Health and Wellbeing News January 2024

Health and Wellbeing News
January 2024

Introducing the County Durham Volunteer Passport Scheme:
Volunteer Pathways to
Neighbourhood Volunteering

Funded through the Know your Neighbourhood Fund and in line with the national Vision for Volunteering's aim to create a diverse, innovative, ambitious, equitable and person-centred future for volunteering, we have developed a County Durham Volunteer Passport.

We are partnering with multiple organisations in County Durham as part of the Scheme. This collaborative approach forms a shared agreement on values, goals, and standards regarding the recruitment, good practice, and deployment of volunteers. Allowing the volunteering workforce to move around with flexibility and consistency.

We aim to create a network of volunteers who are fully recruited, trained, supported and ready to respond quickly and appropriately to the needs of the local community.

As part of our partnership working arrangements the single recruitment and training route saves time and resources for partners and supports capacity building within smaller organisations.

We would like to reach out through this funding to those who may not have had opportunity to volunteer before, or who are experiencing loneliness. The project offers support to access enriching opportunities that will help to improve wellbeing, skills, confidence, and social connections. Volunteering helps to connect communities, encourage people to develop skills and grow their networks; and help public services serve local communities. The positive effects of volunteering include benefits to mental and physical well-being, particularly for those feeling isolated.

Further benefits of the passport scheme to volunteers include:.

Having the flexibility to switch between organisations and experience different volunteer roles through a streamlined recruitment process.
Choosing from a wide variety of volunteer roles, ranging from supporting one-off events to long-term volunteering.
Make a significant contribution to local communities in County Durham, improving your connection to your neighbourhood.
Meeting new people and making friendships.
Boosting your employability prospects by enhancing CVs with volunteering experience.
Learning and developing new skills to improve your health and well-being, abilities, and knowledge.
Keeping a record of your volunteer contributions and achievements.

We are running an online information session for referrers of the County Durham Volunteer Passport Scheme on Monday 22 January from 2 - 3pm; full details here

Find out more about the scheme

My Wellbeing Space

Northern Cancer Alliance (NCA) has recently launched a new health and wellbeing website for anyone affected by cancer. My Wellbeing Space has been developed by patients and carers around experiences and issues that matter to them.

It aims to provide helpful online resources for anyone affected by cancer across a range of different topics including sleep, exercise, support for carers and emotional wellbeing and includes video clips and links to information and advice.

The site also incorporates a Cancer Care Map so you can search for local services or support on each topic based on your postcode. There’s also a useful map of Macmillan Cancer Information Centres across North East and North Cumbria including their contact details and links to the information and support they can provide.

Find out more

VONNE Blog: VCSE Partnership Programme

Sian Dickie is Vonne’s North East and North Cumbria (NENC) VCSE Engagement Coordinator for the VCSE Partnership Programme.

Working in partnership with Cumbria CVS, Sian supports organisations across the NENC region to get involved with the Partnership Programme so they can have their voices heard within the Integrated Care System (ICS).

There are many ways to engage with the Partnership Programme:

Health and Wellbeing Network

Open to anyone in the NENC region from VCSE organisations and the health and care sector with an interest in health and wellbeing. Members can sign up to receive the Health & Wellbeing bulletin containing a range of information including health and care research, regional news, funding and events.

NENC VCSE Sub-Groups

Sub-Groups allow participants to actively connect with other VCSE sector colleagues from across the ICS area to focus on key areas of policy and strategy.

You can find the full range of Sub-Groups on our website

Introductory Session

VONNE run an online monthly introductory session which introduces what an ICS is, the VCSE Partnership Programme and its structures. It gives the opportunity for attendees to ask questions and discuss how they might like to get involved.

The next session is Monday, 29th January at 10:30am - 11:30am. Register here

For further information about the Partnership Programme, please contact sian.dickie@vonne.org.uk or Siobhan Flynn, North East and North Cumbria Engagement Manager, siobhan.flynn@vonne.org.uk

Health Squad

Health Squad is a new service offering holistic personalised support for people from hard-to-reach communities. This includes those on probation, homeless individuals, Gypsy Roma Travellers, asylum seekers, refugees and people who need support with substance misuse, to help them engage with their own health and wellbeing.

Health Squad’s key aim is to deliver health checks to start the conversation around blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and their risk of diabetes. In the future, these checks will expand to address more complex issues.

Commissioned by Durham County Council and delivered in partnership by Pioneering Care Partnership and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, the service will play a role in health education, offering brief interventions as well as signposting to other more specialised services and will work closely with existing services to reach those who need support and offer a more health-focused approach to their work.

Website: www.wellbeingforlife.net

Email: cdda-tr.WBFL@nhs.net (Health Squad in subject)

Telephone: 0800 8766887 (ask for Health Squad)

Stay Warm, Well and Safe this Winter

Durham County Council have a range of winter safety advice available on their website including details of Welcome Spaces, information from the NHS and Met Office, and advice on staying warm and well.

