Issue 70 Summer 2016 Dignity in Mental Health Psychological and Mental Health First Aid for All

Interlink’s newsletter for groups and voluntary organisations in

Interlink Introduction News Welcome Welcome to the Health and Wellbeing edition It’s been a busy time on the Health and Wellbeing front! With World ..... to the Summer edition of Mental Health Day on the horizon, Interlink staff have been working Interlink’s Newsletter. If you tirelessly to bring two celebratory events with the purpose of raising would like to contribute to the awareness of mental health issues and mobilising efforts in support of next issue please send your mental health. articles by: This years’ theme ‘Dignity in Mental Health - Psychological and Mental 4 November 2016 to Health First Aid for All’ enables us to contribute to the goal of taking Cara Jordan-Evans mental health out of the shadows so that people in general feel more at Interlink by email: confident in tackling the stigma, isolation and discrimination that [email protected] continues to effect people with mental health conditions, their families In this issue we have: and Carers. The Involve to Evolve project has been busy developing new ways to Introduction 2 support service user involvement read all about what they have been News 3 up to on pages 4 and 5. Involve 2 Evolve 4-5 The Social Services and Wellbeing () Act went live on 6 April this Mental Health 6-7 year, the act radically transforms the way in which social services are World Mental 8-9 delivered in Wales and gives people a stronger voice and more say in Health Day what support they need, making decisions about their care and support Health & Wellbeing 10 as an equal partner. Community 11-12 The Community Voice project; a portfolio of projects that support Coordinators people to have a voice in improving community services is featured on Intermediate Care 12-13 page 15. Fund The Listening 14 The Act is being implemented on a regional basis in RCT and Merthyr Project Tydfil and Interlink is fully engaged in the implementation plan and in particular the Building Community Capacity element which is key to Community Voice 15 delivering the aspirations of the Act, see pages 12 and 13 for information Interlink Training 16 on new projects awarded grants from this year’s ICF Community Capacity Our address: Grant Scheme and excellent examples of the work being undertaken in 6 Melin Corrwg, Road our communities. , The Act has a focus on early intervention and prevention which is a CF37 5BE particular forte of the voluntary sector, read about our Community Telephone number: Coordinators who connect older people to activities and services that 01443 846200 maximises their health and wellbeing and promotes independence check

them out on page 11 and 12. Fax: 01443 844843 Email: Vital to and underpinning all our work is listening to people, turn to page [email protected] 14 to find out about the work of the Listening project. Website: Interlink has recently restructured with changes to our Business www.interlinkrct.org.uk Support Team. Alisa Davies, Finance Officer and Cara Jordan-Evans, Office opening times are: Communications Officer, have recently celebrated 25 years service with Monday - Thursday: Interlink! Throughout this time they have worked diligently and they 9.00am - 5.00pm are very much appreciated by both colleagues and members alike. Friday: 9.00am - 4.30pm Congratulations, both! We would also like to welcome Helen Stokes to the team who is our part-time Reception and Hospitality Assitant.

