/grantsforgood - is encouraging from the 590 volunteers who have Government and public sector given their time to support the more children are now confident to commissioners to continue projects, and we are both grateful face the challenges of growing up supporting grant schemes such as and thankful that we have, in Sefton, more adults are positively equipped the Sefton CCG VCF Fund, enabling such a wealth of people willing to with skills to deal with managing their smaller charities and community give their time and expertise to help wellbeing and groups to deliver innovation and others. more older people can lead an good quality outcomes through local independent life where they don’t investment. have to feel alone. Nigel Bellamy, Deputy Chief Executive Sefton CVS
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Children and Young People
In this category, there were three health areas: obesity, emotional wellbeing and transitions. Many of the 15 specific projects focused on one or more of these areas but they all tackled a variety of issues Croston that can act as a barrier to children achieving their potential. Churchtown These issues stem from a variety of areas including: low self-esteem, inadequate nutrition, domestic Southport violence, a lack of confidence and worries about moving up through the Birkdale school system. On the next eight pages are the projects illustrating how volunteers, Ainsdale organisations and the wider community can come together to create safe and stimulating environments in which children and young people can thrive. The 15 projects are: Tackling the Blues Early Years Partnership Formby Healthy Families U16 Sefton Street Soccer League Noise Lydiate Navigate Hightown Teens and Toddlers Gymnastics Holiday Fun Active Brunswick Maghull Sefton Children’s Trust
Mind Space Blundellsands Young Person’s Domestic Violence Project Crosby Netherton Kids Kitchen Waterloo Redi Project Aintree Play and Early Learning Litherland
Bootle
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Tackling the Blues Partnership delivery: Everton in the The emotional literacy of children Community, Parenting 2000, Edge and young people improved Hill University and this helped them to better manage their mental health and Area covered: All Sefton relationships with others. Aim: to support young people aged “I’ve learned about my anger, to 8-14 who are experiencing, or are control it, because most of the time I at risk of developing, mental health just want to punch a wall.” problems by offering a sport, physical Tackling the Blues improved activity and education-based children and young people’s programme. self-evaluation, co-operation and 286 young people engaged (unique emotional intelligence. participants) in the 227 high-quality “I’ve learned a lot actually. To get sports sessions delivered with 257 to know more people you have to participants staying throughout the try and work with them, and also project. to work in a team, no matter who you’re doing it with.” 24 young people successfully gained a recognised qualification as part Autonomy and decision-making of a three-day event at Goodison skills were developed by providing Park, achieving a Chartered Institute children and young people with of Environmental Health Level 2 choice and ownership of the qualification in Healthier Food and activities delivered. Special Diets. “We all participate and no one’s ever left out in the activities. When All groups engaged in Tackling we do the activities, we make sure the Blues reported increases in we like them and have discussions self-confidence, self-esteem and about whether everyone enjoys it reductions in anxiety. and, if they don’t, we’ll try and find “I’m more confident. I’ll talk more and, something we all like. That’s what the in class, I’m not as shy as I used to staff do, help us.” be, so I answer more in class and get more involved.”
Early Years Partnership Partnership delivery: Parenting 2000, Once trained to deliver Relax Kids “My daughter has ADHD and I tried primary schools and the private, (a relaxation technique to help the Relax Kids group to see if it would voluntary and independent childcare children manage stress better while help her to calm and relax even if just settings. improving concentration) and Baby for the short time she was there. She GroBrain/Baby Mindful (equipping really enjoyed her first time which Area covered: North Sefton professionals to guide parents on I was thrilled at, as she finds it hard Aim: support for very young how their baby’s learning is linked settling anywhere. After a couple children to help them develop the with how its brain is developing), the of months I started seeing a big capacity to learn resilience and project provided sessions for children difference. When I would turn up emotional intelligence through a and courses for parents to pass on to collect her, she would be asleep package of training to child support this knowledge. which is unusual for my daughter, professionals. and if she was ever getting too hyper More than 50 children benefited at home I would get her little pillow from the sessions which were and blanket like she had at Relax Kids delivered at a variety of places in and she would recite some of the Southport, including primary schools, things she had been taught.” children’s centres, a nursery setting and a dance and drama school. Mother to a young girl attending Relax Kids after school in Southport
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Healthy Families Delivered by: Brighter Living Other results included: a knockabout “This course wasn’t just about cooking Partnership cricket game at a local park which and healthy lifestyles. It was about was the first time one family had trying something new and my son Area covered: North Sefton participated in exercise for a long did get stuck in. For me it was about Aim: to introduce families to healthy time; one child with fussy eating confidence in the kitchen and meeting cooking on a budget with a focus on habits has now tried new foods as up with other families in the holidays. I weight management. a result of being able to assist in the knew my daughter would love all the preparation; and several families have healthy lifestyles topics covered and The 12-week programme offered a reported they are now shopping she still looks at the sugar app.” combination of theoretical learning smartly for healthy options as well and practical cooking sessions for as walking to places they wouldn’t the whole family to join in, taking normally. part in different activities and learning healthy diet and lifestyle Case study: “I have never been a tips. Some courses also featured good cook and do struggle with structured physical activity sessions. confidence in the kitchen. My Topics covered in the theoretical two children haven’t really been sessions included the importance of engaged in the kitchen other than food, following the Eat Well guide, maybe baking some cakes. I saw reducing sugar and salt consumption, the 12-week course as an excellent and budgeting. opportunity. More than 11 families with 35 “It offered different practical skills members were involved, recording for the children in the kitchen increased cooking skills, reduced - chopping, peeling, mixing, weight and confidence in putting combining, measuring etc and it had together healthy family meals the right amount of hygiene and without breaking the bank. As the safety contained in it. It was lovely programme was a family-based to see my children have a go and intervention, it gave opportunities it made me realise who enjoyed for children to assist their parents what the most, which gave me in meal preparation, become active more confidence to get cracking in as a family and allowed them to the kitchen. Now I don’t buy jars of socialise and eat the prepared food in cooking sauce as I know how easy a comfortable environment. it is to make. I also include both children in simple meal prep.
U16 Sefton Street Soccer League Delivered by: Active Soccer A total of 55 young people aged One young person commented: between 13 and 16 took part in “I took part because I just wanted to Area covered: Maghull the league which culminated in a play football and get involved. It has Aim: to set up a five-a-side football tournament night. Although only improved my playing and my fitness. season one evening a week over ten delivered over a short time period, By taking part it has made me want weeks encouraging boys aged under the project had a positive impact to join a regular five-a-side league.” 16 to join and, in the process, gain on those who attended the Friday communication and social skills as football evenings. For one young well as develop an appreciation for person, it was difficult to attend physical activity. any social activity without parental support, but regularly taking part meant their confidence and self- esteem improved enough for him to make his own way to the league.
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Noise Delivered by: Merseyside Youth In response to young people’s Earlier this year, project attendee Association experiences Noise established a James, 14, was nominated by project dedicated counselling service, with a staff for MYA’s Step Up Fund, a Area covered: South Sefton BACP-qualified counsellor discreetly discretionary award to help young Aim: using music as the engagement attending the Wednesday sessions, people in need progress their talents. tool, staff have got to know the ready to help young people. Since receiving this award, issues young people from the area This service has been attended by recognising his commitment to face, identifying those at risk, and six young people, seeking help for the project, James’ guitar skills consulting professional networks to issues including anxiety, depression have progressed and his parents source help. and self-harm. All had complained report a marked improvement in his Since January 2016, Noise has of long waiting times for counselling behaviour at home. reached a total of 46 aspiring appointments at school or college, musicians, aged 11 to 18, from and had arrived at crisis point. across south Sefton, with a free In the words of Hannah, 16: “Besides programme of music activities at guitar lessons, the workers also gave Marsh Lane’s SPACE centre. The me access to counselling, which I young people have accessed a range could not find anywhere else. Since of other opportunities through this I’ve been receiving this support, I project, designed to take them out of feel as though I am functioning negative environments, expand their better. When I first came here I was horizons and improve their mental a completely different person. I was health and wellbeing. so quiet and my confidence was rock One such young person was Daisy, bottom.” 18. Asked to describe her situation Through attending Noise, Charlotte before accessing the project, she gained a once-in-a-lifetime said: “Proper sad. Every day was a opportunity to meet her musical idol nervous breakdown and I was always Craig David, along with one other in trouble. As well as feeling hopeless, young person from the project, as I felt like I had more potential I part of a BBC outreach event. She wanted the world to know.” said: “I found meeting Craig David to be very helpful. He gave me an insight on what the music industry is actually like and it has taught me you need to be completely determined.”
Navigate Delivered by: Light for Life Among the support given by the “I have been accepted on a course young person advisers: help to starting in September. I am really Area covered: North Sefton secure suitable accommodation excited about this. I am determined Aim: to support young people and maintain tenancies; assisting to do my best and feel really experiencing difficulties with the with resolving troubled family motivated. I still plan to go to transition to adulthood, living away relationships and promoting healthy university but right now I feel that this from home or leaving care, who are lifestyles. is the best move for me. I am very attending or intend to attend college content with my living arrangements The result is that the young to follow an accredited programme and I am even making efforts to build people are better equipped at of study. A total of 83 young people bridges with my Mum.” managing budgets, motivated to were supported through the project complete college courses, more A 19-year-old girl engaging giving them the skills and confidence confident in deciding appropriate with Navigate to overcome obstacles. accommodation – and this all leads to increased mental wellbeing.
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Teens and Toddlers Delivered by: Parenting 2000 Case study: One participant was identified by school as she had issues Area delivered: All Sefton around confidence and behaviour. Aim: to prevent unplanned She suffered with anxiety and was teenage pregnancy by delivering a quite often the person who dabbled 16-week programme where young in some risky behaviour. Although people work with toddlers to be she was popular, underneath her better prepared as parents when demeanour, she was shy and they mature and are ready. Teens insecure. She was reluctant to share and toddlers is a government- one-on-one time with her toddler supported initiative which empowers but, as the weeks progressed, their the young person to make relationship developed and her positive life choices that result in confidence grew. The confidence she education/training/employment/ found in the nursery also began to understanding relationships and surface in the classroom sessions. avoid unplanned teenage pregnancy/ Towards the end of the course she sexually transmitted infections/risky spoke to the facilitators in confidence behaviours. about her feelings, her life at home 90 young people from areas with and how anxious she is in school. She high rates of unplanned teenage said prior to T and T she did not know pregnancies have taken part in what to do with her future, and did the project over three years. This not feel important enough to achieve has resulted in: improved family anything at school. However, she relationships, increased confidence now knows she wants to pursue a and self-esteem, and childcare being career working with children, and she considered as a career. wants to achieve this before thinking about starting a family.