Read more

Here to Help this Winter

North East and North Cumbria NHS have help and advice on their website including staying well, choosing the right NHS service, looking after your mental health, keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet, signing up to the priority services register and getting your winter vaccines.

Find out more

Get involved in Red January

.As a nation we're less active in the winter, something that's often linked with lower mood, energy, and increased depressive symptoms.

RED January provides everyone with a free and inclusive way to boost their activity levels and wellbeing.

By taking part, not only will you be supporting your own wellbeing, you can support others too by fundraising for movement and mental health projects around the country.

Get involved

Your Young Opinions Research

The Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP)'s research team has launched its 'Your Young Opinions' survey to gather the views and opinions of young people age 18 to 25 who are living in County Durham. The team want to hear your thoughts and experiences to make a difference and contribute to vital discussions about social isolation in our community.

Find out more

Stamp It Out - become an Anti-Stigma Ambassador

Stamp It Out is a Partnership Hub that is led by people with lived experience of mental health issues (Anti-Stigma Ambassadors) and work in partnership with groups, organisations and communities using our action plan around events throughout the year. Stamp It Out uses Social Contact conversations and various resources to address barriers, especially around stigma and discrimination. We promote and educate the public to raise awareness across County Durham.

As a partnership hub Stamp It Out delivers campaigns, events, roadshows and training, working with three target groups which are young people, employers and community groups.

Stamp It Out are looking for people with lived experience of mental illness to become Anti-Stigma Ambassadors and join our campaign. We are also looking for people who want to share their experience with us to help challenge stigma and discrimination.

Whichever way you would be comfortable in sharing your story, we can help you get your experience out there and change the way in which people see mental ill-health.

The next campaign for Stamp It Out is Time To Talk Day on Thursday 1^st February. To get involved in this campaign locally contact chris.affleck@investinginchildren.net or go to https://timetotalkday.co.uk/ for more information.

If you’re interested in becoming an Anti-Stigma Ambassador or would like to know more about Stamp It Out contact: stampitoutdurham@gmail.com

NHS Waiting Well Fund - deadline for applications 26th January

County Durham Community Foundation have funding available for charitable organisations who are receiving, or wishing to receive, referrals through the NHS Waiting Well Programmes in County Durham and Darlington. The funding aims to address issues facing patients who are waiting for surgery. Grants can be for up to £5,000 over 12 months.

Find out more

Age UK Hot Meals at Jubilee Fields Community Centre

Jubilee Fields Community Centre have a partnership project with AGE UK for anyone aged over 50 years, who is socially isolated and living in Shildon. They have places for up to 25 people on a weekly basis until the end of March 2024.

All referrals are to be made to Shildon Town Council by calling 01388 772563. The first session will take place at the centre on Wednesday 10^th January, each individual attending will receive a hot meal free of charge and have a chance to socialise with others in the area.

County Durham OOOPS

OOOPS is a support group for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) an Ileostomy, Colostomy or Urostomy. It is confidential, friendly, and welcoming and offers one to one support and information for individuals, their families and carers.

Based in Horden Youth Community Centre, OOOPS meetings are held every Monday from 10.00am - 12.00noon (excluding Bank Holidays).

Fore more information please contact Claire on 0191 5863520 or email clairewilson09@hotmail.co.uk

Brew Monday - 15th January

On Brew Monday (15 January) Samaritans is reminding everyone to reach out for a cuppa and a catch-up with the people you care about.

Why 'Brew Monday?'

The third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’ but this is a myth. At Samaritans we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar to decide.

So we say it's time to stop this myth about Monday being 'blue' and instead start a conversation over a brew! Reach out and connect with family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.

Find out more

Sleep Masterclass for Patients

Live Well With Cancer and the Northern Cancer Alliance have recognised the effect that sleep has upon physical and emotional health and have put together a programme to encourage better sleep which can then impact and improve the quality of life for people affected by cancer.

Join them for their Sleep Masterclass, where they will cover the science and psychology of sleep and introduce CBT, ACT and mindful therapies. It takes place on Thursday 22nd February at The Durham Centre from 10.00am - 3.30pm.

The day will end with a Q&A session where you can ask facilitators any sleep questions you have.

To book a place please email livewellwithcancer@gmail.com

Community focused 'Love to Knit' group launches at PCP

The Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe has launched a community focused ‘Love to Knit’ group. The group will meet every Thursday from 1.30pm until 3.30pm. The group will knit, crochet, and sew squares, to create dressing gowns for those in need of warmth and comfort this winter. Everyone welcome – come along to the sessions at the Pioneering Care Centre, or take part from home.

Find out more

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