Page 2

News

Rebecca Evans, Rhondda Volunteering Project Worker Rebecca works with partners to develop volunteering in Dates for your Diary the Rhondda, matching what young people would like to do with what community and voluntary groups can offer. Vol Factor Visioning Event 27 September Since starting the post in April, I have met with many 6.00pm - 8.00pm diverse voluntary organisations throughout the Rhondda. at YMCA Each organisation allowed me to personally engage with volunteers they already had and presented me with voluntary opportunities available to young people in the Rhondda. I have presented the benefits of Cynon Valley Forum: volunteering in local secondary schools, and have supported young Future Generations Act & people within the Rhondda into opportunities that interest them. I am Skills for the Future currently visiting local youth clubs and sports clubs in the Rhondda, 28 September 10.00am - 12.00pm enjoying meeting new enthusiastic young people with different talents and interests. If you would like more information contact Rebecca on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected] RCT Volunteer Managers’ Network Forum 29 September Congratulations to Lynne at People First 1.00pm - 3.00pm Lynne Evans, Director of RCT People First, received an Honorary at Interlink Fellowship Award from the University of at their Graduation Ceremony on 12 July 2016. Big Lottery Event Lynne received this award in recognition for her dedication and 7 October commitment towards community work and volunteering. 9.00am - 1.00pm Rhondda Sports Centre Lynne has worked tirelessly for over 40 years supporting people to speak up to Stronger Rhondda challenge and change 25 October services for people with 10.00am - 12.00pm learning disabilities to create at TooGoodToWaste Roles and Responsibilities’ better lifestyles. Lynne plays of Trustees an important role in research 23 November and training student nurses, Mental Health Forum 1.00pm - 3.30pm police officers, psychologists 8 November Interlink 10.00am - 12.00pm and lecturers at the at Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil Get your Organisation Fit University of South Wales. for Funding: Interlink RCT 25 January Interlink AGM 10.00am - 12.30pm 16 November at Interlink Lynne said: ‘Thank you very much. I am surprised and delighted to have this award. Like the Welsh football team I believe that together we are stronger. It is important that we all work together To book a place or for more information get in touch! as a team and know that everyone has something valuable to give. When we all work together we can make stronger communities and For all our latest training provide better patient care. I am very proud to be part of a university courses take a look at the where this is really happening.’ back page of this issue or visit www.interlinkrct.org.uk For more information about People First contact Dawn Price based at Interlink’s offices on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected]

Page 3 Involve 2 Evolve

The Involve 2 Evolve Project promotes and supports service user involvement in the planning, delivery and evaluation of local mental health services across Merthyr Tydfil and RCT to ensure that the voice of service users is heard.

Rachel Wyatt and Lucy Foster are the MHSUI Development Officers and co-ordinate various involvement opportunities such as training, planning groups and engagement events.

Contact Rachel by email: [email protected] or Lucy by email: [email protected] or call 01443 846200

The Big Thank You The Involve 2 Evolve Project is hugely reliant on the good will of all our volunteer members who give up their time to take part in various events, training sessions and meetings to name but a few! Over the last 12 months, members have contributed a fabulous total of 1095 volunteering hours. To recognise this great achievement, we invited people to the BIG Thank You at Pontypridd Museum on 8 June. We ate cake (and fruit!) and presented attendees with certificates of achievement.

We would like to extend our thanks again to everyone who has supported the involvement of people in local mental health services. Together we are Stronger!

One attendee who had worked with a small group to develop an information resource for people dealing with trauma told us:

‘We cogitated, we learned, we shared, we laughed and our hearts often ached at the thought of other people's pain but it also gave us a chance to use our skills (particularly our creative skills) our knowledge and experience with Jenna, the psychology student. I must say, overall it was a very enjoyable experience and I would not have enjoyed it so much without the support of my colleagues as we were really a ‘dream team.’

Page 4 Involve 2 Evolve

Coffee and Cake Morning - New way to share experiences in Mental Health Having a say in helping to shape mental health services was the icing on the cake for people who Matthew Ingram Team Leader for Cwm Taf shared their experiences at informal coffee UHB said: ‘The involvement of services users, mornings. carers, Voluntary and Third Sector services is paramount for the review and future development of mental health services.’

One participant said:‘ If I hadn’t come today I wouldn’t have found out about other things that could help me. They really listen to my views and it was great to meet new people.’

As part of the Involve 2 Evolve Project, participants were invited to Coffee and Cake mornings run in partnership with the Community Mental Health Teams in the Cynon Valley and Merthyr Tydfil. The Involve 2 Evolve Project is all about people sharing their experiences of mental health services to promote positive change. Training and support is offered for those who wish to be involved.

Key themes discussed were appointments, communication and GP education on mental health and services. Lucy Foster of Interlink RCT said: ‘The days were about sharing successes, helping identify Senior Practitioner from Merthyr Tydfil CBC CMHT the gaps and helping change things for the Alyson Jones was keen to see people have a voice in better. Both days were very relaxed and the services they receive. informal and the tools were there to help catch key discussions.’

