23 October 2025

East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum and Alton Health & Wellbeing Partnership ‘Networking and Showcase Event’  – October 2025

East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum and Alton Health & Wellbeing Partnership ‘Networking and Showcase Event’ 

Full presentation available here

55 members of the East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum and Alton Health & Wellbeing Partnership East Hampshire, attended a ‘Networking and Showcase Event’ at Leigh Park Community Centre and ran from 10:15am to 12:30pm on Thursday 16 October.

The event, coordinated by Community First, brought together voluntary sector organisations, health and wellbeing professionals, and community partners – to share updates, foster collaboration, and showcase services supporting local residents. It featured 4 presentations, networking & update opportunities for attendees, and 21 market stalls representing a wide range of health and community organisations. 

Presenters and Highlights 

• Angela Gill, Facilitator, Community First
  Welcomed attendees, introduced the agenda, and guided the event proceedings. 

• Tim Houghton, Chief Executive, Community First
  Shared insights from the voluntary and community sector, including updates on devolution, strategic partnerships, and upcoming initiatives such as the HIVCA alliance and the Get Hampshire Working Plan. 

• Ross Borman, Director of Business Development, Havant and East Hants Mind
  Presented the charity’s mental health services, including Safe Haven support, workplace training, and suicide prevention initiatives. He emphasized the importance of reducing stigma and increasing access to free community services. 

• Karen Hamilton, Physical Activity Lead, Be Active Hampshire
  Introduced Be Active Hampshire’s free physical activity programmes tailored to local communities. She outlined the three support pathways—face-to-face groups, remote options, and 1-to-1 support—and highlighted priority groups and referral processes. 

Additional Activities 

• Networking and Showcase Market Stalls
  Attendees explored stalls hosted by various organisations, fostering connections and learning about local services. 

• Health & Wellbeing Forum Members
  Delivered ‘1 Minute Updates’ to share brief insights and developments from their respective organisations. 

• Future Dates Announced
  Upcoming webinars and events for 2025–26 were shared, including: 

• 27 November 2025, 10.15am-12.30pm: Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum ‘Networking and Showcase Event’ (Rowner Community Trust, Gosport) 

• 9 December 2025, 1-2pm: Hants & IoW Social Prescribing Network Webinar – “Addressing Frailty and Social Isolation” 

• 10 February 2026, 1-2pm: Health & Wellbeing Webinar – “Weight Management in the 21st Century” 

• 11 March 2026, 9.30am-2pm: Networking and Showcase Celebration Event – Vineyard Church, Winchester 

More information for the Health Forums including previous meetings can be found here

For more information or to register, contact Katy Ovens, Health Forums Officer: healthforums@cfirst.org.uk