7 December 2023

Fareham & Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum – Thursday 30 Nov 2023

View the full presentation here

Introduction  

Due to a technical issue it was unfortunately not possible to record the ‘Young People’s Wellbeing Services’ Webinar on 30 November. However, a similar Webinar can be viewed via Community First’s East Hampshire and Havant Health & Wellbeing Forum webpage.

The (virtual) Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum was held on Thursday 30th November 2023 – with c35 attendees. Following on from attendees being welcomed, Gosport Voluntary Action’s CEO Kay Hallsworth, provided a Community & Voluntary Sector update. On behalf of Community First, Kay updated on Community First’s September ’Fareham Showcase’ event. She went on to highlight ‘Connect for Communities’ and ‘Community Pantries’ – concluding with an update on HIVCA, the ‘Big Give’ and Community First’s potential training for Fareham’s Charity Shop volunteers. 

Kay then focussed upon Gosport activities – by highlighting two new ADHD groups, a Volunteer Opportunities Drop-in Service, a Preparation for Volunteering course, an 18+ Mental Health Wellbeing Group… She updated upon the Gosport Ukrainian Group and their recent funded trips, the next ‘Bringing Gosport Together’ Meeting, Healthy Walks, and the ‘Resolution Service’ finishing by discussing GVA’s well-received Befriending Volunteers’ Fish & Chips ‘Thank you’ lunch.  

Lucie Oakey, Involvement Facilitator for Physical Health, Southern Health Foundation Trust, then introduced a short Project Fusion video. After the video, Lucie encouraged attendees to get involved – suggesting they look at the Fusion website for further information. 

Next, Maria Murphy (RMN) Independent Non-Medical Prescriber Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) described the service’s delivery model and how to get help and risk support. Maria concluded by providing website details and information about a forthcoming PACE event in January 2024. 

Gemma Isaj, Wellbeing Lead, Oarsome Chance, explained who the charity is and what programmes they currently deliver. Gemma provided a ‘cohort analysis’ with examples of some of the behaviours that can occur and how the students are supported – including via a ‘window of tolerance’. The presentation finished with a ‘call to action’ about how attendees could get involved.  

Finally, Debs Adams, Education Lead, Simon Says Child Bereavement Support, described using a map, the geographical spread and need for the countywide charity. Debs shared some stark statistics re the frequency of childhood bereavement. She went on to describe the support that is available, the monthly support groups, who the Education Team support and the importance of having/normalising ‘difficult conversations’ around death, loss, and grief. Debs concluded by describing how attendees could ‘make a difference’. 

The Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum ended by the contributors and attendees being thanked and by confirming the next Health Forum Webinar 2024 date and time as follows:- 

Tuesday 6 February 2024, 1-2pm (Support Services for Neurologically Diverse People) 

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

Find out more about the Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum