1. Collaboration with the Voluntary Sector to improve outcomes
Sue Brazendale, Voscur
&
Matthew Areskog, Bristol Community Health

2. Why collaborate? Some quotes from NHS Five Year Forward View:
“When funding is tight, NHS, local authority and central government support for charities and voluntary organisations is put under pressure. However these voluntary organisations often have an impact well beyond what statutory services alone can achieve.”
“Too often the NHS conflates the voluntary sector with the idea of volunteering, whereas these organisations provide a rich range of activities, including information, advice, advocacy and they deliver vital services with paid expert staff.”
Simon Stevens commits to designing easier ways for voluntary organisations to work alongside the NHS to improve outcomes
Locally, we want to turn this theory into practice
Sue

3. Impact of the Voluntary Sector in Bristol
1,600 charities working in Bristol
33% working with older people
29% working with people with physical disabilities or special needs
88,000 adults in Bristol volunteer once a month
226 community venues in Bristol
Extra resources, £28 million came to Bristol from the Big Lottery Fund via the VCSE sector
The VCSE sector is a link to local communities and communities of interest
Sue

4. Some of our existing partnerships with the VCSE
Matthew

5. VCSE Stakeholder Survey Results (January 2016)
42 responses from local VCSE organisations responded
73% had indirect experience of working with Bristol Community Health
27% had direct experience of working with Bristol Community Health
Of those that felt they could comment, we scored 7 out of 10 for partnership working with the VCSE (where 10 is excellent)
Sue

6. VCSE Stakeholder Survey Results (January 2016)
“You could engage more, and more creatively, with organisations like mine to meet the needs our members have identified. This would improve Disabled people's social engagement, provide peer support improve their mental health/sense of wellbeing and manage their impairments better.”
“Better linkages with wider third sector support via social prescribing.”
“Good to have services in a community centre - staff have a presence outside of 'bubble' of hospital, e.g. eating lunch in the café. Could be more willing to signpost/support VCS and have more confidence in VCS provision.”
“We've been discussing the opportunity for referrals for people in cold homes and this is exciting as it brings us closer to the people who most need help.”
Sue

7. Gardening for Health Group
Partnership between Bristol Community Health and Avon Wildlife Trust
Sept 2015

8. Gardening for Health Group Partnership between Bristol Community Health and Avon Wildlife Trust Sept 2015

9. Background
Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT) approached Bristol Community Health’s Community Learning Disabilities Team (CLDT) with an idea of running a conservation therapy group with the aim of improving engagement with people who have a Learning Disability in South Bristol.
Tom Emerson Occupational Therapist CLDT was asked to take the project forward with Kelly Bray, AWT
Sue

10. Why?
“Gardening is widely reputed for providing an array of therapeutic benefits to well being , under themes such as increased social inclusion, physical exercise, self-esteem, and a spiritual connection” ( Sempik et al 2005a)
Provide a gateway to other nature based opportunities in the area
Connects with our values – partnership working – we are part of a community and by building networks and working closely with many different people , organisations and groups we have a much bigger impact that we could ever have on our own (BCH innovation and touching lives )
Sue

11. Group Selection 7 week group , 6 attendees
Adults with a Learning Disability
CLDT service users- with a need for increased engagement in structured day time activities, life skills development and developing social opportunities
Enjoy practical outdoor tasks
Physically able to walk on uneven ground, medically fit enough to participate in the programme
Able to get to the group independently or with family / key worker support
Sue

12. Group Specifics Location - Scout Hut ,Bishport Road BS13 9LR
Nature activities tailored to individual needs
Group size 6 clients
Thursdays 1.30 to for 7 weeks
2 staff to run the group Tom - to support service users and facilitate engagement and Kelly to plan and run the activities
Sue

13. Group Objectives Based on 5 ways to wellbeing
Improve mental well being- exploring / connecting to nature (notice)
Gain new skills / training, learn about basic conservation, learn practical skills, team work (learn)
Develop better connections with local community , social interaction , make new friends (connect )
Improve access to a better quality natural environment (give)
Sue

14. Activities
Ground clearance, development of basic conservation skills and tool use (risk assessed)
Making bird/bug boxes
Refreshment preparation using outdoor equipment
Visit to the AWT- round house project on Dundry slopes
Planting wild flowers
Nature walks
Camp fire and BBQ for final session
Tasks adapted / broken down into manageable steps
Sue

15. Sue

16. Sue

17. Outcomes
Accessible feedback forms completed at the start and end of each session
Start of session
End of session
Feeling tired
Happy , glad I did it
Not fussed
great
Alright
Tired!
Not going out of house , self harming , low self esteem
Attended every week , participated in all activities
Sue

19. Benefits Improved community engagement Improved self esteem
Improved physical health
Improved social engagement
Sense of purpose and achievement
3 participants introduced to further AWT activities
Sue

20. Table discussions 1) What does good collaboration look like? (10 mins)
What should it achieve?
What should be the impact?
2)  How do we make collaboration happen? (10 mins)
How do we build those relationships?
What ideas do you have to improve collaboration? Specific ideas welcome!
Sue and Matthew

21. Next steps