Alyson said: ‘Service users are central to the development of mental health services and The feedback provided by participants will now help it’s only right they have their say. It’s a great to shape the planning and delivery of local mental learning experience for the team as well as our health services. Building on this success, plans are clients.’ now underway to run similar events in the Rhondda and Taf Ely valleys.

For more information please contact either Rachel by email: [email protected] or Lucy by email: [email protected] or call 01443 846200.

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Mental Health

Meet the Reps! Sharon Phillips, Jen Edwards and Jane Treharne-Davies Looking forward, the Reps will be talking to people represent the views of service users and carers on about the availability of daytime opportunities for the Cwm Taf Together for Mental Health Partnership people locally. We are also in the process of Board. This is a multi-agency group that oversees developing a new Mental Health Listening Project how the Welsh Government’s Mental Health Strategy to capture people’s stories of local services. is delivered in Cwm Taf. The Reps have been very busy this year gathering Hi, I'm Jen, I'm a grandmother of two people’s experiences and views of: grandsons and after I retired from local • Care and Treatment Planning in secondary Mental government a few years ago, I was at a really Health services low ebb. Experiencing anxiety and depression, • The priorities that people think are most I felt I had a choice. I could either vegetate in important. The top Five were the Crisis Service, front of the telly or do something useful with Information and Advice; Suicide and Self Harm; my life. So why not try and use my experience Support on Discharge and Access to Psychological to help others? Firstly, I became involved in the Services Mental Health Peer Support Groups. I’ve found • The new Delivery Plan for the Together for Mental that doing voluntary work can be very Health Strategy therapeutic and it gives you the opportunity to make new friends. I've been told I'm a good listener and am able to show empathy towards others. For those reasons I agreed to become a Service User Rep on the T4MH Partnership Board. There is a lot to learn but I am aware that my time is appreciated and I am well supported by Rachel, Lucy and my fellow reps, Sharon and Jane.

Hi, my name is Sharon and I am involved with a number of mental health peer support groups within RCT and am a trustee for Merthyr and the Valleys Mind. I feel that by being on the Partnership Board it will be an ideal opportunity for me to represent service users and Carers who attend these groups and take their concerns forward which will hopefully help to improve the service that they and others receive now and in the future .

Get in touch! For further information about future Involve 2 Evolve events or if you simply want to receive our SUN newsletter, please contact Rachel Wyatt at [email protected] or Lucy Foster at

[email protected] or phone Interlink on 01443 846200. Page 6 Mental Health

Maria Abson, Mental Health Development Officer, supports local mental health organisations in Cwm Taf and co-ordinates links between communities, voluntary organisations and the statutory sector through the Cwm Taf Mental Health Forum. The Mental Health Forum welcomes any community or voluntary group with an interest in mental health within Cwm Taf. Contact Maria on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected] Twitter @MHF_Cwm_Taf

Mental Health Peer Support Groups in RCT

Positive Steps - Darran Las, Mountain Ash M.A.S.H. - This group meet every Friday afternoon at This group meet every Wednesday evening at 12.30pm - 3.00pm at Darran Las Community Centre. 6.00pm - 8.00pm at Maerdy Community Centre. New Beginnings - Rhondda Listening Friends - Ton This group meet every Friday morning at This is a social group and people can call in anytime 9.30am - 12.30pm at Glyncoch Community Centre. or stay all day on a Monday in St John’s Church Hall between 11.00am - 3.00pm.

Clydach Vale Peer Support Group - New Connections - This group meet every Tuesday afternoon at This group meet every Wednesday morning at 1.00pm - 3.00pm at Clydach Vale Community 10.30am - 12.30pm in Providence Church, Ystrad. Centre. Contact Simone on 01443 424218 or [email protected] Footsteps - Ferndale These groups are for people who have mild to This group meet every Tuesday morning at moderate anxiety and depression. All groups 10.30am - 1.30pm at The Morlais Hall, Ferndale. charge for refreshments and the amounts differ. Silver Linings - This group meet every Monday afternoon at New Peer Support Group Merthyr Come along to the launch day on 3 October at 1.00pm - 3.00pm at Bryncae Community Centre. Dowlais Library at 2.00pm - 4.00pm.

Contact Maria Abson on 01443 846200 or Andrea Hunt at Journeys/Gofal on 02920 692891.

Mental Health Support Service Directory The Mental Health Support website is a partnership project between New Horizons Mental Health and Emotional Well-being Resource Centre, Cwm Taf University Health Board and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. The website aims to provide accessible advice and information about mental health issues and services to people with mental health problems, their carers, health professionals and anyone else with an interest in mental illness.

Visit www.mentalhealthsupport.co.uk to find out more!

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World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day 2016

After the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) founded World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on 10 October 1992 many countries adopted it as a means of promoting mental health issues. Every year a theme is chosen and education materials are produced by WFMH for distribution. This year, the theme is‘Dignity in Mental Health - Psychological and Mental Health First Aid for All.’ To request the education material, please email: [email protected] with your contact details.

World Mental Health Day is approaching with events planned in both RCT and Merthyr Tydfil themed on Dignity in Mental Health.

‘Quiz Night‘ Promoting mental health and wellbeing at a local level has important 12 October 2016 advantages and benefits for everyone in communities and goes a long 7.00pm way in reducing stigma and isolation creating a non-stigmatising, well Quiz starts at informed and supportive community. This directs new energy and effort 7.30pm - 10.30pm at improving the lives of those living with mental health problems by Rugby Club challenging discrimination locally.

Are you up for the Challenge? Interlink would like to extend a very genuine thank you to everyone Does your organisation have involved in the planning of local WMHD events. Without continued any Masterminds? If YES, then participation and support these events would not get off the ground. put a team together We thank everyone for his or her individual and collective support. and come along to the World Mental Health Week Quiz Night. Be the Best and Beat the Rest! For more information contact Janet Whiteman on 01685 881113

New Horizons Rhondda Valley Recovery College Course dates are now available, for more information contact 01685 881113 info@newhorizonsmental- health.co.uk www.newhorizons-mental- health.co.uk For more information contact Maria Abson, Mental Health Development Officer at Interlink on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected]

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World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day 2016

10 October 2016 10.00am – 3.00pm Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, This event is aimed at service users, Carers, general public and professionals with an interest ‘ Merthyr Tydfil Event ’ in mental health, there will be a wide range of World Mental Health Day and information relevant to mental health and Safeguarding Event 2016 wellbeing as well as other related issues. 20 October 2016 There will be a variety of different 10.00am - 3.00pm organisations present providing opportunities Merthyr Tydfil Sports Centre for individuals to ask questions and be given The World Mental Health Day Event is a way of guidance on issues and topics of interest to working collaboratively towards addressing the them. The event will also provide an arena for needs of our local communities. organisations to celebrate good practice and achievements whilst showcasing their services. This day will provide an opportunity for service users to engage with providers of services, Interactive therapies will also be available for and will also be a chance for local organisations you to try. Please come along and benefit and partners to showcase their services. from the information that will be provided. Refreshments will be provided throughout There will be a range of activities, crafts and complementary therapies available on the day. the day. For more information contact Maria Abson on 01443 Contact Maria Abson on 01443 846200 846200. To book contact Kath Price at Interlink by To book contact Carol Hindley at VAMT by email: email: [email protected] [email protected] or 01685 353917

Mindfulness and Stress Control

Valleys Steps is an exciting new community based project that is now available across Cwm Taf. The project offers practical information and learning to improve everyone’s emotional well-being through the delivery of free Mindfulness and Stress Control Courses. Cwm Taf University Health Board is supporting the project and hopes this will help people to manage emotional distress by improving emotional literacy and individual resilience to the challenges we all face in everyday life. Stress Control Mindfulness Stress Control is a class that aims to teach you a Mindfulness is a way of learning to relax the range of skills you can use to fight back against mind. The Valleys Steps Mindfulness course stress and similar problems. aims to help you develop Mindfulness skills in your everyday life.

