Buzz: Central Manchester

Activity report for June 2017

Buzz is Manchester’s Health and Wellbeing service:

Service aim:

• to contribute to an increase in healthy life expectancy and reduction of health inequalities using asset based approaches to unlock the power and potential of individuals and communities to tackle the underlying causes of ill-health.

Teams within buzz:

- Neighbourhood Health Workers - Health & Wellbeing Advisors - Physical Activity Referrals Please Note: New activity for this - Oral Health Improvement month, June, is highlighted in blue - The Knowledge Service

Neighbourhood Health Workers

Work of the Team:

Across the neighbourhoods of Central Manchester, the Neighbourhood Health Workers (NHWs) are involved in partnerships and conversations with statutory and voluntary sector organisations and local people to develop a range of health improvement projects/activities and events.

The buzz Central NHW’s: o Ardwick and Longsight: Rose Boyd: [email protected] o Chorlton, Whalley Range and Fallowfield : Laura Cassidy: [email protected] o Gorton (North & South) and Levenshulme. Noah Mellor: [email protected] o Moss Side, Hulme and Rusholme: Patricia Williams [email protected] o Central Senior Neighbourhood Worker: Carlos Tait- [email protected]

If you’d like information about a particular area in Central please contact the local NHW.

During June 2017 this work included:

Health Checks (in partnership with community groups and local NHS/GPs): • 30 participants attended 2 events at Arcadia Leisure centre in Levenshulme. The health check team identified that a significant portion of participants were unaware that they were pre-diabetic. • Attendance at Health Checks gives the opportunity for local people to be referred to the buzz Health & Well-Being Advisors, who provide 1:1 lifestyle support & action planning.

Asset mapping The NHWs have each mapped their areas and have a good knowledge / insight of what is going on locally; therefore the NHWs are assets themselves. Use them to connect with what is going on and with other partners in Central. They each have broad knowledge of groups and activities in their areas that support health and well-being. Note; this is an ongoing process.

Age Friendly Neighbourhood Networks buzz NHWs have been tasked with developing Age Friendly Neighbourhood Networks across Manchester. This is collaborative work, and involves a range of partners, and residents in each area. The aim of the Networks is to improve the local offer for older people.

In Central, joint networks have been established in 2 areas: Ardwick & Longsight, Gorton & Levenshulme. Both networks have regular meetings and an action plan directing activity.

• In June, Ardwick & Longsight network completed a 7 week consultation to explore older resident’s opinions about their communities, to inform the network about which topics to focus on. 130 completed questionnaires were returned. • Gorton & Levenshulme continue with the planning and preparation for the ‘summer’ festival, celebration taking place at Gorton Monastery in July. So far 18 projects / services have agreed to attend and a publicity poster has been developed and distributed throughout the area (at venues involving older people). This will be updated in next month’s report.

Note: In addition to these networks, one NHW supports the Ambition for Aging project for Hulme and Moss Side.

Development work: -

Each of the NHW’s is involved in supporting / developing health & well-being initiatives / projects / activities / events. Some examples of work in June includes:

• The NHW for Levenshulme and Gorton is supporting the Good Neighbours project coordinators for both areas to become established and develop closer links with key contacts in those communities.

• One NHW shared their list of local assets in the form of a google map for the Chorlton and Whalley Range Dementia Group which was compiling a map of local businesses to approach for involvement with the Age Friendly charter / Take A Seat initiative.

• One NHW is exploring the potential of delivering 2 different food related sessions / courses with the intention of developing peoples cooking skills and food safety (i.e. building capacity).

• One NHW is developing a project in partnership with a group of residents and the Council’s Neighbourhood Worker in Moss Side to revitalise a community garden that has grown into disrepair.

Health & Well-Being sessions / Group work

NHWs are delivering the BOOST course where appropriate to local community groups. BOOST is a 7 week interactive course aiming to build resilience and self-esteem.

• In June the final BOOST session was delivered at Surestart children’s centre in Fallowfield to 4 participants. A reunion event is booked for 12th July.

• ‘Connect 5’ is a 3 day course for staff or volunteers to support people who have mental health or wellbeing issues. Sessions are planned for Central in the near future.

Other buzz courses available:

- Healthy aging 2 day session exploring how age friendly communities support and promote the health & wellbeing of older people.

NHWs also deliver one-off group work sessions in the community on various topics:

• In June, 5 people from a Women’s Aid project participated in a Sleep and Relaxation session (which was identified from previous group work with the NHW).

Other buzz teams:

Health & Wellbeing Advisors 1:1 service offering support and action planning on healthy lifestyles and improving health. For more information contact Frances Sherrington, Senior Health & Well-Being Advisor; Frances.Sherrington@ gmmh.nhs.uk

• During June, for the Central area, 90 referrals were made to this service, with the following issues being supported:- long term conditions (including diabetes, weight management and mental wellbeing

Oral health Improvement: This is a non-clinical health-promoting service addressing poor oral health and inequalities within the Manchester population. They work with a wide range of partners to achieve health improvement. Contact Vicky Brand, team manager, at [email protected]

• During June, in Central, this team have visited 2 Dental practices, resulting in 3 staff receiving training. They’ve also visited 21 primary schools, nurseries, & children’s centres resulting in 584 children and parents accessing an oral health education session (also an additional 34 staff at these venues accessed training too).

Physical Activity referral service (PARS) Helps people with long-term health conditions to increase their levels of physical activity in a safe and structured environment. For more information contact the PARS manager, Craig Jones, at [email protected]

• PARS have held 68 rehab classes in Central during June, with 388 attendances. Also, 21 new appointments were made, alongside 44 follow up appointments.

Knowledge Service Underpins the work of the wider service by supporting access to a range of books and journals, public health promotion models and leaflets. They also manage the social media and communications function within buzz. For more information please contact: [email protected] or 0161 248 1769.

For clarity on any aspect of this report please contact Carlos Tait

For information about buzz work in South and North Manchester contact:

- Jane McAllister, Snr Neighbourhood Health Worker: South Mcr; [email protected] - Dawn Harris, Snr Neighbourhood Health Worker North Mcr, [email protected] - Brian Goodman, Community Development Manager, [email protected]