Welcome to the July edition of our Learning Together Programme Newsletter. Read on for the latest important dates for your diary, upcoming learning opportunities, funding tips as well as regional and national social prescribing news we think will be of interest. 

Please remember you can get in touch, any time! We’d love to hear what sessions you’d like to see included in the programme, please email: eastengland.thrivingcommunities@nasp.info

Tom Watkins

East of England Regional Lead

Thriving Communities

VCSE Alliance Webinar - Embedding & Sustaining VCSE Partnerships (21/06/2023)

This NAVCA webinar is likely to be of interest to people from across the NHS, local government and the VCFSE sector involved in building diverse and inclusive partnerships in health and care and engaging grassroots community organisations within ICSs.

This recorded session from 21st June aimed to share learning on the topic of embedding and sustaining VCSE partnerships, identifying strategies and enablers and drawing on the experience of case studies. Some of the topics covered include: Why there is a need to embed the VCSE as an equal partner and make it business as usual rather than a nice to have? What are the benefits for all partners and the challenges involved? What are the enablers, strategies and possible actions for fully embedding effective partnership with the VCSE and making it real, sustainable and impactful?

Social Prescribing & Me 

NASP’s public campaign, Social Prescribing & Me, was launched to raise awareness about the incredible impact social prescribing can have on people’s lives. The live campaign has now come to a conclusion, but there is a wealth of resources and stories still available on NASP website to view and share on social media using #SocialPrescribingAndMe. 

For more information

Children and young people’s social prescribing

A new evidence review about social prescribing for children and young people has been published, alongside the results of a survey with professionals. 

Social prescribing can support people of all ages, but there has historically been a greater emphasis on working with adults. However, there are a rapidly growing number of services across the country focused specifically on children and young people.

For more information

FaithAction explores how to make social prescribing more inclusive to tackle mental health and loneliness amongst the most at risk groups.

The report "Inclusive social prescribing: Learning from engagement with grassroots VCFSE organisations" was launched on 29th June 2023.

The new research as part of FaithAction’s work on the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance shows that whilst social prescribing has the potential to offer a preventative approach to tackling the current mental health crisis, better inclusion and investment is needed nationally to protect groups who are most at risk.

New Research

Locality - a national membership network supporting local community organisations - has published a research presenting new findings and recommendations on the critical role of VCSE organisations in neighbourhood health ecosystems. It’s a fantastic read and we highly recommend giving it a look

It highlights:

- Factors for success in involving VCSE organisations in the delivery of health services and promotion of good health within neighbourhoods.
- Recommendations for the health system to embed this learning in neighbourhoods across the country.
- Recommendations for local VCSE organisations to improve their partnership working within neighbourhood health ecosystems.

Click here to read the full report

Green Social Prescribing Toolkit 

A new toolkit has been published, as a legacy from the Green Social Prescribing Test and Learn Programme launched in April 2021. This toolkit is designed to help communities, organisations and health professionals who are looking to set up green social prescribing programmes that connect with local health systems. 

The British Red Cross Loneliness Team 

Working under the auspices of the APPG on Tackling Loneliness and Connected Communities, the British Red Cross and the Campaign to End Loneliness, are once again asking colleagues to come together to develop a new call to action on loneliness, looking ahead to the next five years. 

You may be aware that we have launched a survey to gather views on what we should include, which can be found here. We would be delighted to hear your views via the survey and would be pleased if you were able to share the link with your networks.  

 We would also like to invite you to workshop to discuss the key issues around which action is needed in the next five years. This will be an opportunity to meet with other interested colleagues, to explore areas of consensus. 

Fuel Poverty Forums

NEA’s free Fuel Poverty Forums are aimed at frontline service providers, to examine practical and policy initiatives related to fuel poverty and delivering energy efficiency solutions at a local, regional and national level. The regional Forums showcase innovation, good practice and promote dialogue and discussion on a wide range of sectoral issues to help NEA shape policy developments and campaigns.

Registered participants will receive full joining instructions and an agenda nearer the time. The event will be online via Zoom.

Event dates: Wednesday 12 July, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Click here to register

National Academy of Social Prescribing International Evidence Collaborative

The NASP International Evidence Collaborative is hosting a series of lunchtime seminars online to share social prescribing research.

These seminars aim to share and discuss the findings from recent research on different social prescribing projects and provide time for discussion.

Green social prescribing - is being outside always good?

Event Dates: Wednesday 19th July, 12pm - 1.45pm
Click here to register 

Supporting women’s health through social prescribing

The new NHS England social prescribing webinar, in the national series. The webinar will focus on how Social Prescribing Link Workers can support better health outcomes for women, target inequalities in women's health and act as ambassadors for the health and wellbeing needs of the workforce.  

How Derbyshire’s Relational Model supports Investment in VCFSE Providers

Event Dates: Thursday 20th July, 1pm - 2pm
Click here to register 

NASP webinar: Physical Activity "the miracle cure"

This webinar will help you to:  Understand how physical activity has significant benefits for health, both physical and mental, and can help to prevent and manage over 20 chronic conditions and diseases, including some cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression. Learn about tools and resources that can aid building confidence to raise the topic of physical activity. Hear from several initiatives and social prescribing programmes in which physical activity is a key diver to achieve local health population target and support what matters to their client.