Gymnastics Holiday Fun Delivered by: Hatton Hill Gymnastics An extra challenge was the friendly competition in which other local Area covered: South Sefton gymnastic groups were invited to Aim: to increase children’s health and compete, allowing the members self-esteem by encouraging them to to demonstrate their skills and take part in gymnastics during school ability, with the coaches reporting holidays. improvements in the young people’s fitness. The project has seen 55 new members join the club since it started Two sisters, aged ten and eight, were in August 2015. They have enjoyed able to improve their display work learning new gymnastic techniques on bars, floor and box to the degree and routines which has boosted their their mum noted: “They are happier, wellbeing and increased their activity and taking part in the team work has levels. given them more confidence and the ability to complete tasks.” The The holiday clubs focused on giving older sister has gone on to help with the youngsters the chance to try coaching. new equipment, providing new challenges, and achieving further One of the coaches at the school goals. holiday club remarked: “It gave gymnasts a chance to explore skills they would not normally work on.”
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Active Brunswick Delivered by: Brunswick Youth and Through the project, families, young Community Centre people and children have taken part in organised walks in Sefton, sports Area covered: South Sefton sessions at the centre and a girls Aim: to tackle childhood obesity group was formed who have gone through a programme of activity, on to do a Sustrans-arranged cycle healthy eating and lifestyle change. ride along the Leeds and Liverpool Based at their Marsh Lane centre, Canal. the project involved children, young One of the girls commented: people and families in food growing “Without the sessions I wouldn’t have and healthy cooking workshops as tried the exercise or done the healthy well as offering sporting activities. meal lessons which have been fun. I The community garden at the centre have tried different types of exercise became a focal point where youth and learnt to make different meals. groups prepared, propagated and I’d say I’m more confident now.” planted out crops and flowers, One of the mums with a baby giving them an opportunity to learn daughter said: “I don’t have many horticultural skills alongside how friends who are also parents and their fresh produce can be used in I also suffer with depression so I preparing homemade meals. thought coming to the parent and Their new-found skills were utilised toddler sessions would be a good when they transplanted what way to meet people and get support they had grown at the centre to a and advice. I’ve met other mums dedicated outside garden area at and dads and started to make new Oriel Road train station in Bootle. friends. I’ve been given loads of ideas and recipes for easy meals including Parents and toddlers had their own how to make homemade baby food.“ food growing sessions which added in a walking/activity element and this More than 100 young people have proved popular with many parents, been involved with the project’s making low-salt recipes at home and different activities. enjoying more outdoor play.
Sefton Children’s Trust Delivered by: Sefton Children’s Trust The children were encouraged to set personal goals at the start of the Area covered: All Sefton residential and, through the course Aim: to provide a week-long of the week, the children were residential at an adventure centre for presented with challenges and new children aged between eight and 12 experiences which resulted in them from families who are experiencing achieving their goals – and went difficulties in order to advance their home with a certificate to prove it! emotional and social development. To build on this, the project also Over three years of funding, a total organised family days where a of 210 young people were given the restaurant meal was then followed by chance to take part in team-building a screening of the residential and this exercises and social events such as provided a chance for the children raft building, archery, a talent show to relive that time and share their and more. experiences with parents and carers.
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Mind Space Partnership delivery: SEAS The therapeutic counselling sessions consortium (Venus, SWACA, SPACE, have seen significant improvements PSS, Parenting 2000 and Sefton CVS) in the young people, including one person now able to communicate Area covered: All Sefton their feelings more and the school has Aim: to create new ways to offer noted increased positive behaviour. support to young people aged One of the innovative ways of between 10 and 25 across Sefton supporting the young people has who may be self-harming or at risk of come through the development of self-harm. a drama film developed by young The initiatives and interventions people and in which young mental included one-to-one counselling, health service users had input. The group support sessions and a drama result is a DVD/digital resource to be and arts-based programme. used by groups and organisations to raise awareness of self-harming. The project has received more than 30 referrals for one-to-one support with Additionally, 39 young people were 18 cases completed and 29 young referred during the 2014 project with people have been involved in group 37 receiving in-depth support and a work. Receiving timely assistance has further 36 young people taking part given the young people confidence to in group work. deal with their issues, resulting in one young person who self-referred being able to stop self-harming.
Young Person’s Domestic Violence Project Delivered by: SWACA One young person who found this beneficial said: “I can get really Area covered: All Sefton nervous and wound up talking to Aim: to explore relationships, increase professionals because I feel like they awareness of domestic violence within judge me for being young. SWACA the 14-25 age group and offer early is the only appointment I don’t get intervention, as well as improve the nervous attending and feel like I can safety and wellbeing of young people be honest.” affected by domestic violence. More than 1000 young people SWACA approached this by organising attended the community workshops workshops for young people to attend and drop-ins, 50 of whom sought and also offering direct support if the direct support from SWACA, while young person wanted it. A positive many more went on to access outcome of the project was the other services and were helped with development of two ‘teen talk’ weekly concerns such as anxiety and other drop-ins, an evening one in Southport mental health issues. and an afternoon one in Bootle. This The project succeeded in raising informal approach appealed to the awareness of domestic violence young people with one commenting: within this age group, and those “It wasn’t as scary as I thought.” who engaged said they were more Young people were offered face-to- confident in understanding what is face or virtual advice at the drop-ins and isn’t a healthy relationship, as well and, if they wanted direct support, as knowing where to go for help, for they were able to have an assessment which they developed posters (see with one of SWACA’s young person’s photograph). workers.
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Kids Kitchen Delivered by: SING Children had the opportunity to grow produce such as vegetables Area delivered: South Sefton including tomatoes, carrots and Aim: to provide a free and nutritious potatoes to be eaten as part of their meal and fun activities during the meals, used in a cookery session, or school holidays for primary school to be taken home either cooked or children who would normally to use as a family activity. receive Free School Meals (FSM). To increase confidence in exploring The project was designed to their local environment, the children support low-income families accessed local parks and free spaces during the school holidays by giving which also promoted a healthy, active children a place where they could lifestyle. enjoy a meal, plant out crops and This included: kite flying at Burbo use these to make their own meals, Bank, using the outdoor gym as well as take part in activities to equipment at Crosby Lakeside and promote a healthy lifestyle. outdoor games at Potters Barn and The children were encouraged Chaffers playing fields. to be hands on in preparing and Comments from parents, young cooking the meals as well as being people and carers include: involved in choosing meals. “My child is more adventurous with By the end of the project parents food.” noticed that even fussy eaters were “I like going to the park.” enjoying family meals rather than having a separate dish. “Great for kids to mix with others as during the holidays we are limited A health visitor commented that the to where and what we do due to child they supported had started to expense.” put on weight since coming to Kids Kitchen and was trying different The project delivered on 88 days, foods. catering for over 100 individual children with an overall average of 29 per day.
2,443 children and young people in Sefton were involved in projects supported by the CCG VCF Fund between 2014-2017.
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Redi Project Delivered by: Ykids Over the course of the 2014-funded project, up to 132 children and Area covered: South Sefton young people engaged with the Aim: to increase skills and emotional programmes. There were many resilience in young people so they positive outcomes including: young can fulfil their potential and build a people learning resilience and building positive future, leading to improved constructive relationships to the point positive mental health and emotional they were happy to attend school, wellbeing. and confident enough to form new friendships. Communication and The grant went to part fund Ykids’ social skills also improved. successful Redi Project which saw a number of youth groups engage Case study: “Before I joined Redi I was in a variety of programmes and quite a shy person but I still tried to activities, from learning about bee get involved. I wanted to get involved keeping, world cultures and how to try new things and make new the emergency services operate friends, which I have now done. As a to a ten-week boot camp of fun, result, I have achieved a lot - I know putting on an art exhibition with a more about how to be safe and I difference and more. Other sessions am definitely more confident when looked at risky behaviours, while meeting new people. If it wasn’t for friendship groups helped those Redi I wouldn’t have had a job aim. experiencing an array of difficulties, “Redi took me on trips where I including the transition from discovered I enjoyed outdoor primary to high school or family activities, so from these trips I went tensions. on to study sport. I now plan to go into working in sports with children or young people.”
Play and Early Learning Delivered by: Homestart Southport Several of the families were from Feedback: One parent reported and Formby minority ethnic groups or had that their child was calmer and young children with challenging more settled by being in a positive Area delivered: North Sefton behaviour. The project acted as a routine. “My son’s concentration has Aim: to train volunteers to deliver bridge to connect them with their improved – he can now sit and play play activities to parents and children local community by equipping them a board game with me. A year ago he within the family home in order to with social skills and self-esteem to couldn’t do that.” develop the attachment between overcome any barriers. One mum said: “I have learned the parent and child, and to encourage As a result of the volunteers importance of singing and rhyme positive emotional health and undergoing specialist training time on my daughter’s speech and wellbeing in children. and being matched with families language.” The project further developed this throughout Southport and Formby, a A volunteer noted that the family by assisting parents to find activities total of 68 families and 120 children she visited were now much happier suitable for their child’s development have benefited from the project. and were enjoying their family life at local children’s centres, libraries, 80 per cent of the parents felt more together: “Previously the house had playgroups and parks. They would involved with their child’s early felt stressed and mum had been at then support parents to access these learning and development, 100 per the end of her tether. Now the whole groups with their children, and so cent of parents reported they had family sat down at the dining table set positive patterns in childhood for seen an improvement in coping with and would use paints, glitter and a lifetime, widening their friendship their child’s mental health and 92 stickers to make pictures. The little groups and reducing their social per cent felt they were able to cope boy put down his iPad to join in with isolation. better with managing their child’s the games,” she commented. behaviour.
