Alton Health and Wellbeing Partnership – 10 December 2024

View the full presentation here

The (virtual) Alton Health and Wellbeing Partnership webinar was held on Tuesday 10 December 2024 – with 16 attendees and a focus on ‘The Value of Volunteering’.

Following on from the welcome, Tim Houghton, Community First’s Chief Executive, provided a Community & Voluntary Sector update.

Tim provided an update on the NHS 10-year plan, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and the role of volunteers in improving health and well-being particularly in areas like prevention, early intervention, and amplifying the patient voice. He encouraged attendees to participate in the NHS Change consultation to ensure their voices are heard.

Tim emphasized the vital role of trustees in the voluntary sector, noting their importance in ensuring good decision-making and delivering community impact. He mentioned the recent Trustees’ Week and the push for recruiting more trustees. the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Voluntary and Community Alliance (HIVCA), coordinated by Action Hampshire, is a key mechanism for engaging with the Integrated Care Board and Partnership to support health and well-being. Healthwatch Hampshire is recruiting Advisory Board members to raise the patient voice, particularly those with experience in social prescribing or social care.

The importance of Community First’s Transport Connect services was highlighted and it was announced that Hampshire County Council is sustaining investment in these services, with contracts extended to August next year. Finally, Tim shared information on various funding opportunities, including the Household Support Grant, BeeWell grants, Big Give campaigns, and the Lloyds Bank Foundation’s specialist program.

Community First Volunteering Services: Debbie Grace, Voluntary Sector Engagement Manager provided an overview of the volunteering services offered by Community First, including a brokerage service, outreach work, and an upcoming Volunteer Fair at the Alton Assembly Rooms on February 26th, providing an opportunity for local organizations to connect with potential volunteers and showcase their work.

The Wellhouse Project: Sara Varo presented the Wellhouse project, which aims to transform an annex next to Beech Village Hall into a health and well-being space. The project seeks funding and has received endorsements from various organizations and practitioners. As the Project Volunteer, Sara explained the value of volunteering to her personally.

Volunteering Research: Debra Gray discussed the research conducted by the Volunteering Research Hub at the University of Winchester, focusing on the motivations, benefits, and challenges of volunteering. She highlighted the importance of social connectedness and the different experiences of volunteers.

Health on the High Street: Emilia Barnet, Social Prescriber, shared information about the Health on the High Street project, which offers a warm hub at the Alton Assembly Rooms every Wednesday, providing various health and support services to the community.

Cancer Rehab Service: Sarah Quarterman announced the success of the cancer rehab service at the Cardiac Rehab Centre in Alton, which has supported 55 people to date and offers exercise programs for individuals at various stages of their cancer journey.

The Alton Health and Wellbeing Partnership ended by contributors and attendees being thanked and by confirming the next Partnership Webinar date and time as follows:- 1-2pm, Tuesday 4 March 2025.   

For more information, please contact Jane Bray:- healthforums@cfirst.org.uk  