The courses are free and are provided on an open access basis from leisure centres, libraries, church halls and community centres within different areas of Cwm Taf. For more information please visit www.valleyssteps.org or call 01443 803048 email: [email protected]

Page 9 Health and Wellbeing

Anne Morris, Health and Wellbeing Manager. As of April this year Anne took up her new post of Health and Wellbeing Manager. Her role includes managing the Community Coordinator team and the Health and Wellbeing team alongside health, social care and wellbeing facilitation. Anne supports and promotes joint working between voluntary organisations and health and social care providers and supports local health and social care networks. She directly participates in joint planning and partnership groups, representing the voluntary sector and promotes the role and contribution of the voluntary sector to other health and social care agencies. Contact Anne on 01443 846203 or email: [email protected]

Awards for Projects that create Happier and Healthier Communities! Community groups promoting healthy lifestyles Second prize of £1000 went to Men’s and and preventing ill-health in Cwm Taf have been Women’s Sheds whose aim is to help those at risk of celebrated and rewarded at this year’s Crystal social isolation and loneliness by providing activities Trophy Awards. This partnership event organised in a friendly, welcoming place. by Interlink and the Health and Wellbeing team at Third prize of £750 was awarded to RCT Homes Cwm Taf University Health Board recognises the (Trevallis) for their Go4it project which supports achievements of local groups and organisations who families to live a more active and healthy life style. are working to improve health and wellbeing. The Families enjoyed sports taster sessions and took Awards were presented by Dr Chris Jones, Chairman part in cookery sessions with advice provided by a of the Board. dietician. This year’s winner of the Crystal Trophy and £1500 Finally fourth prize of £500 went to Merthyr and the prize money was the HAPI project which aims to Valleys Mind for their Project 5 Ways to Wellbeing provide individuals and families with the skills and which aims to reduce the impact of loneliness and knowledge to help them to make positive choices to isolation and improve the health and wellbeing of improve their health and wellbeing. As a result of older people, Volunteers support them to the project local residents in have gained engage with activities around the 5 Ways to employment and taken a lead on community Wellbeing-Give, Learn, Connect, be Active and activities to benefit and sustain the project. take Notice.

Chief Officer of Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil (VAMT) Ian Davy said: ‘The Crystal Trophy Award is an excellent way to recognise the major contribution that grassroots community projects make in terms of the health and wellbeing agenda – both in relation to prevention and promotion. We know that projects of this nature are being delivered throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil on a daily basis, and that’s why the Crystal Trophy Awards is a special event in our calendars.’

For more information contact Anne on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected]