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Older People Projects
In this category there were two health areas, social isolation and dementia. In Sefton there is a large older population with discrepancies between parts of the borough to do with quality of life and life Croston expectancy. Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness Churchtown among older people are public health issues and have a negative effect on their overall wellbeing. Southport The following 12 projects looked to offer ways in which older people Birkdale could get out, meet others, keep active and take part in activities that would stimulate them. By Ainsdale encouraging older people to become more active and build friendships, the projects helped them to remain independent for longer and, ultimately, reduce avoidable A&E visits. The projects are: Bootle Salvation Army Older People’s Welfare Formby Bootle Christ Church Youth and Community Centre Alzheimer’s Sefton Empower, Enable and Educate Lydiate Hightown Formby CVS/Formby CTA Keystone The Formby Project Maghull POPPIES Sefton OPERA Older People’s Project Blundellsands Social Inclusion Crosby Netherton
Waterloo Aintree
Litherland
Bootle
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Bootle Salvation Army Delivered by: Bootle Salvation Army Outcomes of these interventions It had a positive effect on those included: attending as they said they felt more Area covered: Bootle people successfully accessing pensions, relaxed and have grown in confidence, Health area: older people social so they began attending social groups one client positively appealing against isolation at other venues. a sanction, Aim: to provide subsidised hot meals supporting a client with early onset Case study: An older man who lives to older people three days a week of Parkinson’s to apply for a carers on his own initially came to the project in a welcoming environment where allowance, for the meal but this led to him asking they could socialise with other for help on how to access the internet supporting a client who suffered a people. on his new tablet. He later added that stroke to contact the DVLA to have attending the meals meant he got out The project has been running for his deceased wife’s number plate of the house and met other people more than three years and, in that transferred to his new vehicle, which made him feel better. time, over 12,400 subsidised meals signposting clients on to local have been served to the older organisations such as SWACA, Venus, members of the community. This Lifeline, the Foodbank and the One provision allowed for relationships Stop Shop. to be built with regular clients, who were then inclined to seek practical The project built on its services by support for issues giving them cause offering chair-based exercise, feet for concern, such as with benefits, washing by a retired nurse and an local and national government and informal relaxation session called health-related agencies. Take a Break. Here older people could chat with one another, take up a craft activity or play board games.
Older People’s Welfare Delivered by: Age Concern Crosby There were two further lunch clubs An 87-year-old widower from – on a Wednesday with 39 members the Crosby area became a regular Area covered: Crosby and and a Thursday with 21 members. at the Wednesday club when he Blundellsands, Seaforth and Litherland, Social activities were offered on a entertained the others by playing the Thornton and Waterloo Wednesday and they took part in piano. He said: “This keeps me going Health area: older people social chair-based exercises, danced along and makes me feel important. The isolation and dementia with the Sefton OPERA band and meals were delicious, the company listened to talks from Merseyside is excellent and the activities are Aim: to benefit older people of Fire and Rescue and the Stroke superb.” all abilities by organising day trips, Association. weekly lunches, social activities and There were 63 volunteers aged exercises. By providing the lunches, trips and between 20 and 70+ involved activities, the older people had a with the project who came from A minibus was purchased through the chance to get out of the house and the south Sefton area. They also 2014 grant and this was used as part make new friends. benefited from the project because of the 2015 project to transport less volunteering improved their self- mobile older people from home to The introduction of memory esteem, especially as they attended the Monday club. On this day up to boxes from Crosby Library has training in driving a minibus, first aid 23 people played games, took part in added another dimension to the and basic food hygiene. quizzes and an art group once lunch groups with them reminiscing was over. Additionally, the group went about gas masks, bombed streets on several outings to places such as and how they survived the war. the Philharmonic Hall and on a canal This built the connection between trip which further increased their members, improved their wellbeing, and that is why a waiting list wellbeing and kept them mentally was drawn up as others wanted to join as well as physically active. in the fun.
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Bootle Christ Church Youth and Community Centre Delivered by: Bootle Christ Church This led to the creation of a gardening The older people saw an improvement group where they grew fresh fruit in their social interaction, confidence Area covered: South Sefton and vegetables in the garden outside in doing things on their own, and their Health area: older people social the centre and these were used in overall health improved due to the isolation cooking sessions. physical activities and services offered including tai chi, chiropody, gardening, Aim: to give older people in the area In addition, trips were organised to health checks and complementary a welcoming destination where places such as Llandudno Christmas therapies. they could take part in a variety of Market, Skipton, the Empire Theatre activities, meet other people, learn and an intergenerational trip to Feedback from quiz participants: new skills in order to remain active Acorn Farm. Breaking down any “It’s a good laugh and we get to know and independent. It also provided barriers between older and younger other people.” volunteering opportunities. people was an integral part of the A total of 14 volunteers were involved project and they also organised an The programme of activities offered in the project. intergenerational BBQ and VE Day through the project was vast - tai chi, celebration. To help raise awareness Zumba gold, indoor bowls, internet of other local agencies and pass on café, community luncheon club, information, talks were arranged on soup and a roll, community café, quiz, hate crime, dementia and the history coffee morning, chiropody, bingo, of Bootle. cookery groups, gardening group, ceramic pot planting and jewellery A further 37 new people joined in the making. programme of activities on offer, and, overall, there were 3,658 attendances A particular success was the cookery during the lifetime of the project. group with participants learning how to use fresh produce and the benefits of less salt and fat.
Alzheimer’s Sefton Delivered by: Alzheimer’s Society One man, aged 80 with mixed Additionally, the volunteers gained dementia, commented on how skills and confidence by supporting Area covered: throughout Sefton the sessions gave him “a wonderful the activities and groups, with one Health area: older people dementia opportunity to meet new people.” going on to secure paid employment. And his son, also his carer, said his One male volunteer commented: “I Aim: to stimulate people living with dad was enjoying his life again, had a like everything about volunteering, dementia by providing a range of sense of purpose and felt valued. the groups are like big families. They activity groups and sessions leading have been a lifeline to me since my to their increased wellbeing. The sessions were attended by carers wife passed away.” of those living with dementia and The project engaged with more they benefited too, with one saying than 280 older people living with she was really happy and felt she had dementia through singing, reading, got her husband back. music and other sessions which were held in Bootle, Southport A total of 23 volunteers were and Netherton. The smiley face recruited into the project and they questionnaire they used to assess helped with other aspects of the how people felt before and after project, including a pop-up memory attending the sessions showed that café in Crosby, which complemented they felt happier, less tired and more the others elsewhere in the borough, relaxed following the groups. and also with building a sensory and memory garden exhibit for the Southport Flower Show that won a silver gilt award (see photograph).
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Empower, Enable and Educate Delivered by: Galloway’s Society for A total of 55 people attended the “By attending the Living with Sight Loss the Blind courses and some went on to meet course my husband and I began to regularly outside of the project in understand each other’s frustrations. Area covered: throughout Sefton their own peer support social group. I have started to use IT (speech Health area: older people social Coming to terms with losing sight software) which means that I can isolation is difficult but, through the group, now use my iPad to email others and people shared problem-solving ideas access the internet and I feel more Aim: to offer people experiencing as well as a range of emotions from confident about my future.” sight loss with improved choice shock, anger, sadness and frustration and control over their lives in order A 50-year-old Southport woman to depression and grief. to reduce the isolation and loss of registered as blind commented that confidence that this condition brings. A core element of the project was she felt isolated before engaging offering individual advice and practical with the project where she learnt The project’s Empowerment Officer support. The project identified that how appropriate equipment and supported visually impaired people by people received little information new technology can help her remain getting to know them and the help about their sight condition from independent. they needed, as well as teaching them hospital appointments, and so was how technology could improve their She said: “Before joining the project able to provide more than 170 people day-to-day living plus re-learning my knowledge of computers was very and their families with valuable skills such as cooking. limited. I went from ‘can’t live with to emotional support and guidance can’t live without’ my computer, I now A Living with Sight Loss course built about their conditions. download and listen to music, email on this support by helping people and This provision improved how people and shop online with confidence. I their families come to terms with sight felt about their situation. A 64-year- have found the social activities such loss and learn new ways to remain old woman from Southport said that, as tenpin bowling, croquet and trips independent. since her eyesight had deteriorated have greatly improved my social life so much, she had to register as and I have more confidence to go out blind and her and her husband had alone.” struggled to cope.
Formby CVS/Formby CTA Delivered by: Formby CVS By attending the luncheon club, The project linked in with other Sefton people formed their own friendship organisations including the Formby Area covered: Formby groups which began meeting up Hub which organises social events for Health area: older people social outside of the project. older people in the area, as well as the isolation Older People’s Forums co-ordinated In addition, the project offered a by SPAC. Through connections like Aim: to provide a luncheon club shopping service to older people in these the project provided chair- for older people where they can the local community which proved based exercises which proved popular. socialise and take part in activities in so popular they increased its delivery. a friendly atmosphere with minibuses Older people were picked up in the One woman, aged over 90, was transporting less able members to minibus and taken to a nearby large previously reluctant to go anywhere and from the club to reduce social supermarket, where they were met like the club as she did not believe she isolation. and supported with their shopping. needed help. She was collected by the minibus, made some friends and In the time the project has been The shopping trip service allowed joined the chair-based exercise group funded, more than 35 people have older people to shop for themselves telling her son she never felt better. joined the luncheon club so over 160 and one woman said her confidence people were able to enjoy the food grew as a result and this improved her A number of volunteers were integral and company. This meant the project communication skills. to the success of the project’s delivery, was busy serving around 10,000 with several providing the vital lifeline meals. of driving the minibuses.
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Keystone Delivered by: Keystone “I feel less isolated since coming and I know I can contact Keystone if I have Area covered: Crosby and Hightown a question and see a befriender most Health area: older people dementia weeks. The groups are lovely and I know I can say what I need to without Aim: to provide groups for carers of anyone criticising. It’s been a lifeline,” those living with dementia so they said one carer. have time to relax and gain peer support from other carers, as well as Another said: “I count the group supporting those with dementia or as friends now. I wish I’d found the other memory problems. groups months ago.” Initially, two groups were established Conferences have been delivered through the project. One meeting in order to raise awareness of at St Luke’s in Crosby with up to dementia with Penny Garner from ten members and the other in St the Contented Dementia Trust giving Frideswydes, Thornton, with six carers talks. Those who attended said it gave of people with early onset dementia. them increased confidence on how to approach dementia and a positive One of the ways the project supports outcome was that a third group was carers is by meeting at a café in formed in Hightown which has grown Crosby where they also bring the in size to 11 carers. people they care for. In the three years since the group has been The connection between members attending, the café staff have more has developed so much that they awareness of how dementia affects meet informally outside of the regular people and now provide suitable group meetings for friendship, coffee, chairs and drinks in mugs rather than lunch and walks on the seafront. This a cup and saucer. ensures the level of social isolation is further reduced and lessens the And, through the groups, the project feeling of stress the carers can has built up a network of volunteers sometimes experience. And they to care for the carers and visit them celebrate Christmas with a large at home, offering lifts to hospital festive meal in a local golf club which appointments, or staying with the is a focal point of the year for the cared for. Keystone has started a members, cared for and volunteers. befriending service for those known to the support groups. The project has also been successful in raising awareness of dementia The groups provide vital space and throughout Sefton by giving talks at opportunity for people to share other faith venues, with the prospect their concerns if they want, and of establishing additional Keystone this has meant the carers feel more groups. And in 2017 Keystone is connected with one another and involved in planning Dementia have somewhere they can unburden Friendly Crosby and Dementia themselves without being judged. It Friendly Hightown to further promote has made a significant difference to people’s understanding of this those who attend. condition.
