27 November 2024
East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum – Thursday 21 Nov 2024
View the presentation slides here
The East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum Webinar was held on Thursday 21 November 2024 – with c23 attendees. Following on from attendees being welcomed, Tim Houghton, Community First’s Chief Executive, provided a Community & Voluntary Sector update. Tim began by started by summarising some of the key conclusions from Lord Darzi’s Report into the state of the NHS. He then proceeded to share a few relevant highlights from the recent Budget. Tim also noted how important Trustees are for the organisations they support and updated on HIVCA (Hampshire & Isle of Wight VCSE Health and Care Alliance).
Tim then made a plea for Healthwatch Hampshire – who are recruiting Advisory Board Members and he explained about the new Youthwatch ‘Friend in Need’ Guidance service. He continued by discussing the new Hampshire Dementia Alliance, sharing that HCC will continue to fund some Community Transport Connect Services and shared details of the latest round of the Household Support Grant. Tim concluded by updating on the Havant Active Wellbeing Strategy consultation and highlighted the importance of community centres during this winter period – including in Clanfield and Leigh Park.
Next, Jagat (Jag) Singh, A Lead Volunteering Service Coordinator, introduced Community First’s volunteering service and the local team who support it. Jag discussed the brokerage, best practice, marketing and promotion, of the service. He then introduced Community First’s Volunteer First webpage, finishing off by sharing how Community First help local people to volunteer – in the form of a short poem!
Emma Toman, Volunteer, The Final Straw Foundation shared about her varied working experience including in Corporate Finance, house-building, from her early volunteering for a local scout group to currently Hayling Island Sailing Club and then how she came to volunteer for The Final Straw Foundation. Emma explained what the local service delivers and what her volunteer role within that is – at a practical level independently and as part of a group of The Final Straw volunteers who meet up informally. Finally, Emma briefly explained why she volunteers and what the value of volunteering is for her personally eg she likes to be busy – it makes her happy and as the people at The Final Straw are lovely.
Finally, Debra Gray, Reader in Psychology, University of Winchester provided a research perspective on the personal and social value of volunteering and the importance of connection. Debra went on to describe when volunteering ‘doesn’t work’ eg during Covid. She concluded by stating that volunteering has immense value, highlighting the importance of social connection and meaningful social relationships and support, whilst recognising that different groups of volunteers will need different strategies eg for recruitment and engagement.
The Health & Wellbeing Forum Webinar ended by contributors and attendees being thanked and by confirming the next Health & Wellbeing Forum Webinar date and time as follows:-
1-2pm, Thursday 13 February 2025
For more information, please contact Jane Bray:- healthforums@cfirst.org.uk