NEWS : CORONAVIRUS : NEW HOSPITAL : MENTAL HEALTH : HARLOW FRONT LINE : PDR PROPERTIES : H & W PARTNERSHIP BOARD : ONE HEALTH & CARE PATNERSHIP : VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM : HOPE 4 HARLOW : HEALTH & WELLBEING CORE GROUP UPDATE : KEEP IN TOUCH : DEMENTIA SUPPORT
Coronavirus Information
For information about case number nationaly and localy click here.
If you would like information, advise or support concerning Coronavirus then we recommend that you visit the Harlow Council website.
If you want to vounteer to help support those who are self-isolating or to offer help in any way as an individual then we recommend that you sing up here.
To volunteer support as a business then sign up here.
The Health and Wellbeing Core Group meets to consider how we can best help the Church to be informed and involved in Health and Wellbeing withing Harlow.
Princess Alexandra Hospital - A New Hospital Fit for the Future
PAH is preparing plans for a new hospital to serve the residents of Harlow and surrounding areas. VIsit their dedicated microsite for more information.
*The prefered site is now confirmed as east of Harlow
* The team are working towards a potential building start date in 2023 with completion in 2026.
* The team are seeking to lead the way in the use of new technology to treat patients inside and outside the hospital, some of these inovations will begin well before the hospital is built.
* The team is aiming to build a carbon neutral site.
* To see ansers to frequentely asked questions click here.
*PAH are working closely with EPUT on the co-location of mental health services with the new hospital.
To see the latest newsletter click here.(May21).
Mental Health
Following an excelant presentationm by Rachel Newham at the Heart 4 Harlow Forum on the 7th July 2021, Ian Becket is leading a team to consider setting up a pilot Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Group in Harlow, for more infroamtion contact ian@heart4harlow.org.uk
We have recentely promoted a Mental Health First Aid course which over 10 people from local Churches attended along with others from the Community. It was an excelant way of raising awareness about mental health issues and encouraging all of us to talk about mental helath and wellbeing.
Harlow Frontline
Harlow Frontline is an excelant source of local informaiton about health and wellbeing services offered accross the town. People can be referred by professional or can self refer. We are encouraging churches throughout the town to register with Harlow Frontline, both in terms of the 'spirtitual health' they cpontribute to as a church, but also the additional services that many of them provide, e.g. in running toddler groups, support for the elderley and other regular activities. Take a look for yourself.
Permitted Development Rights (PDR) Properties
Harlow has over a thousand properties which have been devloped unde the 'Permitted Development Rights' legislation. We are working with voluntary and statutory organisations in the town to see how we can contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents in these blocks and help them integrate into the local community. For more infromation about PDR in Harlow email ron@heart4harlow.org.uk .
Health and Wellbeing Parnership Board
As well as the direct work of the Core Group, we have been represented at the Harlow Health & Wellbeing Partnership Board which includes a number of parners engaged in health & wellbeing in and around Harlow.
In our meeti9ng in February 21 we had an update concerning about the following:-
Digital Inclusion Project - which starts in April and will match donation of IT equipment with recipients, ensuring the eqipment is refurbished and cleaned of existing data before being passed on. There is an aspiration to develp a data bank, to help those excluded becasue of the cost of data. 'Digital Buddies' will also assist those who need to devlop IT skills to access the online world. There is a more limited service already avaialable from Rainbow, which includes loans of tablets, Digital Buddies and a small amount of data gifting.
Changing Lives Project - The Changing Lives Hub is a single facility for working with Key Workers's and disadvantaged children. By week 4 100 children were registered on the sessions provided at the hub. A larger venue is the main need for the future, as there is already a waitring list for places at the existing hub, which can only accomdate 6 in the classroom and 6 in the play area, in a Covid safe way.
Mind in West Essex - Very busy during the pandemic. The West Essex Sactuary provides face to face support for those experiencing a mental health crisis, from 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year. The NHS Crisis line provides telephone support. The Crisis Line can be accessed by anyone by dialing 111 and choosing option 2, the crisis line can make referals to the Sanctuary. The Befriending Service has grown, providing conversations with those who live alone. Fudning has been aproved from April to improve Suicide Awareness, Harlow has the 4th highest level of suicides in the UK. Free workshops are avaialable to improve awareness and help people support those they encouter who may be considering suiocide.
One Health & Care Partnership VCSE Group
We are represented on this important partnership group which includes Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and Essex County Council who are meeting with Volantary and Community Organisations and Social Partnership (VCSE) to explore areas of collaboration.
Click here for an introduction to the One Health and Care Partnership.
Rainbow Services facilitates the Harlow Voluntary Sector Forum which provides regular newsletters and meetings for discussion of relevant topics and networking.
Hope 4 Harlow
Hope 4 Harlow brings together churches with a range of other partners to provide shelter for the homeless every night of the week throughout January and February. If you would like to know more about volunteering then take a look at this information. To offer your help please contact MartinHarris.
NEWS
July 21
Ian Becket to lead a group hoping to pilot Kinsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups in Harlow. Contact Ian
Jan 21
For the Department of Health and Social Care's January Voluntary Sector Newsletter click here.
For the January One Health and Care Newsletter click here.
Following an encouraging Dementia Awareness session on 28th January, we have now set up a page with information and support for those churches wanting to become more dementia friendly, check it out here.
We are also in the process of launching a virtual Dementia Friendly Coffee Morning, details to follow.
Having attended the PAH new hospital consultation event on 21st January, it was good to have a number of things confirmed, click here for more information.
Dec 20
For the Department of Health and Social Care's latest Voluntary Sector Newsletter click here.
For the latest information about the One Health & Care Partnership please click here.
For the result of the New Hospital Poll, click here.
Nov 20
Heart 4 Harlow has been invited to join the Dementia Action Alliance. We will be working with key members of the DAA over the coming weeks to orginise an intial awareness session, hopefuly leading to one or more Dementia Friendly Coffee Mornings and assistance in individual churches gaining Dementia Friendly status. Please contact me if you would like to know more.
Doctors surgeries in Harlow have come together under two Primary Care Networks, to find out more, including which suregeries are included in each, click here. (September 2019)
The Michael Roberts Charitable Trust has appointed Andy Thornton as it's new CEO - find out more here.
Health & Wellbeing Core Group Update
Update from meeting 20th September 2021
St Claire Hospice Update
Ann Kosla provided an update on St Claire Hospice, The Hospice is cautiosly opening, welcoming back many of their volunteers and reopening services. They have just opened a new Bereavement Cafe at Potter Street on the 4th Saturday of the month.
St Claire has brought together a range of advice and support into 'Wellbeing Hubs' - click here for more information
The Compassionate Neighbours project is beginning to offer support in preoples homes again, as well as in cafes.
The shops and fundraising in general has been doing well, enabling the services offered to continue to be developed.
A team of volunteers is being recruited to provide pastoral support at the hospice, with training just about to begin. Volunteer pastoral support is totaly new to the hospital and an exciting development.
St Claire will also be devloping a team of biographers who will help work with families to create MP3 files which will professionaly record peoples life stories.
Princess Alexandra Hospital Update
A large lounge area is being created for staff members to use, on the opposite side of the cirridoor to the sanctuary.
The Chaplaincy GTeam has now moved into the new sanctuary and office space, it is really great to be in the main building and to be more accessible to all. The
Sanctuary has been well used and indeed has been quite busy at times.
Some volunteers have returned but not all. Chrisitan is intending to arrange further chaplaincy training eary in the new year.
It was good to host a visit from the Bishop of Chelmsford recentely..
Michael Roberts Charitable Trust Update
Unfotunately we did not have a representative from MRCT avaialable to give an update at this meeting.
Dementia Friendly Churches
A Dementia Friendly Coffee Morning is now running each Friday morning at St Mary-at-Latton church and other opportunities are being explored. Further infromatikomj and resources are available from our Dementia Friendly Churches page.
Heart 4 Harlow Awards
Nominations continue to be submitted for the Health and Wellbeing category. The decision about those to shortlist and the winnder and runner up will be made in December.
Mental Health
Heart 4 Harlow is working with St Stephen's Church to explore a pilot Kintsugi Hope wellbeing group, liable to start in the New Year.
Keep in touch
If you would like to keep in touch with the things the health & Wellbeing Group is associated with, then please subscribe to the Health and Wellbeing Mailing List. Please would you also consider becoming a Community Link for your church.