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The Formby Project Partnership delivery: Brighter Living The befriending provides a vital People such as independent Mrs W, a Partnership (Lead Agency), Formby lifeline to people who have found 94-year-old, who was encouraged Christian Fellowship, Formby themselves isolated within their own to attend the Hub’s strawberry tea Luncheon Club, Formby Pool Trust, homes due to illness, bereavement or event and since then has gone on to Sefton CVS, Sefton Pensioners loss of mobility. become a member of the Luncheon Advocacy, the Formby Hub and the Club as well as enjoying the chair- People like 86-year-old Mrs S who is Formby Befriending Scheme based exercises; or Mr P who was without family and finds it difficult to lonely after his wife died but is now Area covered: Formby get around. Her befriender Irene visits part of the project and making the regularly and they go out to garden Health area: older people social most of everyone’s company. centres, the project’s own coffee club, isolation the shops and more. According to Through support given by Sefton Aim: to establish a befriending Mrs S she wouldn’t know what to do CVS’s Group Development Officer, network through volunteers being without Irene as “she keeps me going”. Sian Martin-Baez, the group delivering matched to older people in need of the befriending element has become The second element of the project company, as well as utilising social a charitable incorporated organisation is working in conjunction with the events organised by the Formby Hub (CIO) which means more older Formby Hub, set up to provide to further reduce social isolation of people in Formby will benefit from events so older people could meet older people in the area. ongoing befriending opportunities. up and socialise, as well as compiling Additionally, there are plans for The There were two elements to this a register of activities, groups and Hub to move under the umbrella of project which began in 2014. The first sessions within the locality used to Formby CVS to ensure events are held was the befriending side which saw signpost people. in the future for older people to enjoy. up to 60 volunteers visiting 60 older The hub document was updated people in their homes for at least one regularly and placed at strategic hour a week. venues in the area to maximise the Each volunteer completed an opportunity for people to access it. induction process prior to being These included the four information matched with an older person, hubs at the pool, library, Formby and then went on to give support Luncheon Club and a children’s centre. with shopping, attending health Volunteers also help out at the Hub appointments, companionship and events. acting as chaperones to coffee clubs Over the three years there were more and other social events. than 790 attendances by older people to the Hub events. Through the project, many older people have gone on to make friends with others attending the events, established lasting rapport with their befriender or have joined other clubs, such as Formby Luncheon Club.
29,312 meals were served to older people across the borough by Sefton projects supported by the CCG VCF Fund between 2014-2017.
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POPPIES Delivered by: St Leonard’s Youth and “‘I have been looking for a club which Case study: Mrs X is in her 70s, retired, Community Centre has indoor bowls and where I can lives with her husband in Bootle but play sitting on a chair, and this project has become socially isolated as her Area covered: South Sefton has organised things so I can do this.” husband doesn’t like going out of the Health area: older people social house due to his cancer. The project also looked to raise isolation and dementia people’s awareness of what POPPIES gave her the chance to Aim: to further build on the range of was available to them locally by be herself and she comments: “I health and wellbeing services and organising regular older people’s feel I can park my problems at the activities aimed at reducing social information days. door. I am happier, healthier, more isolation for older people, helping confident and have so many new Around 28 different agencies have widows/widowers and offering friends. been available to pass on details of dementia support. their services to more than 100 older “I have learnt several new skills too. POPPIES stands for Promoting Older people. The agencies ranged from All the tutors are so patient; we are People’s Pastimes, Information, the Stroke Association, Affordable allowed to go at our own pace. We Education and Socialising. An older Warmth Team and Macmillan to have a laugh and I feel very much person’s worker was employed by Hugh Baird College. supported and able to talk to people the project to oversee the social and staff if I need to. This project is a Overall, the project is seen as a activities offered. lifeline for me, like therapy, I can be place where the community can get me!” These included: weekly tai chi, together, especially for older people. ballroom dancing, a walking club and This was something identified as bowls as well as additional pursuits important by Mr H looking to find a such as trips out, talks from health place he and his wife could attend groups to raise awareness, pamper and follow shared pursuits: “I had sessions and, within the weekly chair- not long retired from working night based exercise they incorporated shifts and, needing to socialise more, quizzes, mental stimulation games I wanted to go somewhere to give and the use of a memory box. me a chance to get out more and As a result of this programme, improve my health. more than 97 attendees have “Through the project I have more benefited from engaging with the friends and feel part of my wider project and a regular survey was community. I think my health has taken of their views. improved and I spend much more Of those who filled in the survey, 80 time with my wife who attends the per cent said they felt their levels of project at the same time.” fitness had increased with people commenting: “As a disabled person I do find the chair-based exercises help me without putting too much pressure on my already sore joints.”
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Sefton OPERA Area covered: All Sefton One was the Never Too Late to Look Volunteer case study: D initially came Great programme of activities which to Sefton Opera after the project Health area: older people social included attending Chester Races visited a nursing home in Bootle, isolation Christmas Market, taking regular where her mum was living. Aim: for a development worker to exercise and sharing tips on healthy D was a quiet, shy person and settled co-ordinate the delivery of early eating. into the project where she grew in intervention health and wellbeing confidence and began to blossom. The other was the Be Wise Socialise activities, supporting older Sefton She told the development worker that programme which ran regular trips residents to enable them to make she has made so many friends it has out and organised get-togethers to healthy choices and improve their given her a reason to get up. combat social isolation. quality of life. The aim to reduce social isolation A wealth of social and physical of older people extended to include activities were offered to older people those living in sheltered or nursing throughout Sefton including: day trips accommodation by providing to places such as Bury, Llandudno, the appropriate activities including chair- Lowry Food Festival in Manchester based exercises with an integrated and the Royal Court theatre; falls awareness session. swimming sessions; a walking group; craft-based activities which resulted in The importance of preventing trips the formation of the In Stitches group, and falls was further addressed an intergenerational programme of through a Falls Prevention Roadshow sharing craft skills including knitting and awareness days with more than and crochet; and a men’s group 120 people receiving information. that organised its own outings and The project staged regular tea dances activities. up and down the borough, where As a result, older people have people could get together for an forged sustainable friendships and afternoon of dance but were also sometimes meet up socially outside given information about suitable of the project or, if one of them does services that might be of interest to not attend, the others make contact them. Partnership working helped to check on their welfare. the project to reach even more beneficiaries. Their physical health has also improved with one older man from Older people benefited in other ways the swimming group saying his kidney too by volunteering with the project. condition is not as severe. More than 13 people supported the programme, with some going to Sefton OPERA developed several visit others in hospital or doing some bespoke programmes aimed at shopping as well as being trained in helping older people stay healthy and first aid, safeguarding and certificated active. hand and back massage. This gave the volunteers a feeling of self worth and increased their wellbeing.
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Older People’s Project Delivered by: SING The sessions increased people’s confidence and self-esteem to the Area covered: South Sefton degree that they started sharing Health area: older people social ideas, the stories of their lives and isolation supporting one another. Aim: to increase the wellbeing of The Knit and Natter group was a older people in the Seaforth area by particular success because several encouraging them to take part in of the older women who initially the daily social activities and other attended were low in confidence. services based in SING’s shop. However, by regularly coming to the project they became increasingly Every weekday morning the shop involved as they learnt new skills. was open to older people in the area, as a place where they could Visual displays in the shop window of come together for a chat, and take knitted scenes relating to a particular part in a range of activities including event, such as Remembrance Day, knitting, using the computers, chair- gave them an incentive and feeling of based exercises and crafts. accomplishment. Talks from organisations were Comments from those attending arranged in order to raise people’s include: “If I hadn’t come to the awareness of services available to group I wouldn’t have taken up them locally, and to increase their knitting again.” and “It’s great that we confidence of venturing to other can come up with ideas and they are groups. listened to.” The project forged partnerships with Case study: A Seaforth woman, aged other organisations so older people over 80, found she was staying could benefit from that connection. indoors more and more because her husband was housebound. One such connection was with Age Concern Liverpool and Sefton Going to the Older People’s Project which started a Companions drop- gave her the chance to talk with a in session which included healthy wider group of people with similar eating, Christmas activities, a quiz interests, and share skills and and a befriending element. knowledge. She said: “I’m glad this is here as I’d end up talking to myself if I was stuck in the house.”
2,464 older people across Sefton took part in 123 activities and 49 day trips organised by projects supported by the CCG VCF Fund between 2014-2017.
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Social Inclusion Partnership delivery: Netherton More than 140 people have so far Feelgood Factory and the Brighter engaged with the 2015 project as well Living Partnership as working with up to 65 of those who attended the previous year. Area covered: throughout Sefton with a focus on the Southport and Learning from what people enjoyed, Netherton areas the project developed a ‘Man Cave’ in Netherton aiming to be a grown-up Health area: older people social youth club, and this also attracted isolation younger men, mainly with anxiety Aim: to tackle the growing problem issues, and three of them have gone of older people feeling lonely and on to form their own guitar group. isolated by providing a programme Meanwhile, in Southport, a lunch club of social activities to encourage them and a weekly fi lm club are growing in to socialise, keep mobile and improve popularity. their mental wellbeing. As a result of these programmes, The initial project reached 157 older people are reconnecting with their people with a range of activities under local communities and building up the banner of Brighter Mondays in networks of friends. Southport and Feelgood Fridays in For instance, an 84-year-old woman Netherton. from Thornton with limited mobility These involved sessions around crafts, and social isolation joined in the fi lms, talks, fl oristry and chair-based two-hour Feelgood Learning session exercises, along with walking football. where they discuss a range of subjects to keep minds active. “It is important An unexpected outcome was that to me to participate in a group that 80 per cent of the groups were allows me to carry on thinking. Just aged 65+, but the sessions also because I am older doesn’t mean I attracted younger people who were can’t keep learning,” she said. experiencing mental health issues or had learning disabilities. A 74-year-old woman from Southport commented: “I am in a wheelchair and living on my own. Being isolated and depending on others led me to developing depression and feeling lonely.” “Coming to the clubs has allowed me to have a new purpose, I have made new friends and it has kept my mind and time busy.”
