News
Double awards nomination for Health Team
Two ground-breaking projects that are making far-reaching improvements to the health and wellbeing of local people in Buckinghamshire have been shortlisted in the prestigious 2010 Health and Social Care Regional Awards, set to be announced on 7 October.
NHS Buckinghamshire’s Mental Health Community Development Team fought off stiff competition from NHS, social services and voluntary organisations throughout South Central (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight), to be shortlisted twice.
Wellbeing for Travellers – finalist in the ‘Success in Partnership Working’ category
The Wellbeing for Travellers scheme improves health for Travellers and Gypsies by training women from these communities to become community health advocates. The project has already benefited 60 families in Buckinghamshire, and has the potential to be used as a model for similar projects across the UK.
The pioneering project is one of the first in the country to overcome barriers to training, such as little or no literacy skills, to engage with and teach health and social care skills to the Gypsy community.
The advocates have been trained to pass on first aid skills, deliver advice and information about health services and screening programmes (such as cardiovascular or cancer), and to promote healthy lifestyles. Launched in June 2009, the scheme is playing a crucial role in improving the health of those living on Gypsy and Traveller sites.
The scheme is the result of a partnership between NHS Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire New University, One Voice 4 Travellers Ltd and Uni (South East BME) Network.
Dr Margaret Greenfields, Reader in Social Policy at Bucks New University, who led on the training aspect of the project, said: “This is a great honour for the team and a wonderful opportunity to receive recognition for the ground-breaking prevention and health advocacy work we are undertaking at Bucks New University in partnership with One Voice for Travellers and NHS Buckinghamshire.
“The value of this project is already being demonstrated by the fact that our newly trained health advocates are working with the Health Protection Agency to devise ways of passing on information and advice to local Gypsy and Traveller communities to protect children and families affected by common infections and diseases.”
Movers and Shakers project – finalist in the ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing’ category
Movers and Shakers groups, set up by NHS Buckinghamshire and partners including Buckinghamshire New University, help older people support each other to stay healthy. The Caribbean-style group provides physical, mental and creative activities for Caribbean elders to support healthy ageing and prevent social isolation. Its success has led to the birth of Chinese and Asian Dosti style groups.
Olga McBarnett, Mental Health Community Development Team Lead with NHS Buckinghamshire, said: “Movers and Shakers provides a fun environment for elder members of the local community to keep healthy and active. Group members say that attending the regular gatherings makes them feel younger and rejuvenated, particularly the Caribbean style jazzercise classes, which take place to music legends like James Brown.
“The groups are open to all and help older people, many of whom have mobility problems and can feel vulnerable or socially excluded, to keep active and social. The classes help towards ageing well and relieve health conditions such as depression, high blood pressure and diabetes.”
Buckinghamshire New University Lecturer, Professor Barbara Humberstone, who worked on the project, said: “This is an excellent initiative, which provides for the health and wellbeing of black and minority ethnic (BME) groups through fostering regular events that include physical activity. The initiative is sustainable though the groups taking responsibility for the events, and participant feedback shows that activities are clearly enjoyable and well-received.”
