8 March 2024

East Hampshire and Havant Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum – Thursday 29 February 2024

 

Full Presentation Available Here

The (virtual) East Hampshire and Havant Health & Wellbeing Forum was held on Thursday 29 February – with c43 attendees. Following on from attendees being welcomed, Community First’s Chief Executive Tim Houghton, provided a Community & Voluntary Sector update.  

Tim briefly explained about the impact of the potential HCC infrastructure funding cuts, encouraging attendees to complete the online HCC Future Services Consultation. He highlighted links to key tools for demonstrating impact, updated on HIVCA (Hampshire & IoW VCSE Health and Care Alliance) also, the Healthier Together website. Tim then gave  updates on:- Hampshire Active Health, Household Support Grant, Live Longer Better, Public Health Mental Wellbeing Campaign, and Amparo – bereavement by suicide service. Tim concluded by describing Community First’s Wellbeing and Connect Transport services. 

Monika Legg, Welfare & Wellbeing Commissioning Officer, East Hampshire District Council and Ross Carvell, Community Graduate briefly described the key priorities of East Hampshire District Council’s Welfare and Wellbeing Strategy. They highlighted the Vision, explaining why communities matter for health. The future will focus more upon Better – Places, Living, Aging and Networks. The presentation concluded with the proposed timeline and purpose of the Welfare and Wellbeing Strategy.  

Next, Zoe Beasley, Autism Partner Coordinator, Adults’ Health & Care, Hampshire County Council began by playing a short explanatory YouTube video – ‘What is Neurodiversity?’. Zoe then explained about the Hampshire Autism Partnership Board and Strategy. She described Hampshire’s Autism Demography, Health & Care Inequalities, improving accessibility & inclusion, local support services and how to support? The presentation concluded by highlighting the range of resources and additional information available. 

 

Dr Gemma Langman, Clinical Champion for Learning Disability and Autism, Hampshire & IoW Integrated Care Board began by explaining what Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) is, about the Autism Spectrum and how prevalent the condition is. Dr Langman described the stark reality of increased mortality rates and poorer health outcomes. She continued by describing some ‘misconceptions’ of ASC, how disadvantaged their access to appropriate education is. Dr Langman then highlighted how people with ASC are ‘falling through the gaps’. Her vision is that there would be a Neurodivergent Service going forward, concluding with considerations around accessibility to reasonable adjustments and how important it is to listen to those with neurodiversity.  

Finally, Ashleigh Spice, Services Manager, Autism Hampshire began her pre-recorded presentation by illustrating how we all receive/understand requests differently eg when making a glass of squash… Ashleigh described her own experience pre and post diagnosis. She then explained about Autism Hampshire’s Information, Advice and Guidance services, Serendipity Community Groups, External Training and Consultancy, Specialist Mentoring Service. Ashleigh concluded by describing what help Autism Hampshire currently need eg volunteers, attending training, fundraising, by spreading the word and by encouraging people to ask questions… 

 

The Health & Wellbeing Forum ended by the contributors and attendees being thanked and by confirming the next Health & Wellbeing Forum date and time as follows:- 

Thursday 23 May 2024, 1-2pm  

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