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Adult Mental Health
In this category the projects were diverse in the ways they approached helping people overcome issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, a lack of confidence and stress. Mental health has grown in Croston prominence as to its importance to people’s overall health and Churchtown wellbeing. In Sefton there is a higher than national average of people suffering depressive episodes and Southport mixed anxiety, and mental health has been shown to be the biggest cause of ill health. Birkdale However, these specific projects demonstrate how Sefton Ainsdale communities are devising ways of tackling the effects of mental ill health with encouraging results. The seven projects are: Anger Management Work-Ability Health First Sefton Feeling Funny Formby SAMHAWC mental health charter Southport Mental Health Drop-in Sefton Autism Hubs Lydiate Hightown
Maghull
Blundellsands
Crosby Netherton
Waterloo Aintree
Litherland
Bootle
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Anger Management Delivered by: COMPASS (Counselling These approaches have made A 48-year-old woman commented: on Merseyside, Pastoral and Support people look at their own situations “I was a very angry person, with an Service) and assess how their anger affects easy loss of temper due to social other people as well as themselves. problems at home.” Area covered: All Sefton In all, the project has delivered eight “The project has really helped me not Aim: to enable individuals to courses with 60 clients attending, and to shout as much, to be calmer and to understand and deal with anger in a more than 449 hours of one-to-one control my temper.” constructive way by gaining greater counselling has helped more than 105 insight into what is unhealthy anger, people. Another client remarked: “I feel I can leading to them acquiring skills to put this advice and the strategies I One man said: “I have improved control their anger and developing have learned into place and get to a my basic listening skills and this has more self-confidence. much happier time of my life.” resulted in improved relationships Over the past couple of years, with my partner and my children. I the project has offered anger have noticed an improvement in my management counselling to Sefton general physical health as I often felt residents through two different agitated and had a low mood. approaches. One is through group “This often led to a feeling of anxiety, sessions, with people being referred difficulty sleeping and an upset to attend a two-day course because stomach – this is now greatly their anger has become a problem. improved.” The other approach is one-to-one counselling lasting six separate sessions.
Work-Ability Delivered by: Work-Ability In addition, a steering group made One client received training around up of service user representatives benefits, life skills, dementia Area covered: South Sefton and professionals from the disabled awareness and how to operate an Aim: to support people with communities informed the project’s iPad which boosted their wellbeing. disabilities and long-term conditions, direction, taking on board issues They said: “Knowing the support such as learning disabilities, ADHD uncovered by the support given by was there if I needed it really helped and Asperger’s, to overcome barriers the advocate. my self-esteem. Work-Ability is also to them accessing mainstream good at being able to signpost to Through the project 70 people health and social care provision as other services. Being a member of the have been helped and have gone well as education and employment project steering group has given me on to refresh their CVs in pursuit opportunities. a sense of purpose and the chance to of gaining employment, attend job interact with others.” The project employed a specialist interviews, find employment, enrol advocate to assist these people by on computing courses, resolve Another client found themselves a variety of means, including: one- relationship issues in a positive way isolated after leaving education and to-one personalised support, job that has increased their wellbeing, often sat alone in their bedroom. After searches, volunteering opportunities, taken up volunteering roles and been engaging with the project they were registering with a GP or dentist, encouraged to seek mental health supported and motivated to attend a creating a CV, accompanying them to support from appropriate agencies. specialised training course and later benefit advice meetings and arranging joined a self-advocacy group. “Being This level of support has resulted in suitable accommodation. part of the project has changed my the clients reporting their confidence life,” they said. has grown to the degree they can now successfully manage their health and mental wellbeing, while others have combated their isolation and joined community social activities and expanded their network of friends.
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Health First Sefton Delivered by: People First Merseyside 80 per cent stated they were going to do something to be healthier, Area covered: All Sefton saying: Aim: to make sports and fitness “I will have less sugar.” activities more accessible and “Cut down and do more exercise.” appealing to people with learning disabilities (PWLD) so they can “Eat more healthy food.” improve and maintain a healthy “More walking. No more pies.” lifestyle. “Eat more fish and try to cut down on The project worked in collaboration chocolate.” with the council’s health and wellbeing team to develop a series of Additionally, the Health Champions roadshows in order to promote health reaped the benefits as well with some messages and improve access to taking up a sport by themselves for activities at sports and leisure facilities the first time. Other advantages have in Sefton. included health conditions improving due to regular exercise, progress The roadshows were designed towards independent living, increased and delivered by PWLD who were confidence in making decisions and trained as Health Champions to help great improvements in their mental them get health messages across as health. effectively as possible. Leading up to the first 27 of their roadshows, health One of the Health Champions has specialists coached the 14 Health noticed an improvement in her Champions in areas such as stopping outlook since the project began. She smoking, diet, alcohol, physical said: “I love being a Health Champion activity and health checks. - it is really good. It has made me feel happier. I enjoy talking to people at They then went on to develop suitable the roadshows and I’ve tried new interactive games and activities to use activities like Zumba. I would never at the roadshows to engage other have thought I could do anything like PWLD and, so far, more than 220 this, especially with my arthritis. PWLD have enjoyed the roadshows. “I have also gone swimming and And the health messages are being this is something I was really scared heard. about but it has helped boost my More than two thirds stated they confidence loads. This is a massive were going to take part in some thing for me. I have started looking at exercise, saying: my food and only buy healthy stuff “Football and keep fit.” and diet drinks now.” “Keep fit and chair-based exercise.”
256 volunteers from throughout the borough were involved in Sefton projects for older people supported by the CCG VCF Fund between 2014-2017.
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Feeling Funny Delivered by: The Comedy Trust “It’s made me think that humour and Two of the three courses have been laughter are such an important part completed and the 22 men who have Area covered: South Sefton of coping with the stresses that life taken part, with a range of mental Aim: to use humour and laughter as can bring.” health issues including anxiety, stress tools to encourage communities and OCD, said they felt more relaxed. “Laughing is the only contagious thing to address social and health issues Their self-esteem increased and they that I wouldn’t mind catching! I felt around mental health and wellbeing. found the peer support from the much better after today and wish other participants also improved their The project used two different strands there was a way of bottling laughter wellbeing. to get across that humour can be as I think everyone could do with a used as a mechanism to cope with supply of it stored in their cupboards!” The participants commented: life’s stresses and that it can help us to “Being part of the Feeling Funny There were more than 195 attendees connect with other people. project has been a very cathartic at the Well Funny sessions. experience for me. It made me feel Firstly, the Well Funny sessions, Secondly, a six-week long comedy like I was not alone with what I have presented by a stand-up comedian workshop course was offered to men been through and now feel I am from The Comedy Trust, were aged 18+, as a way of encouraging able to confront things in my life delivered in a variety of settings - them to open up about their feelings. that I would not have been able to from workplaces to community The course culminated in a stand-up previously.” groups - and tailored accordingly so performance of routines the men had everyone could participate in them. “The Feeling Funny course has helped put together during the previous six People said afterwards: “What an to rebuild my confidence and made weeks and their family and friends interesting and fun way to look at the me focus on more positives in life in came along to support them. benefits of humour on our health general.” and wellbeing. I probably don’t laugh enough but I definitely will try to do it more after today.”
Mental Health Charter Partnership delivery: SAMHAWC The events are designed to raise (Sefton Adult Mental Health and people’s awareness of mental health, Wellbeing Consortium) including where to turn for suitable services and resources, as well as how Lead agency: Feelgood Factory to increase their own positive mental Area covered: All Sefton wellbeing. Aim: the project was divided into two So far, around 300 people have distinct areas – the first, to establish a engaged in six of the mental health charter between SAMHAWC partners events with the result that people and the IAPT (Improving Access to have been helped to attend a Psychological Therapies) service and, Christmas lunch as well as receiving the second, to develop ten mental support in acquiring household items health awareness events in the which have given them a boost in borough. wellbeing. The goal of the charter is to Partners in SAMHAWC are the strengthen the referral pathway to Feelgood Factory, the SWAN IAPT by developing good working Centre, the Venus Centre, Compass relationships which will ensure people Counselling, Expect Ltd, Age Concern are receiving appropriate treatment in Liverpool & Sefton, Parenting 2000 a timely fashion. and Sefton CVS.
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Southport Mental Health Drop-In Partnership delivery: SAMHAWC This small-scale provision appeared This was demonstrated by their (Sefton Adult Mental Health and to increase mental wellbeing during repeated attendance and interaction Wellbeing Consortium) periods of uncertainty with personal with those within the group and finances and benefit changes. staff, an increased ability to liaise with Lead agency: Expect Ltd professionals and communicate their Consequently, many of the service Area covered: Southport wants, needs and opinions effectively. users reported increases in confidence. Several service users went on to form Aim: to provide four informal drop-in They felt more socially connected and their own social group, meeting to sessions per week where people with through CHASE – a person-centred go to the cinema, pubs and bowling, mental health issues could meet up in tool to capture evidence – 86 per cent which they would not have visited a safe and friendly environment as a displayed improvements in awareness before attending the project. way of improving their situation. of unhealthy behaviours, such as self isolation and non attendance Others are now: volunteering; eating Preliminary research by the of medical and psychological more healthily following advice on consortium identified there was a appointments. making healthy choices; enrolling on need in Southport for this type of college courses and taking up regular service and more than 20 people 68 per cent of attendees of the project exercise again by cycling and going to attended the sessions which were were unemployed at the time of the gym. established at two locations in joining the project. All service users Southport. were given the opportunity to utilise One service user commented: support in accessing employability “I attend as I feel it’s the only place I can People could come and relax or join services and 20 per cent achieved paid go to as I don’t have many friends to in the activities, such as arts and crafts, employment. meet up with and be around. I also go a Feel Good Hour or informal talks. to gain confidence; speaking to others Additionally, service users were given 93 per cent of drop-in attendees and getting to know them makes me support with telephone calls to sort reported and displayed signs feel good.” out issues with benefits, GPs, utility of increased confidence and companies etc. communications skills.