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Community Coordinators

Community Coordinators Older people are benefiting from advice and support Coordinators have developed close working provided by Community Coordinators throughout relationships with Health and Social Care colleagues RCT. Their role is to support older people to and receive referrals from clinics, GP’s and social maximise their health and wellbeing and maintain workers. Coordinators are able to signpost older their independence. Community Coordinators have people to the vast range of services and activities expert knowledge of what is available for older that exist in their community. people in their local area. They have mapped a vast array of groups, services and activities ranging from The Cynon Coordinator, befriending to Fly Fishing. They work with older Jason Tynan, was contacted people to explore their needs and then signpost by a social worker regarding a them to local services. gentleman who would be A key aim of the team is to help reduce the negative alone over Christmas. Using impact on health of social isolation and loneliness, his connections with local by helping older people to access local activities, people, Jason contacted the attend groups and connect with their community. local vicar who arranged for someone to visit the gentleman and take a Christmas gift. The vicar knew of other older people in the area Karen Powell, Community in similar circumstances and was keen to do Coordinator for Taff Ely: something to address the issue. Jason ‘From what I have experienced coordinated meetings to bring together so far, it is a role that is needed willing volunteers and community leaders in to help people navigate order to host a Christmas Day lunch for older through the extensive services people who would be isolated or lonely over that the voluntary sector has to offer. The role is the festive period. extremely rewarding, especially when you find Following a period of intense planning and out what people need and can find a service to many generous donations of food, time and meet those needs - you know it is going to make gifts, St Fagan’s Church hosted ‘Company a difference to their lives.’ at Christmas’. The event was a tremendous success with over 70 older people attending supported by 92 volunteers. The day started with a sherry and mince pie reception where guests got to know one another followed by Following discharge from hospital after a fall, a Christmas dinner cooked and served by Mrs H reported feeling isolated, she was volunteers. Entertainment was provided along determined to get herself out and about but had with a Christmas gift for all. lost her confidence after being hospitalised for The first planning meeting for Christmas 2016 three months. She had also developed cataracts starts in September! and was frightened to venture out. Mrs H had a tablet computer that she was keen to use but her failing eyesight prevented her from ‘The Community Coordinators have been achieving this. Karen referred Mrs H to RNIB’s invaluable to older people and organisations Online Today service where she received 1:1 across Cwm Taf. Each Coordinator has achieved training to use her tablet. Karen also referred great results in their localities, forming links with her to a befriending service and she is now not only the Local Authority, Health but with the receiving a weekly visit from a volunteer who communities they are working within. Long may supports Mrs H to attend a local group. it continue!’ Rhian Webber, Cwm Taf UHB

Page 11

Community Coordinators/ Intermediate Care Fund

Meriel Gough is on a mission to Deanne Rebane’s role focuses on connect older people in the working with general practitioners, Rhondda with services and pharmacists and others in a community groups. Like the elderly primary care setting across RCT gentleman, recently bereaved, and Merthyr to encourage them facing financial difficulties. Meriel to use the services that are sourced support for him to claim available in the voluntary sector. benefits and reduce his energy bills which resulted in him being £4,459 a year better off. Deanne said: ‘People come into a surgery or pharmacy feeling unwell for social as well as Meriel said: ‘Often people do not know about medical problems. This is where we come in, the how to access help that is available out there or GP/pharmacist will contact us and we make sure that it even exists. Our work is about trying to that the patient is given information regarding avoid crises in people’s lives by connecting them services and activities, provided by the voluntary to the services they need.’ sector, in their area.’

Meriel visits GP surgeries and clinics offering advice and support and can often be seen walking around ‘Our involvement with the ICF Community a town or village seeking out voluntary groups and Coordinators has been invaluable. They have charities to add to the growing list of potential been able to open so many doors to community support. services we would not have known were in place. The ongoing partnership working is vitally needed in enabling us to provide cohesive ‘Meriel you are the font of all community community support to our residents of CTUHB. knowledge!’ Lisa Knowles, Occupational Long may it continue.’ Samantha Sullivan, Therapist Cwm Taf UHB

For more information contact Anne on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected]

The Intermediate Care Fund VAMT and Interlink would like to acknowledge the Deafblind UK – To provide community outreach and record number of applications received for this specific on-the-ground service for local deafblind year’s Grant Scheme and are pleased to confirm communities across Cwm Taf. that the following projects have been awarded Growing Space – To develop therapeutic gardens at funding and will shortly commence delivery of Bronllwyn and Caeglas Care Homes. services: Past Carers Group, RCT – To support transition from Almond Tree Counselling Service – To improve being a Carer once the caring role has ended. client emotional well-being through counselling Partnership Trust – To provide a series of interventions targeted at those aged 50+. workshops based on ‘a trip down memory lane’. Care & Repair – To expand Healthy Homes Scheme Bosom Pals – To provide a range of and work alongside other projects to offer support for members affected by breast cancer and enhanced packages of support. their carers. Cruse Bereavement Service – To provide a ‘Point Rowan Tree Cancer Care – To provide a new and Plan’ to tackle the unprecedented rate of referrals innovative befriending service in RCT for older for generic and specialist support. clients whose lives are touched by cancer.