This session will be particularly useful for :

Suicide Bereavement Conference 2023

A series of live webinars examining practical applications for working in suicide bereavement will be presented. Sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am – 11am and each will be led by an expert in the field.

Empowering Communities Training

Event date : Friday 14th July, 10.30am - 12.30pm
To book a place 

Free Training Courses

Norfolk and Waveney MIND are running some free training courses in Suicide Prevention & Awareness from July onwards.

For more information 

Meet the Founder : Essex Community Foundation: The Southend Community Fund

This session will cover:

• An introduction to the Essex Community Foundation
• Information on the Southend Community Fund and how to apply
• Q&A
  

Held online via Zoom, anyone is welcome to join us and we kindly ask you to share this with any of your contacts who you feel might find the session useful.

Safeguarding for trustees
Safeguarding is a key governance priority for all charities! Understand your role as a trustee in relation to safeguarding and stay up to date with new guidance, regulations and best practice in accordance to the Charity Governance Code.

My Story: Artist in Residence team for our event for Social Prescribers

Hertfordshire Libraries is hosting a special event for professionals working in the field of social prescribing in Hertfordshire. 

Thanks to generous funding from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grant, Hertfordshire Libraries are delighted to be presenting an ambitious programme of residencies at a number of libraries across the county over the next two years. It is possible to drop in at any point during this time to talk to library staff and artists already involved with the project. In addition, a local illustrator and art director, Joanna Scott, will offer a sample workshop. The identical workshops will be running at 11:30am and 2pm.

For more information about the project .

Afternoon Event – Songs to Heal and Empower by Samia Malik

A musical performance with acclaimed singer songwriter Samia Malik, Songs to Heal and Empower is an electrifying combination of soaring Eastern melodies, powerful, passionate and heartfelt lyrics in Urdu and English.

Thursday 27th July – Attleborough Town Hall 1.30-3pm

Event Date: Thursday 27th July, 1.30pm -  3pm
Click here to have more information

Flourish Awards 2023
If you are part of, or know of, a team or project supporting children and young people in Norfolk to Flourish, these awards are for you.

The first ever Flourish Awards will recognise the most outstanding contributions made towards enabling children and young people to live their best lives in the county. The awards are open to all organisations and groups working to support, care for, educate, entertain, train or employ Norfolk’s young residents and their families, from

Entries will be judged by a panel of Norfolk young people and awards presented at a ceremony in September. Award winners will receive a plaque and certificate and digital resources they can use to showcase their outstanding contribution to supporting Norfolk’s children and young people to flourish.

Click here to nominate your own team or project, or one you feel has gone above and beyond for Norfolk’s children and young people over the last year

Heritage Open Days 2023 - Registrations are open

Heritage Open Days will run from Friday 8 – Sunday 17 September 2023. The Norfolk HODs team are working with local heritage organisations, businesses and voluntary groups to create the programme and would be thrilled to see new venues and community groups take part this year. The (optional) theme for this year’s festival is ‘Creativity Unwrapped’.

For more information

Suffolk Culture Network 

The Suffolk Culture Network is a collective of organisations and individuals working in and around Suffolk. The group works collaboratively to ensure the continued resilience of the arts in the cultural, social, educational, environmental and economic life of the county. The network welcomes new members who would like to join.

If you are interested in joining, please drop Tom Beese an email.

Click here to find out more 

Creative Socials – South Asian Music Making with Samia Malik

Join Samia will be promoting an understanding and deeper connection of South Asian Music, Singing and Song Writing!

• Thursday 13th July - Attleborough Town Hall 1-3pm 
• Friday 14th July - Thetford Methodist Church 2-4pm 
• Friday 21st July - Dereham Trinity Methodist Church 1-3pm 

Click here to book a place 

Hertfordshire Public Health Festival of Evidence 15 - 19 May 2023

The Hertfordshire Public Health Festival of Evidence has made all their incredible resources freely available to the general public including; on-line training videos, case studies, masterclasses and pop-up information events designed to help people collect and use public health evidence in the best way possible. 

To see the available resources

Supporting Vulnerable Young People in Southend: Indirock's Latest Endeavor
Indirock, a renowned climbing center in Southend, is thrilled to announce that they have secured funding to support vulnerable young people in the local community. Thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Funding, Indirock will be providing 30 work experience opportunities this year, specifically targeted towards young people facing challenges such as special educational needs, low income backgrounds, and probationary status.

In partnership with several local charities, Indirock aims to reach out to young individuals who can truly benefit from this opportunity. By offering work experience opportunities, Indirock aims to provide a supportive environment where these young people can gain valuable skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose.

Click here to find out more

Collaborative community research to tackle health inequalities funding opportunity

Apply for funding to create and test collaborative models for the integration of cultural, community and natural environment assets into health and care systems.
Grants of up to £2,500,000 are available for interdisciplinary teams as part of the UKRI Mobilising community assets to tackle health inequalities programme. Applications should be led by an academic organisation but must involve representation from the community, health and other non-academic partners within the leadership team, including for example, individuals from local government, health and social care, community organisations, and particularly important, people with lived experience.

