Improving the Lives of People in the Community

The VCS Alliance and The Wellbeing Network

The Wellbeing Network was established in May 2022. It is based in existing trusted community-based organisation and EXPANDS their existing offer, ensuring local people have improved information about and CONNECTION to the network of support they need. 

Since May 2022 The Wellbeing Network have worked with over 3000 people with nearly 8000 separate contacts/ interventions. But more than numbers, are the lives changed by the service. People on the verge of suicide, now expressing their zest for life after the support they received. People finally resolving issues that had seemed intractable. People seeing real differences in their financial position due to the advice and interventions they received.

The WBN, as its name suggests, brings together a network of delivery and system partners. Below are some examples of our growing number of system partners:

1.     Local Authority Neighbourhood Teams.

2.     GP surgeries via their Social Prescribers.

3.     Police – through their Early Prevention/ Domestic Abuse/ Mental Health/ Women and Girls teams.

4.     Local Authority Social Care teams.

5.     NHS Services including – MAST/ MAIDT/ ALPS.

6.     Core20plus5 Reducing Inequalities Managers.

7.     Community Partnerships and their Leadership Team.

8.     Mental Health providers – Cellar Trust, MIND (inc. Safe Spaces and First Response teams), INCIC, Sharing Voices, Future Focus, Missing Peace.

9.     Living Well.

10.  Local VCS organisations and Faith Groups.

11.  BEEP. 

12.  Skills House/ DWP.

13.  Incommunities/ Clarion Housing and other social housing providers.

People accessing the WBN find we provide: 

1.     Accessible, friendly, community focused services.

2.     Person Centred, Holistic Provision.

3.     Routes out of problems and into solutions.

4.     Inclusive, reliable, trusted, and consistent, sustained support.

Our Hub Providers include:

1.     The Bridge Project - City Hub.

2.     Project 6 - Keighley Pathways Hub.

3.     Equality Together – Manningham Hub

4.     HALE – Shipley Hub

5.     Inspired Neighbourhoods – Thornbury Hub

6.     The Sutton Centre – Tong Hub

Our delivery providers include:

1.     Welfare Benefit Advice – Citizens Advice Bureau; Equality Together; Karmand Centre.

2.     Carers Support – Carers Resource.

3.     Domestic Abuse – Staying Put

4.     Substance Use – The Bridge Project; Project 6.

5.     Refugee and Asylum Seekers – Refugee Action and Solace.

Below are some examples of the positive impact The Wellbeing Hub has had on service users:

"I contacted the Tong Hub in December 2022 from Bradford College, regarding a student I support who is a disabled, single mother who is facing significant financial hardship. 

During a recent telephone conversation with the student she became very tearful whilst explaining her financial circumstances and shared that she did not know how she would be able to afford to pay for Christmas gifts for her two children, pay for food or heat and power her home.  I asked the student whether she would give me permission to look into a referral to the Tong Hub she confirmed that she was a very proud person but agreed that she needed any help that was available to her.

Once I received permission I contacted the Tong Hub and was called back a few moments later by Kay Wright.  Kay asked for some of the student’s details to establish whether the student lived in the required catchment area.  Once this was confirmed Kay and I discussed what support was needed and what could be put in place for the student and her two children.

As one of the student’s children is autistic, Kay provided me with details of some additional support available in the form of a group for neurodivergent children which should allow my student to access some rest bite for a short time whilst her child engages with the group.  This is something Kay will be discussing with my student to make the arrangements.

Kay was remarkable and I am truly grateful for the support her and her colleagues are putting in place as well as the manner in which this is all being handled.  From my engagement with Kay she has been able to confirm her and her colleagues have been liaising with my student to arrange Christmas gifts for the children as well as providing a food hamper to enable them to have a substantial Christmas dinner.

I would like to give my thanks to Kay and her colleagues for all kindness and support they have been able to offer as I feel they have gone above and beyond with all their efforts.

Your sincerely

Mr John Harmasch

Access & Inclusion Advisor

Bradford College

Great Horton Road"

"This is a letter of appreciation with regards to the services your Thornbury Hub provides, particularly the counselling support extended by Ms Natalie Hind.  

In spring of this year, I lost my dear wife J…… to brain tumour and complications of metastatic cancer. Few months before she passed away after receiving full spectrum cancer treatments available including chemotherapy and radiation the Oncologist discharged her into palliative end of life care with four to six months as expected lifespan.  

At this point I took over care of her as it was her wish to spend her last few months at home. Little did I know the gravity and nature of the responsibility I had taken on. In the subsequent six months the cancer spread throughout her body including lungs, lymphoid system, adrenal glands, bones and liver. The consequences were devastating as the cancer destroyed her body with horrific episodes of seizures. At this point even cocktail of morphine/midazolam failed to alleviate pain and every gasp of air provided by NHS supplied oxygen pump struggled to keep her O2 levels within the norm. She even cried that I help her to terminate her life as she could not cope with the suffering and pain.  

After she passed away in my arms I was left in state of shock and feelings of desperation with deep feeling of being in the dark abyss. Profound thoughts about what life was all about began to swirl in a vortex of suicidal feelings. Feelings of guilt and not being able to mitigate her pain rippled through my thoughts every day.  As days turned into weeks things only got worse and at some point, I took a dose of morphine which inadvertently had been left over from my wife’s stock which led to medical emergency.  

After this event my GP suggested I receive professional support but by nature I have always been insular and not one to talk about my personal challenges. However, after lot of persistence by my doctor with strong dose of scepticism on my part I took up the offer of counselling at your Thornbury Hub.  

At my first session, Ms Hind quickly disarmed any apprehensions I had and made me feel entirely comfortable. Over the subsequent weeks and months, I have gained full trust in her and was able to talk openly about my feelings without any sense of judgement or ridicule on part of Ms Hind. She balanced her professional counselling with soft touch of friendly demeanour which helped me to begin freely express my feelings and every session feels like a catharsis. I walk in heavy, leave relieved and with a positive stride in my step.

I have begun to gain zest for life and the feeling that there is a future worth living. It would be no over statement on my part to say that Ms Hind has been a lifesaver and I want to thank her, and services provided by Inspired Neighbourhoods at Thornbury Hub"

Denise's Story: