Appendix to Item 5
Three Rivers
Health Inequalities Fund Meeting
South Oxhey Library
Wednesday 30th September 10am
In attendance:
Jessica O’GormanWatford & District YMCA
Mark ScammellWatford & District YMCA
Helen TauntRiversmeet Consortium of Extended Schools
Andy NazerHCC ACS/PCT
Peter WrightWest Herts PCT
Julie AttreeHerts Mind Network
Karen MoodyHPFT
Veronica ChamberlainWatford Mencap
Christine WyardASCEND and The Choir
Martin DaweHerts Fire & Rescue
Olabisi OnangaWatford African Caribbean Assn
Jeanette HarleyCVS in Three Rivers
Charlotte MastersTRDC – Active Communities
Tom DarlingtonTRDC – Sports Development Officer
Andy StovoldTRDC – Corporate Development/LSP
Karl StonebankTRDC – LSP Project Officer
PW explained to the group how the meeting would run – that each project would be put forward to the group and a decision would be made by the group on whether or not to fund it, in full, in part or not at all. The health priorities for both Watford and Three Rivers have been agreed as:-
- Promoting physical activity
- Reducing smoking
- Supporting people experiencing poor mental health
- Supporting people with learning difficulties
- Supporting carers
. The allocation of funding to be targeted at the most deprived super output areas, the main areas of focus – but not exclusively – were South Oxhey, Maple Cross and Mill End.
Firefit Project - Herts Fire & Rescue
MD distributed a paper to the group outlining his proposal of a pilot scheme to attract children, probably Year 7 and 8’s, who were identified by their teachers as not being involved in any physical or sporting activities and they would be offered the chance to join the firefighters at the fire station to join in their exercise routines. This pilot is to be run with Francis Coombe school and the ESCOs. The project will run for 2 terms engaging with 20 children in total. Strategies to encourage children to continue with exercise after their participation in the scheme are being developed.
£750 was requested to be complemented by the Watford Health Inequalities scheme as the Francis Coombe catchment area covers both Watford and Three Rivers.
Boxercise Project – Herts Mind Network
JA explained that a study had been undertaken in South Oxhey 18 months ago showing that there were high levels of depression in women and high levels of personality disorder and drugs and alcohol abuse in men
A pilot project around boxercise was proposed. A similar scheme was running in Dacorum with success. Physical fitness and emotional well-being would be addressed. There would be 1 to 1 assessments and everyone would have an individual plan. The positive impact of physical activity on mental health would be promoted.
The project would run in term time for 2 terms with crèche facilities being available for at least one term. Possibility of Watford Women’s Centre providing crèche facilities was raised.
£2000 was requested
Craft at Ascend
CW stated that there had been a noticeable increase in mental health problems in South Oxhey. Ascend are running an craft class which has proved to be popular and has helped individual with self confidence, increased social skills and an increased awareness of other activities and learning. Some people had gone on to experience more formal learning as their confidence in their own abilities increased.
Funding to continue the project had been applied for but there will be gap between one funding stream ending and another beginning so the application was for the continuance of the project.
£500 was requested.
Sheltered Housing Chair Exercises – Watford & District YMCA
MS wanted to run a project for the residents of Hanover Court and Cherwell Close (sheltered housing accommodation) on a weekly basis at each for a year focussing on chair exercises to promote exercise and mobility in those who were unable to participate in more formal exercise.
A similar scheme had been fun in Croxley Green with great success. The participants had increased the physical ability and the general well-being of those exercising was also increased.
CM from TRDC has schemes in place doing this but in different areas. It was suggested that MS and CM could work together in this area to even greater effect.
£1500 was requested
Leisure Together – Watford Mencap
VC distributed a paper to the group about the proposed project which is to hold a course of 10 sessions of 2 hours offering a variety of sports to people with learning disabilities.
There is a fitness programme in operation which runs mainly from Watford Boys School with 33 Three Rivers residents participating.
TRDC were funding the project until March 2010 and VC was seeking funding to continue the project from April 2010.
PW explained that the Health Inequalities funding was meant for new projects plus the money needed to be spent by March 2010.
AS said that this was a project that should continue and it should be brought to the attention of the Health Partnership and core funding for this project should be sought in order to stop a wide range of services disappearing.
PW suggested that something to complement the current fitness project might be worth considering such as a health eating scheme.
VC agreed this could be looked at and will work the CM from TRDC to develop this idea.
£3470 was requested for the continuance of fitness programme but VC agreed that £1500 in order to investigate the healthy eating scheme would be acceptable.
Supporting Carers – Watford African/Caribbean Association
OO explained that they had identified mental health problems amongst carers and the project was around supporting them by visiting and spending time on a 1 to 1 basis.
PW asked how many Three Rivers carers would benefit from this scheme as it seemed that most of the carers would be in the Watford area. OO said approximately 15 beneficiaries were in the Three Rivers area and the significant remainder lived in Watford. PW explained that this sort of project would have been better presented at the Watford Health Inequalities meeting.
£8,500 was requested for the project. PW suggested that a figure be arrived at to support the 15 carers in Three Rivers and the sum of £600 was put forward.
Chair based exercise - Sports Development
TD outlined a project which had run last year at Northwick Day Centre in South Oxhey and the Shepherd Centre in Mill End which had been based around providing chair based exercise. The project had been popular but was now at an end. TD was proposing the same project be run again but the funding be used to train the staff at the Centres to run the exercise programme.
£600 requested (to cover both centres)
Day Centres and Local Leisure – Sports Development
TD wanted to encourage people from the day centres to access leisure facilities at the local leisure centres (William Penn and The Centre). In order to build up confidence TD proposed to run a variety of spots courses to build confidence and enthusiasm in the hope that people will continue with a sport but booking through the leisure centre.
£1000 to cover both centres
The Choir
CW outlined the huge impact ‘The Choir’ had made in South Oxhey. (The Choir being a BBC project to engage the local community in forming a choir and performing for live audiences). CW said that The Choir had given a huge positive impact boost to South Oxhey as an area and to many of the South Oxhey residents, even those who didn’t actually sing in the choir. The positive health benefits were numerous – improved mental health, improved emotional well being, improved physical health and the community and social impact were great.
The Choir wants to continue and is seeking various means of funding but the BBC and TRDC funding has now ceased.
Amount requested £1000
PW had agreed a sum of £500 to the CVS in Three rivers for facilitating the project.
The group discussed the projects, asked questions and the following conclusion was reached:
£
Herts Fire & Rescue 750.00
Herts Mind2000.00
ASCEND 500.00
Watford & District YMCA1500.00
Mencap1500.00
Sports Partnership – Day Centres 600.00
Sports Partner ship – Leisure scheme1000.00
Watford African/Caribbean Assn 600.00
The Choir1000.00
CVS in Three Rivers 500.00