Sefton Autism Hubs Delivered by: Sefton Carers Centre Identification and contact has been Opportunities have opened up for made with 285 adults with Asperger’s members to volunteer, get paid work, Area covered: All Sefton through an established Autism Sub and work towards setting up their Aim: to establish three hubs Group Partnership which includes own independent media company. throughout the borough in order Sefton Carers Centre, Autism Some of the members’ films have to provide lower level preventative Initiatives, People First Merseyside, been selected to be showcased at a support for adults with Autism / Sefton Council, NHS South Sefton Clapperboard Award Ceremony in Asperger’s who do not qualify for CCG, NHS Southport and Formby April 2017, and some members will social care support. CCG and Mersey Care NHS be going on to write and film with Foundation Trust. Clapperboard. The Waterloo Hub is based within Sefton Carers Centre, the Southport In a short period of time, those The next phase of the project is Hub is based within the Atkinson attending the Southport and looking to further develop the Centre and the Bootle Hub is due to Waterloo hubs have completed a hubs and partnerships, deliver new be based at The Cedars. project working with Clapperboard courses that continue to help build UK, a media charity, to deliver creative confidence, offer further learning and A combination of information, media sessions and, from this, hub employment opportunities, promote learning support and a variety of members have used film to capture health and well being and support activities is offered at the hubs their ideas, individual interests, members to develop new friendships. through which people gain aspirations and video diaries. confidence in their abilities, achieve a level of independence to complete training courses, secure employment, feel good about themselves and help reduce social isolation.
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Combination
In this category there are 18 projects which look to address a combination of health areas and these will be identified in each of the separate accounts of what the projects achieved. Croston Whether it was looking to reduce Churchtown social isolation for older people and improve their mental wellbeing, or encouraging all members of the community to adopt a healthy Southport lifestyle, every one of the following projects had innovative ways of Birkdale reaching their goals and a deep knowledge of the local community in which they were operating. Ainsdale The projects are: SSAFA Sefton Sefton Shares Reading Women’s Social and Therapeutic Allotment Project Ainsdale Community Care 59+ Domestic Violence Project Formby Family Health Worker Fresh StArt High Park Think Family, Think Community Lydiate L21 Network Hightown Let’s Live Well Waterloo Community Kitchen Maghull Sefton Extra Sefton Older Person’s Forums Sefton Veterans Project Blundellsands Community Wellbeing Centre Remove to Improve Crosby Netherton
Litherland Youth and Community Waterloo Centre Aintree The Sefton Project Litherland
Bootle
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SSAFA Sefton Delivered by: SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Through the project the caseworkers “The caseworker sorted everything Airmen and Families Association) were able to support ex-armed from there and now I have security forces personnel with financial and lighting and don’t feel vulnerable.” Area covered: throughout Sefton practical help such as: residential Another client, aged in his 30s, had Health area: older people social home fees; care home top-up fees; served in the army and had council isolation and dementia, adult mental locating white goods and furniture; tax debts. After engaging with the health and council tax fees. project, the case worker prevented Aim: to increase and improve the The co-ordinator passed the referrals his eviction and he commented: “I provision of services to ex-armed to the case worker who met the now have peace of mind. I suffer forces personnel and their families client to discuss any concerns. That from PTSD and this situation was living in Sefton. level of direct support made a big making my condition worse. I took difference. In one case, a woman advice from my caseworker and The co-ordinator of the project in her 60s with mobility problems worked out a monthly household made valuable connections with contacted the project because her budget. The project has made a local groups in the borough late husband had been in the army significant difference to my health so members of the ex-service and she felt vulnerable due to a lack and wellbeing.” community and their families were of lighting outside her house. “When I aware of what was available to them. There have been more than 50 cases contacted SSAFA I was at a low point Caseworkers provided direct support completed with the six caseworkers in my life as my husband had just to clients after completing the SSAFA supporting multiple other service passed away, there had been some case working course and then acted users. In addition, the project has break-ins in the neighbourhood and as mentors to volunteer caseworkers. recruited two fundraisers. my adult children lived away. The caseworker came to my home and helped me fill in a form.
Sefton Shares Reading Together with The Reader staff-led However, after he died this no longer sessions, this meant more than 111 happened - until the shared reading Delivered by: The Reader shared reading group sessions were group and she was then able to enjoy Area covered: throughout Sefton delivered at places throughout the listening to a story and sharing her borough, including Crosby, Formby, feelings afterwards. Health area: older people social Bootle, Southport and Maghull. isolation and dementia, adult mental Friendships have also been made health Listening to a story read out loud through the groups, with several evokes memories and feelings people meeting up independently, Aim: to deliver shared reading groups which may encourage people to and one woman saying she regained as a way of increasing people’s share their experiences and gain confidence she lost after retiring from wellbeing through listening and encouragement and comment from teaching. discussing books, poems and other others within the group. written material. A volunteer visiting the Formby People going to the groups found it group said she found the experience A co-ordinator from The Reader benefited them in a number of ways. “inspirational”, while another initially set out to forge links with For instance, a member of a visually- volunteer enjoyed delivering shared community organisations to locate impaired group, where a session was reading so much she has established suitable places for establishing groups. held, explained she read often before a second weekly group at another Following this, anyone interested in her eyesight deteriorated and then venue in Crosby. becoming a volunteer facilitator of the enjoyed her husband reading aloud. shared groups was given Read to Lead training from The Reader.
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Women’s Social and Therapeutic Allotment Project Delivered by: SWAN In addition to working on the allotment, the project involved the Area covered: South Sefton women having one-to-one sessions Health area: older people social with counsellors, attending learning isolation, adult mental health sessions on topics such as jam and soup making, benefits of feng shui Aim: to provide women with mild to and building up scrapbooks of their moderate mental health problems, experiences. who find it difficult to engage in support groups, with access to a This would be theirs to keep and counsellor to discuss their problems something to refer back to, thereby in a less formal environment. reinforcing the positive feelings associated with the allotment and the Women helped out on an allotment project as a whole. in Litherland which gave them the chance to occupy themselves, Several friendship groups formed with build social networks and talk with a the women meeting one another counsellor. independently of the project and this gave them added confidence, easing Over time, the allotment saw 24 any social anxieties. women visit on a regular basis who transformed it into somewhere they Here are a couple of the women’s could catch up with one another, tend comments: “Before joining the project to the plants and crops and enjoy I felt totally isolated but I was put at the fruits of their labour – basketfuls ease and made to feel welcome. I of rhubarb, cabbage, onions and started to make friends and learn new different fruits – by making jams, skills. The allotment is ‘my’ time.” chutneys and soups. “The project has enabled me to get But the allotment provided more out of my house and occupy my than this. The women said it was mind. I am now going out on my their refuge because home life was own and making new friends which chaotic. It reduced their stress, made I haven’t been able to do for a long them look at their problems in a time.” different way and stopped them from The confidence gained from the feeling alone. allotment project propelled some of the women into volunteering as well as employment and re-entering education. The counsellors report that one woman has been able to go on holiday by herself and feels able to use public transport, while another volunteered on Christmas Day giving out meals.
53,802 meals were served to local residents across Sefton by projects in the borough supported by the CCG VCF Fund between 2014-2017.
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Ainsdale Community Care Delivered by: Ainsdale Community Also, M, living with Parkinson’s disease, Care attended both Qigong and chair- based exercises. He said the first Area covered: Ainsdale, Birkdale, “probably improved my balance and Formby movement” and saved him sitting Health area: Older people social down so often. isolation, older people dementia, To cater for older people not able adult mental health to make the lunches, the project Aim: to create a secure and social organised a home delivery service. For environment in which older people many, this daily lunch being dropped can gather for a hot meal and off was the only contact they had with conversation. Also to provide hot another person during the day. meals to people in their own homes The introduction of thermo boxes to when they are unable to attend the keep the meals warmer for longer, centre. meant the delivery drivers could The 2014 funded project spend more time with people than concentrated on building up a range before, thereby providing much- of social and physical activities to offer needed company. older people in the area when they Between the two projects, a total came in for the hot lunches, and this of 9,425 meals were delivered to was built on for the 2015 project. more than 32 individuals in Ainsdale, In all, in excess of 13,337 meals Birkdale and, increasingly, in the were served, with the membership Formby area. topping 202 people, as well as giving Thanks to the activities on offer and volunteering opportunities to more the hot lunches, many older people than 85 people, some of whom had in these localities reported their self- learning disabilities. esteem and wellbeing had increased. Although the lunches ensured the Those who engaged with the project older people ate a substantial meal went on to form other groups to once a day, they also provided the take part in indoor bowls and some chance to meet others, especially friendly competition. as many of the members were single. This enabled them to build One man, from an all-male group a friendship network and pursue attending healthy cooking on a interests or take up new hobbies. budget sessions, had a poor diet but began putting on weight following the People like P, who has been course because he dispensed with the volunteering at Ainsdale Community chips and packets of crisps. Care for 16 years. He remarked that he enjoyed the work and the people: “It gives structure to my day, helps with my mood because I suffer with depression and helps me get through the day.”
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59+ Domestic Violence Project Delivered by: SWACA It was recognised that, over the The project has meant that women course of the project, more older who had been in an abusive Area covered: throughout Sefton women came forward to report and relationship for a long period of Health area: adult mental health, seek sustained support for domestic time could find the confidence to older people social isolation, dementia abuse from a partner, especially remove themselves from it and as previously SWACA had found it begin a new chapter. Aim: to raise awareness of domestic difficult to retain them in the service. abuse with older women and improve People like Y, who had been married accessibility to SWACA’s service One reason given for the increased for more than 25 years and had within this age group, especially as engagement was the positive suffered depression during that time, they make up around 20 per cent of experience the women had of tailored and contacted SWACA for help. Sefton’s population and often have support. After a month of receiving support complex issues. As a result of engaging with the she was able to secure her own house Through the funding, SWACA was project there were a number of and was looking forward to what she able to have a worker dedicated to positive outcomes including women described as “peace in her later years.” engaging with communities and accessing SWACA’s legal surgery for services for the 59+ group, and advice. addressing the lack of reporting and One woman instigated divorce referrals to services. proceedings after a three-year abusive More than 83 women were referred relationship and at least 18 women to the project and 70 received direct reported improvements at home. support. They were referred by a Many had increased confidence in variety of ways: GP, the police, adult sharing concerns with other agencies/ social care or a family member. professionals, some women reported As many women had been in abusive their emotional health had improved relationships with partners or a with better sleep patterns, eating family member for a long time, it was habits and communications with difficult for them to recognise they others. were in such a relationship, while One woman had gone back to others felt guilt which prevented them volunteering and another secured from disclosing their situation. employment. Others said their wellbeing increased as they felt more comfortable discussing their situation.
257 volunteers from throughout the borough were involved in combination projects supported by the CCG VCF Fund between 2014-2017.
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Family Health Worker Delivered by: Venus More than 72 families have been A single mum found the support supported by the Family Health from the FHW was particularly Area covered: South Sefton Worker since July 2015 and a further beneficial. Struggling with COPD, the Health area: adult mental health, 215 parents have attended health mum had issues with benefits as well children and young people obesity, sessions at Venus to build on their as attending health appointments emotional wellbeing, transitions knowledge of healthy lifestyles. but the FHW was able to ensure these issues were resolved. The Aim: through the Family Health The families who engaged with mum said about the FHW attending Worker (FHW), families already the project had a range of health appointments: “I find it helpful having involved with Venus or referred in problems leading to several hospital, someone to listen to the information are supported to identify and address GP and other medical appointments. they are giving me and to help me issues such as obesity, exercise, Some of the health issues families remember afterwards what was healthy eating, smoking, attending were suffering with included: discussed and the way forward.” health appointments and other postnatal depression, anxiety, aspects of a healthy life. diabetes, COPD, obesity and various The health sessions delivered at Venus cancers. touched on a variety of health topics Many of the families are vulnerable, and families were given information isolated and often mistrusting of But after support from the FHW, the on healthy cooking, contraception mainstream interventions and the families reported increased wellbeing and wellbeing. FHW builds up a trusting relationship and being more aware of the with them so they can benefit the importance of good health. Others most from the project. were more inclined to engage with further health services. For example, a mum-of-four had avoided dental appointments but via the FHW, she had multiple visits which improved her teeth, and also gave her the confidence to attend future appointments.
Fresh StArt Partnership delivery: Venus and The art therapy courses saw more One young woman felt able to cook Parenting 2000 than 45 women come together and healthy meals at home with her small develop bonds which made them daughter and had more confidence Area covered: throughout Sefton feel better about themselves. One of in budgeting, and another woman Health area: adult mental health, the ex-offenders said: “Before the art thought about returning to education. children and young people emotional therapy classes I couldn’t socialise The wellbeing of the women going wellbeing but now I can actually talk to other to the community workshop courses people.” Another said it gave meaning Aim: to provide women - either at risk and the art therapy courses has to her week, while probation staff of entering or with experience of the improved as a result of learning and have reported seeing an increase in criminal justice system - the chance being aware of services, activities and the women’s self-esteem with one to gain confidence and move on with different ways of coping with life’s woman saying it had stopped her their lives through learning in a safe, challenges. One women also found from thinking of self-harming. supportive and creative environment. additional benefits: “I feel that I now Those on the seven-week course, have a support network of friends The project was divided into two which ran four times, attended through the art therapy,” she said. segments. The first was providing workshops looking at decluttering, art therapy courses in Sefton for healthy relationships, wellbeing and women recently released from prison money management. The 16 women and/or supervised by the Probation developed different skills which gave Service, and the second was a seven them confidence to carry them on at week, community-based course home. for vulnerable women to prevent reoffending.
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High Park Think Family, Think Community Partnership delivery: Brighter Living More than 12 community events have The project co-ordinator also Partnership and the High Park Think been held, from family fun days to helped interested residents form Family, Think Community Partnership dogs being microchipped. A weekly a community action group which luncheon club began for older people, fed into the consortium made up of Area covered: High Park in North with local services and groups acting representatives including those from: Southport as ‘guest cooks’ and explaining more schools, church, the police, health Health area: older people social about the services they offer. organisations and young people’s isolation, children and young people groups. Views from residents were obesity and emotional wellbeing canvassed regularly, resulting in arts One mother was motivated by the Aim: to develop a resilient community and crafts classes, adult computer project to start a group for parents by building positive partnerships, training and charity fundraising and carers of children and young offering activities to encourage events being held. Younger people with additional needs and a healthy lifestyle for the whole members of the community were disabilities. The group – Charlie’s Way family, establishing volunteering also catered for by treasure hunts – has gone on to provide awareness opportunities and creating and an interactive play bus was and shared knowledge events which opportunities for the High Park sited in the local park attracting are continually in demand. community to come together. more than 30 children at a time. Kite flying, arts and crafts, football The project has been running since and other sports were offered with 2014 and has achieved its goal of parents giving positive feedback, leaving a legacy for the High Park saying: “It’s so good for the children community by involving its many to be out in the park, running different members who have around and having fun.” supported a variety of activities and events.
L21 Network Partnership delivery: Venus in All this was achieved by regular In an attempt to sustain these conjunction with the L21 Think Family, family fun days when the health lifestyle activities, the development Think Community Partnership bus attracted children and families worker linked in with numerous local to take part in fun activities, such as agencies, such as schools, children’s Area covered: Seaforth and Litherland making environmentally-friendly and centres, community centres and other Health area: older people social affordable bird boxes, community organisations, and they helped with isolation, adult mental health, children yoga, practitioners demonstrating providing activity sessions to raise and young people obesity healthy meals and youngsters awareness of their services so the enjoying the football sessions. More community knows where to turn for Aim: to reduce the social isolation than 200 people came along to the specific help. of older people in the community as various fun days. well as addressing lifestyle behaviours In addition, a Christmas lights switch- with a focus on reducing childhood In addition to the fun days, older on event at a nearby park at which obesity. people in nearby residential homes two local primary school choirs have said their wellbeing improved performed, and a Christmas card A community health development since joining in the chair-based competition involving several primary worker co-ordinated the project, exercises, and people who have taken schools, further highlighted the aims bringing in different elements of the part in choir events, organised at the of the project. local area in an effort to foster lasting local children’s centre through the relationships between neighbours, The project has gone on to establish project, reported feeling uplifted and encourage families to adopt healthy the L21 Community Network after their stress reduced. behaviours and develop volunteer becoming a company limited by opportunities. guarantee.
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Let’s Live Well Partnership delivery: Eco The emphasis in all of the classes was A widower on one of the sessions Resource Network (consisting of eating well in older age, focusing on commented: “I wanted to learn to Faiths4Change, Energy Projects Plus changing nutritional needs. cook fresh food for myself instead of and Liverpool World Centre) relying on things from a tin or having The health and wellbeing sessions to go out to eat. Then I can invite Area covered: Ainsdale and Birkdale, also looked at affordable warmth by people round to dinner with me.” Crosby, Bootle, Seaforth and Litherland raising awareness of help available to older people in paying their energy There were a few additional Health area: older people social bills to avoid them not having enough outcomes from the project. It isolation, adult mental health heating or a means of cooking. was able to instigate a growing Aim: to work with three faith partnership between Ainsdale More than 230 older people took communities to deliver a programme Community Care, Sacred Heart and part in the sessions over 18 months, that will empower older people to St Johnstone in Ainsdale, and then with people commenting that not stay well and safe in their home St Mary’s and St Faiths in Crosby, only had the sessions given them the environment for longer. with the aim of linking in with an confidence and motivation to eat older person’s group in the area. As a way of bringing older people more fruit and veg, it had also given Additionally, Eucharist Ministers in together from the same local them the chance to make new friends Ainsdale were identified as being community, the project offered and they were also grateful for the able to reach vulnerable older different health and wellbeing energy use advice. people to highlight signs of fuel sessions. These included food and poverty among their members, and nutrition classes that ranged from received appropriate training in order bring a friend to lunch day to learning to carry this out while visiting people how best to cook for one person. in the area.
Waterloo Community Kitchen Delivered by: Waterloo Community Another way of reducing social The mix of different people fostered Association isolation was through the weekly a sense of community and people lunches which gradually grew in gained confidence to the degree Area covered: Crosby, Waterloo and numbers to the point more than 65 that one young person with special Bootle people came along on a Thursday. needs assisted in the kitchen with Health area: older people social the support of his carer, as did as a Those who attended were given the isolation and dementia, adult mental recovering alcoholic. option of a three-course meal and health, children and young people comprised single men, older people, A 90-year-old woman found the obesity workers from nearby businesses, kitchen of particular benefit and Aim: to tackle social isolation across families, people with learning said: “I don’t like sitting at home. A lot the generations and provide healthy, disabilities and their carers, and of people my age are not active but I nutritious food at low cost. professionals. want to keep going. Also not having to cook a hot meal for myself, as I live The project organised a series of By coming along to the kitchen, on my own, is good because I can just cooking sessions as one way of people became aware of classes they have a sandwich later on.” reducing social isolation, but it also could become involved with and helped to inspire families to make this included a cycling club which soups and casseroles, and to learn the organised cycling trips to coincide basics of food preparation, cooking, with the finish of lunch on Thursdays storing, shopping and budgets. More so people could combine the two than 20 people who had weight activities. Other activities offered issues and felt isolated completed the were Zumba, yoga and chair-based sessions. exercises.
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Sefton Extra Delivered by: Sefton Extra One of the Zumba teachers said: And a woman from a residential home “Some of my clients have lost weight commented: “The girls from the Area covered: Central Southport, and are living healthier lives. One thing project are so very helpful, especially Seaforth and Litherland is for sure, they always leave happy, with my age-related macular Health area: older people social joyful and full of life.” degeneration of the eyes. I feel very isolation, older people dementia, adult proud of my craft achievements Separate Zumba sessions were also mental health which remind me of earlier days when offered and drawing classes saw my eyes were better.” Aim: to reduce the feeling of being people able to sketch and try their alone for older people through arts hand at life drawing. activities and to help those with long- Another part of the project was term conditions feel better through aimed at tackling social isolation for a range of musical and physical adults with long-term conditions and activities. older people, including those living The project’s Rhythms for Life with dementia. Over 70 sessions of sessions offered a combination of mobile craft were delivered in the singing, tai chi and Zumba. More than community – from an arts centre to 60 sessions were held in community residential homes – and this consisted venues to make it easier for people of making greetings cards, origami to attend and people reported having and crocheting. One of those who more energy after taking part. attended a local centre in Waterloo said: “The groups are a wonderful way of meeting like-minded people and de-stressing.”
Sefton Older Person’s Forums Delivered by: SPAC (Sefton They have been involved in Besides the forums giving older people Pensioners’ Advocacy Centre) consultations to do with: reviewing a voice, they also help individuals by communications aimed at older giving them confidence, a chance Area covered: Bootle, Formby, people; podiatry appointment systems to socialise with other people in the Crosby, Southport, Maghull throughout the borough; transport; community, and to learn more about Health area: older people social audiology; and falls prevention where their own locality through agencies isolation and dementia, adult mental they developed a falls champion role and groups highlighting their services. health for forum members. One forum member benefited from Aim: to identify the needs of older As a result of the forum’s work, Sefton the chair-based exercises introduced people, bring together the networks Adult Social Care decided to display at the forum meetings, as it improved which provide them with support, and telephone number ID when calling her balance and confidence to the to give them the opportunity to be older people at home and this was degree that she began going out part of the planning of services. to be used as a quality standard by independently of her daughter. Sefton Council. Also, Active Lifestyles The forum meetings are held monthly took on board their comments in each locality, with around 170 older and went on to consider putting people attending to share ideas and on activity sessions in community discuss relevant issues, usually as a venues in addition to council leisure result of presentations from statutory centres to make access easier. and voluntary organisations, and their views are then taken on board. The forums make a vital contribution to the Sefton Partnership for Older Citizens (SPOC) action plans and half the members of SPOC are elected by forum members.
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Sefton Veterans Project Delivered by: Expect Ltd They were then supported in trying to resolve those issues and this resulted Area covered: throughout Sefton in: securing suitable accommodation; Health area: older people social being rehoused nearer to family; isolation, adult mental health being signposted to services relating Aim: to help ex-service personnel and to finance, benefits or dependency; their families integrate into the local and finding employment. community. An unexpected outcome was the The project manager and volunteer introduction of a senior NAAFI break co-ordinator were both ex-service because older veterans joined the men and their experience meant they project. were better able to engage with the This led to breaks being set up in veterans. social housing throughout Sefton, More than 256 veterans were referred helping older veterans reconnect to into the project over three years, with their local communities and giving around half being self-referrals and them something to look forward to. often having complex needs. Families reported seeing an Referrals reported struggling to get improvement in their wellbeing since out of the house; low confidence in becoming involved in the project. new situations; health issues such as Volunteering opportunities were PTSD, depression, dependency or offered as a way of supporting having restricted mobility; or difficult veterans with their self-esteem and personal circumstances, such as living giving them a chance to build up alone which compounded their sense networks of their own. of loneliness or isolation. One person went on to run a NAAFI Consequently, improving social break in Southport, as well as helping networks was often a primary at one of the many organised trips. motivation for taking part with the He was depressed when he first project. engaged with the project but the To support the veterans, the project support he received made a positive held regular NAAFI breaks, similar to difference to him and also his family. what they would have experienced He said: “I was desperate when I first during their service, where they came to the project, but it was much mentioned issues causing them easier explaining my issues to fellow concern. veterans. “Now I feel closer to my family - making my wife and kids smile instead of cry. My self confidence is growing – it has been life changing.”
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Community Wellbeing Centre Delivered by: Woodvale and Ainsdale A six-week healthy body and mind A participant from the stress less and Community Association (WACA) course, relaxation stress buster mindfulness course commented: sessions, complementary therapies “It’s made me realise how neglectful I Area covered: Ainsdale, Birkdale and health and beauty treatments have been towards my own wellbeing and Formby completed the wellbeing ensemble. and oblivious to the warning signs Health area: older people social of stress. It has lightened the load by Through the project, a relationship isolation, adult mental health talking amongst people who have was established with the NHS shared similar feelings.” Aim: to provide activities that will wellbeing centre and, specifically, its create a welcoming environment to pain clinic from which clients were Another participant had recently lost support people with mental health referred in to the wellbeing project’s his wife and felt as if he was failing. issues or feeling socially isolated, and card and craft group. But the course gave him such a lift he improve their wellbeing. took up gardening again and began One wheelchair-user suffered writing poetry. Thursdays became established as the immense pain but found attending wellbeing day which started with a the group had given her motivation The course tutor remarked: “Getting stress less and mindfulness course, to get out of the house. She said that support from other group members followed by a relaxation session, and, normally the pain would have kept has helped him and his wellbeing finally, the drop-in where people her in bed but, as she enjoyed the score increased greatly since taking could chat with others and continue group so much, she made the effort the course.” the feeling of wellbeing. to attend. Three five-week stress less and The project encouraged people to mindfulness courses were delivered at express their ideas on what groups their base in Woodvale near Ainsdale. they wanted to create, and so the card group was formed, run by volunteers Of the 21 people who completed with the aim of keeping it running the course, which helped people beyond the end of the project. recognise and manage their stress levels, two of them suffered from Overall, the 45 local people who PTSD and found it helped to relax joined in the project’s different them. Several others exchanged elements said they felt more relaxed, contact details to meet up and built and also, more connected to their their own social network. community.
348 Sefton families engaged in projects across the borough supported by the CCG VCF Fund between 2014-2017.
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Remove to Improve Delivered by: Community Risk improvement in client’s diet and Intervention Service (CRIS) – formerly nutrition due to accessing the kitchen known as Fire Support Network (FSN) removing the reliance on eating cold, high-fat junk food; feeling Area covered: throughout Sefton more positive about the future after Health areas: adult mental health, receiving support to make home older people dementia and social improvements. inclusion The project also had a positive effect Aim: to provide practical and on speedier hospital discharge times emotional support to clients hoarding because homes had been safely large amounts of clutter and/or with cleared to allow medical equipment dilapidated properties where there is a and beds to be installed. high risk of trips, falls or fire hazard. Initially, 891 home fire safety checks The project ran over two funding were made to older people’s homes in periods and supported more than 100 the first project and this was followed people with hoarding issues, some by 84 more in-depth property and with complicated situations needing lifestyle visits to minimise hazards and six or eight visits from the team. optimise self-care to prevent hospital Building up a trusting relationship admission. meant the team were better able to To help deliver Remove to Improve work with the person as they often around 62 volunteers were recruited had mental health problems which and received extensive training, other agencies had difficulty with. and the project also developed a A woman aged 65+ with dementia multi-agency referral system which and mental health issues had severe involved teams such as district hoarding issues to the degree she nurses, environmental health, social was sleeping on the stairs because services, voluntary sector groups and the other rooms were full. Remove registered social landlords. to Improve worked with her and over The project had a big impact on six visits, 2.5 tonnes of waste was the people they worked with, who disposed of which meant the woman said: “They went at my pace and was then able to live safely and her listened. It’s much tidier now and I mental health improved. have had visitors because I am less Other clients reported: better family embarrassed.’’ relationships; skin and breathing ‘’They helped with connections to conditions improved; being more other services, I was suicidal before inclined to go out of the house; but now do not feel this way.’’ taking up hobbies again; an increased sense of wellbeing as the threat of eviction or environmental health service charges were removed; being less likely to be lonely as friends and family could access their home; being reunited with their children after a house de-clutter where children were removed due to clutter;
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Litherland Youth and Community Centre Delivered by: Litherland Youth The sessions proved a highlight for For some of the older people mobility and Community Centre many of the older people in the made it difficult to get around but area with several saying they went they said coming to the project gave Area covered: Bootle, Seaforth to their hairdressers beforehand them something to look forward and Litherland so they looked their best. Project to, and it was worth coming to the Health area: older people social co-ordinators gathered the views of sessions because they could catch isolation, children and young people the older people on what interested up with friends and it improved their emotional wellbeing them and from this six trips were confidence. organised, from Fleetwood and Aim: to engage with young people Bolton Market to theatres. and older adults from the community by offering activities at the newly Lunches were provided and it was refurbished centre that will increase here that the younger people became the adults’ level of independence involved, serving the food, and also and encourage younger people to children from the after-school club volunteer through the project to build took time to chat with members of confidence. the group. In all, more than 14 young volunteers helped out at the sessions. Numbers attending the Friday feelgood sessions at the centre The project provided help and steadily increased with up to 41 advice on a number of issues which people coming along to take part included setting up meetings with in quizzes, advice sessions and elected members. The co-ordinators health and wellbeing sessions. These signposted people to activities and included chair-based exercises, services in the community which pampering, flower arranging and could benefit them, such as walking Reiki. and cycling days, and the project offered a library lending service with books from Sefton Council’s libraries.
The Sefton Project Delivered by: The Brain Charity Of these, 85 people - 64 with “The group has stimulated me a lot to (formerly Neurosupport) neurological conditions - received develop my confidence and I am now support through outreach activity volunteering for the craft club - this is Area covered: throughout Sefton sessions which comprised coffee a huge step for me.” Health area: older people social mornings, craft clubs and a Good Another woman with autism also isolation and dementia, adult mental Grub Club that saw clients learning benefited and said: “I have set up a health how to cook healthy meals and pick group for adults with autism. This is up tips for a healthy lifestyle. Aim: to provide The Brain Charity something I wouldn’t have done had it services to meet the needs of people A drop-in facility and a signposting not been for the craft club.” living in north and south Sefton by service complemented the activities offering emotional support, practical and helped to increase people’s help and social activities to anybody wellbeing to the degree that several with a neurological condition, and to of them went on to volunteer and run their family, friends and carers. outreach services for other charities in the local area and for The Brain A concentrated promotion of the Charity. project in Sefton by the Information Worker resulted in 278 referrals with For instance, one woman joined varying degrees of support needed in the mosaic group looking to build terms of employment, welfare benefit up confidence and commented: advice, counselling and information “I wanted support to help with my on their neurological conditions anxiety. which included epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and stroke.
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Compiled by Louise Malone Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) Suite 3B, 3rd Floor, North Wing Burlington House, Crosby Road North Waterloo, Liverpool L22 0LG T: 0151 920 0726 E: [email protected] Registered Charity No 1024546. Company Limited by Guarantee No 2832920.
Whilst every eff ort has been made to ensure that accurate information has been provided in this document, neither Sefton CVS nor the editor undertake any liability for any errors or omission. Figures quoted in this document were correct as at 1st March 2017, with some projects continuing beyond this date.
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