4 minute read
Mental Health Awareness
Council and partners mark Mental Health Awareness with launch of new service
Bromsgrove District Council, Onside and Bromsgrove PCN are marking Mental Health Awareness with the announcement that a new wellbeing service has been launched in the district.
Advertisement
The new Social Prescribing Service launched officially on Thursday 13th May in line with MHAW. The service will be run in partnership with Onside and will see four new Social Prescribing Link Workers working across the area: Jennifer Murray, Antonia Whitlock, Rebecca McGrory, and Timothy Bird.
The service is designed to help residents back to normality after the challenges of the past year.
Social Prescribing is a means of connecting residents with a link worker through a self-referral process. The link worker then provides them with a face-to-face conversation during which they can learn about activities in their communities and design their own personalised solutions to life struggles.
Recent research states that 1 in 5 people go to their GP with non-medical issues which can be helped through schemes like Social Prescribing instead. Research also states that within 3 to 4 years, Social Prescribing schemes have reduced the pressures on GP appointments by up to 40%.
Jennifer said: “Whilst we are all excited for restrictions to lift, it’s completely normal to feel anxious about this too and once again people will have to adapt to another ‘new normal’ which can be hard.
“I am looking forward to giving 1-2-1 support, helping people increase their confidence, realise their potential, empower them to cope better with whatever life throws at them and improve their overall wellbeing.
“After the last year, it will be fantastic to support people to lead a happier and more enriched life.”
A ‘social prescription’ is provided so that people with social, emotional or practical needs are empowered to find solutions which will improve their health and wellbeing, often using services provided by the voluntary and community sector.
Antonia added: “During the Pandemic and lockdown, we have all felt lonely and isolated at times, so I am looking forward to helping people to connect with their community and feel more confident about the future.
“Since starting this job, I have been amazed to find out how strong the sense of community is in Bromsgrove District and I am excited to help link people to what’s going on locally, so they can find new interests and make new friends.
“We are here to help guide people back to happier life in the wake of the pandemic.”
Social Prescribing is an innovative and growing movement, with the potential to reduce the financial burden on the NHS and particularly on primary care.
Onside is a local charity working across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, providing a wide range of support services to ensure fairness and equality for all members of the community who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or discriminated against.
Pride Month & Volunteer Week, 1-7 June
With National Pride Month and National Volunteers’ Week both falling in June, we wanted to highlight two things in this update: inclusion and volunteering.
We actively promote inclusivity within all of our programmes, with speci c disability sessions gradually returning to face-to-face delivery but if you feel you’re able to take part in any other activities please get in touch with us and we’ll accommodate you as much as we can. If you have any speci c wants or needs please feel free to email or ring and we can talk through the options available. There are lots of opportunities for people to volunteer across Bromsgrove District Council’s Development Services team. Below is some information on the projects led by our much-valued volunteers. If you want to help out in any way across any of our activities then we’d love to hear from you. C25K - Our extensive Couch to 5K programme across Bromsgrove is aimed at absolute beginners, people recovering from injury or anyone trying to get back into running after a long lay-o . We’re always looking for volunteer helpers to support delivery of the programme. Walking for Health - We are always looking for volunteers to support our Walking for Health sessions, where people take part in gentle walks in their local area led by a quali ed tness instructor. Fitness Class Advocates - We are looking for people who would like to support our tness instructors who deliver a variety of tness classes, gather information, help people who are part of the class. With this role as a Fitness Class Advocate, you can take part in a free tness class and get involved fully with the group. Local Sports Clubs - We can support people who are interested in taking up volunteering roles within local sports clubs close to them. If you are interested in nding out how to get involved with your local sports club in a volunteer capacity, please feel free to get in touch with Sam Flatley, Sports Development O cer, at samuel. atley@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk In terms of Pride our partners the Word Association are currently o ering a programme of online mental health and LGBTQ+ support creative writing sessions to residents. For more information visit www.the-word-association.com or contact ‘holly@hollywinterhughes.com’.
Finally, we’re delighted to be working with Bromsgrove Walking Sports Centre on inclusive
Walking Rugby, also in partnership with Warriors Community Foundation and Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club. Sessions will be held on Fridays, 12.30-13.30 on the lower eld AstroTurf at Bromsgrove Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club.
For more information on the details above which don’t have a speci c contact please get in touch with the Sports Development Team on 01527 881289 or email