Deadline: Tuesday 11th July, 9am
Click here to find out more

Healthier Futures Fund

Apply for up to £50,000 – £100,000 pa (£100,000 – £300,000 over 3 years) for initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of local people. Through the Healthier Futures fund NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is making £2 million available to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners across the area to deliver health and wellbeing improvements for their local people and communities.

The fund opened for applications on 1st May 2023.

Deadline: 1st August 2023 (outcomes by end of November), 1st November (outcomes by end of November)
Click here to find out more

Good Life Fund 

The Good Life Fund offers grants of up to £1500 to people in our local community to help set up groups that connect people, such as book clubs, craft classes, or activities that encourage people to learn new skills.

Click here to find out more

Grants available for health and wellbeing related projects.

Grants can fund a wide range of activities, including: purchase of equipment, education and training, research, as well as general grants for health related purposes.

Click here to find out more  

Home Instead Charities

Grants of up to £1,500 are available to small, local registered charities and up to £500 to grassroots organisations with projects that further the needs of our ageing adult population through well-being activities and programmes to prevent social isolation and loneliness.

Check here to find out more 

Household Support Fund Application Form

Southend Emergency Fund is pleased to announce that it has funding to award grants to support third sector organisations who provide assistance to vulnerable households.

The aim of the scheme is to give vulnerable households financial support and peace of mind. Households eligible to receive funding are those which have any of the following:

-People with disabilities
-People with caring responsibilities
-Pensioners

Click here to find out more 

Hertfordshire Household Support Fund for Groups - grants to address food and energy poverty

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to groups working in areas of deprivation in Hertfordshire that support adults in need by providing access to food and/or support with bills such as fuel and water. It can also be used to provide support with essentials linked to energy and water.

Larger grants (up to £10,000) may be considered where a group can demonstrate an ability to work across a larger geography or support significant numbers of local residents. If you would like to apply for more than £5,000 please contact grants@hertscf.org.uk before making an online application.

All awarded grants must be spent to meet immediate needs within six months of receipt.

Grants available for projects that are helping to reduce crime and make Hertfordshire a safer place to live

Grants of up to £5,000 are available from the Police Commissioner's Action Fund to support innovative local schemes which aim to reduce crime and make our communities safer. Your project will help deliver the aims of the Commissioner’s Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan for Hertfordshire (2022-2027) which sets out the priorities for ‘Everyone’s Business.’

West Norfolk Rural Community Capital Grants, King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council
Capital grants of up to £10,000 (for round 1) are available for community organisations supporting people in the rural areas of the Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Transformation Grants

Bi-annual grant programme for projects taking place within a 12-month period addressing new and priority needs.

Expression of Interest is required in the first instance through a pre-application meeting and only shortlisted projects are invited to submit a full application.
Organisations must have a history of managing significant or equivalent levels of grant funding and the project must either transform the organisation or be transformational for its beneficiaries and/or Milton Keynes.

Applications are approved by an external Grants Committee, made up of Community Representatives and Trustees.

Closing date for expression of interest 11th August Closing date for full applications 6th October.
Click here to find out more 

The Axter Climate & Community Fund

These grants are meant towards helping climate action and community health and wellbeing projects which have a positive impact on people, the environment and nature

Grants cover only project costs for a maximum of £3,000 .

Deadline: 7th August
Panel decisions expected end of September 2023
Click here to find out more

Social Prescribing Link Worker

• Hours: 18.5 hours per week - it (may require occasional evening & weekend working)  
• Salary: £22,500 per annum (Pro rata)
• Location: This post will require you to work from GP surgeries around Southend and also some hours working from home. This role is for West Central PCN.

More information

Healthy Lifestyle Project Officer (Herts)

• Hours: 40 hours per week - 18 Months (continuation subject to further funding)
• Salary: Starting from £24,000 (currently under review)
• location: Vicarage Road Stadium, Watford

More Information

Healthy Lifestyle Project Officer (Harrow)

• Hours: 40 hours per week - 24 Months (continuation subject to further funding)
• Salary: Starting from £24,000 (currently under review)
• Location: Vicarage Road Stadium, Watford
  

More Information 

Thriving Practice Podcast: Matt Walsh & Jemma Channing

A new Thriving Practice podcast has been released and it explores the roles the people commissioning creative health work have to play in building a sustainable sector.

Click here for more information

UK Poverty 2023: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK

UK Poverty 2023 sets out recent trends in poverty across the UK, how levels of poverty differ between groups of people and regions, and the impact it has on people’s lives. These findings can help us to understand the current situation and future prospects for poverty in the UK.

Click here to read the full report. 

Sport England’s Active Lives Adults Survey

Sport England have published the latest statistics from their annual Active Lives Adults Survey. It’s great to see that overall activity levels have bounced back to where they were before the pandemic. Read the report here, please also find attached a briefing sheet.

Best wishes,

The East of England Thriving Communities Team