Page 12 Intermediate Care Fund

Royal Voluntary Service – To provide Good The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act Neighbours Service in conjunction with existing and places statutory duties on local authorities and new services. health boards in relation to providing or arranging preventative services. Unity Cymru Theatre – To introduce Unity Jive; Jackie’s Story a physical and fun project that will motivate and This further allocation of £1.365m is to be used to engage over 50’s to improve physical and emotional provide preventative services specifically in relation ‘I lost my confidence to come out of the house health and wellbeing. to current core areas of ICF: very much and now I am always out and about Valleys Kids – To provide an inclusive community • Continued funding to support older people to and helping others in the community!’ programme for older adults and their families within maintain their independence the Porth / Rhydyfelin areas. • The development of integrated services for I firstly got involved through Weight busters. I people with learning difficulties and Volunteering Matters – To provide one-to-one stopped for a while, then I started back again; it was • The development of integrated services for befriending support across RCT and Merthyr Tydfil the only time I came out of the house. Petrina said, children with complex needs and complement other existing community based. why don’t you come along again, I came and met befriending schemes. ICF is already being used to drive innovative Angela, then Pauline who has subsequently partnership working and deliver preventative models Cwm Taf has been awarded a further £1.365m from become a very close friend. Pauline encouraged me of care and support. Allocating money in this way the Intermediate Care Fund! to go on courses like Routes to Recovery and a range however ensures the fund is an effective delivery of others, we went on trips to Cardiff and London. Prevention is at the heart of the Welsh mechanism for the requirements of the Act. I found this nerve wracking but I am getting more Government’s programme of change for care and confident. I found it difficult to talk with others and support services. It is vital that care and support For further information on any of these project mix with others, I lost my best friend. Through services do not wait to respond until people reach then please contact: going to weight busters and going to New Anne Morris at Interlink on 01443 846200 or crisis point. There is a need to focus on prevention Beginnings (depression support), I have come out email: [email protected] or and early intervention to make services sustainable Sharon Richards at VAMT on 01685 353932 or into the future. email: [email protected]

Digital Communities Wales – Could you benefit? With 21 per cent of adults in Wales still not online, many are missing out on opportunities to save money, look for work, find information, keep in touch with family, learn new skills and access important services. They may already be coping with issues such as isolation, poverty or unemployment – issues which are made worse by not being online.

The Wales Co-operative Centre delivers a Welsh Government project, Digital Communities Wales, which provides support to organisations that are working with digitally excluded groups, particularly older people, people with disabilities, unemployed people, social housing tenants and families in poverty.

Many third sector organisations are already benefitting from the free training provided by Digital Communities Wales. If you would like to find out more about the opportunities for you and the people you support, please contact Stephanie Davies by email: [email protected] or phone 07788314706.

Page 13 The Listening Project

Bethan Smith, Community Action Researcher Bethan has been funded by the Rank Foundation to facilitate Participatory Action Research projects on behalf of Interlink. Bethan is particularly interested in making research and its findings accessible to everyone and can offer research advice for local groups and organisations. For more information contact Bethan on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected]

