Gloucester Community Networking
Better Together
Better Together
This is a monthly group offering free, informal and open sessions to any member of the community. With a "coffee, cake and de-stressing" format, we discuss Wellbeing and Mental Health issues for the participant and/or their friends and family.
This group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, located in the St. John's Church », St. John's Avenue, Churchdown, GL3 2DB.
The Wellbeing group's aims are to:
Even prior to the Covid pandemic, mental wellbeing was being raised as an issue of concern. However, since the start of Covid and lockdowns in the UK, general mental health wellbeing has been hightlighted as a need and that more people need support.
In 2020 we sought funding from the Tewkesbury Emergency Covid 19 Grant », which paid for our trainer » to be qualified to Mental Health First Aid courses. Our trainer has carried out 1hr First Aid Lunch and Learn taster sessions with Churchdown & Longlevens GP surgeries, Gloucester Fire Service, Men's Mental Health group - Manup, Homeless Veterans from the Alabare charity and Pride in Gloucester
In 2022/2023 we sought funding from the National Lottery Community Fund », which helped pay for Rooms, refreshments, Winter Warmers (free hot food and drink during the very cold months) and guest speakers.
The Wellbeing Matters project has received a 12 month grant from the Gloucestershire County Council's Thriving Communities Project for 2024.
This grant will support 12 months of room hire and pay for a soup lunch and hot drinks.
Link to the Gloucestershire County Council Thriving Communities Fund
12:30 - 13:30hrs:
Part One will begin with a ‘coffee, cake and de-stressing’ session that is aimed at offering a welcoming, informal and informative environment, starting with prearranged Topics of Interest that have been suggested by Mental Health professionals and feedback from members of the general public.
13:30 - 14:30hrs:
Part Two will just offer a space for further social contact (with old friends and hopefully making new ones!) to promote networking of other resources over a hot drink and some biscuits (donated by Churchdown TESCO).
Gloucester Community Networking have been a real asset to both the community through their support at the Covid Clinics and to Churchdown Surgery.
Chris worked in conjunction with the Social Prescribing Link Worker and Community Partner , Chris Evans from the Butterfly Garden, to create a pre covid vaccination video ». The purpose of the video was to offer reassurance for those people who suffer with anxiety or have a learning disability to see first-hand what the Covid Vaccination Clinic was like and what they could expect to prepare for. This was posted on social media and also the PCN Surgery Websites.
Chris provided the covid clinic with wellbeing posters, displays and video / slide show, which was shown on repeat at the clinic; promoting positive well-being and mental health first aid and support. When patients had been vaccinated with Pfizer, they had to wait for 15 minutes before leaving the building. Chris’ displays, posters and slide show were the ideal opportunity to education people on how best they could look after themselves and one another. With around 1100 people being vaccinated in 1 day, it meant that Chris was reaching out to people who may not have ordinarily had access to this type of information.
Chris has also provided mental health first aid training to staff at the Churchdown & Longlevens Surgeries . It is vital that frontline staff at the surgery feel confident to deal with some of the incredibly difficult situations they have to deal with on a daily basis. Through this excellent and bespoke training, Chris has done just that; he has also inspired some of the staff to advance their learning and personal development.
I have referred patients to some of Chris' well-being groups for community connection and to learn how to keep themselves well. The groups help people to know they are not alone with how they are feeling and that there are solutions when we all work together.
It’s great to know such a committed community partner, who is fully invested in helping people to help themselves and find real solutions during difficult times. Chris is a good friend to our community and our surgery.
Rachel Hodges-Cox
Social Prescribing Link Worker
Workng across Churchdown & Longlevens Surgeries