The Listening Project The issue of Loneliness and Isolation is a complex The data from these questions provides us with one, which affects people differently, and has a valuable information to build upon the existing wide range of causes and different impacts. The strengths using an Asset Based Community Listening Project has been engaging with over 50’s Development approach, whilst also encouraging and recording their experiences using a tool called respondents to reflect upon and value their SenseMaker®. Unlike traditional consultation, communities. SenseMaker® is used to capture and make sense of what matters most to people, making research What have we found out so far? more about people than the researcher’s agenda; When collating the data, it is possible to analyse whilst still generating strong evidence to support the data set as a whole or based upon characteristics and guide the work of the third sector. such as area, age or organisation, allowing specific How does SenseMaker® work? data to be reported almost instantly to support decision making. However, when looking at the Using Sense Maker software, the project makes whole data set, four key themes have emerged. optimal use of both qualitative (stories and experiences) and quantitative data (numbers, • Transport statistics and patterns), allowing for trends to be • Experiences of loneliness and isolation in the identified, whilst also providing real life stories to explain the emerging patterns in real terms. evening Through the use of SenseMaker®, the project • Information availability/accessibility provides powerful analytical tools, yet is delivered • Sustainability of day centres through a flexible and user friendly interface. These were able to be discussed with reference to In practice what does this look like? the stories and data collected, and we were able Over 50 Volunteer Listeners have been trained. to remedy many of the issues raised with cooperation Since January, some have chosen to collect stories on and involvement from our partners at the Older a one-to-one basis, much like a casual conversation, Persons’ Network. In addition, the project has been others have chosen to hold group discussions. used to raise awareness of loneliness and isolation Organisations and community members alike have and the wider impacts of service provision, used the project to engage with new people and organisational practice and community involvement. their existing beneficiaries and service users, with Whilst there were some concerns that we, as an feedback including: Older Persons’ Network, were unable to address at present, this will inform future work and we will ‘I found the project insightful, it enabled me continue to advocate the voices of Older People in to have discussions with participants to better Cwm Taf. understand their issues.’ Following on from the success of the Older Person’s Listening Project, there is strong support The methodology has been designed to encourage for a mental health and wellbeing version to be organisations to ask the right questions, with the developed, which is currently in the making. survey having been developed to provide a holistic approach based on Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). If you are interested in finding out more about the project or would be interested in getting involved with either the Older Persons’ Listening project or the upcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Listening Project, please contact Bethan Smith by email: [email protected]

Page 14 Community Voice

Lucy ‘2 jobs’ Foster is a busy girl holding down roles as Community Voice Participation and Evaluation Officer and also the Mental Health Service User Involvement Development Officer. Lucy’s Community Voice role involves supporting Eight very different projects to involve a range of people, including young, older people and people with disabilities, in having a voice in improving community services. Contact Lucy on 01443 846200 or email: [email protected]

Community Voice Project Scoop Enterprise Award A group of learners from Aberdare Kim Sanders, Healthy Schools and Pupil Voice have beaten off stiff competition from neighbouring Co-ordinator at Aberdare Community School has colleges, to scoop the Enterprise Award at the NUS been involved with the group and has seen the Wales Awards for their work with the ‘Learner Voice’ passion gone into the making of the DVD. project with is part of the Community Voice Project. The ‘Learner Voice’ project involved college learners, Kim said: ‘The young people involved with pupils from Aberdare Community School, Eye to Eye the Community Voice project have been so Counselling Services and Spectacle Theatre passionate about creating the film and I am producing a DVD highlighting mental health issues confident that it will be well received, enabling in young people. parents, carers, teachers and those involved with young people to recognise self-harm and to The college works closely with Eye to Eye Counselling confidently signpost them to available support.’ Services, who offer support to children and young people up to the age of 25 years in the Rhondda The college learners will use the DVD as part of their Cynon Taf area, therefore when approached to presentation at their next competition, the National produce a DVD, the learners were keen to get NUS Awards; which takes place in Liverpool. Cymoedd involved. learner and Executive of the Aberdare Campus The Cymoedd learners and members of the Learner Voice, Alice Reardon was thrilled with the anti-bullying group from the Community School success of the project and excited to proceed to the chose to focus on self-harming; which can be really National Awards. hard to understand and is highly prevalent in Cynon Valley. A stark national figure of between one in twelve and one in fifteen young people self-harm.

Emma Allcock, Voice worker with Eye to Eye Services stated: ‘This DVD will be shown in schools and colleges throughout RCT and we hope it raises awareness of causes of self-harm, how to recognise it and to reassure there is help available.’

Alice said: ‘Working alongside the brilliant The production of the DVD has been entirely created pupils at Aberdare Community School has by the young people for young people, from the opened my eyes even more as to how inspiring storyboard to the filming; with them giving up hours our little community is and it shows exactly how of their free time to create the film. big our hearts are.’

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Next Issue: December 2016