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Information Exchange – (Kerrier Healthy Living Forum)

The Information Exchange Meeting took place on 29th January 2002, with two speakers from Mental Health Organisations. These were Tim Linehan, Assertive Outreach Team and Kate Paddon, Pentreath Industries. twenty people attended including Mark Richardson, Engage West Cornwall who talked to the group about SRB funding and Engage Small Grants for young people.

I would like to thank everyone who attended and participated, especially our three speakers who gave very interesting and informative presentations.

Joan Harvey from CCVS explained that the Kerrier Information Link Network (KILN) would be merging the North Kerrier group with the Information Exchange in order to avoid duplication. They will continue to hold meetings in South Kerrier on a regular basis. For more information contact Joan Harvey on 01209 718844.

The West Cornwall Local Strategic Partnership (LSP)
There follows a very simplified description of a complex process that involves many aspects not included here! The Action Plan, which sets out the community and voluntary involvement in the West Cornwall LSP is currently being produced and will be available within the next few weeks. In the meantime, if you want further information contact Kerrie Redington on 01209 614336, Byl Rice 01209 219246 or Sue Guard 01736 330045.

This Local Strategic Partnership covers Penwith and Kerrier and has been evolving since May 2001 as a result of a Government initiative. It comprises of representatives from all sectors, including the voluntary and community sector and is responsible for delivering the Neighbourhood Renewal Funding. The LSP is intended to give a strategic overview, with an innovative approach to delivering and mainstreaming services. It will create greater working relationships between agencies and encourage the sharing of good practice.

Neighbourhood Renewal Funding is split into three sections:

In order to ensure that the community and voluntary sector is accurately represented upon the LSP, a conference was held in November 2001 to ask all community and voluntary organisations how they would like to achieve this. A proposal was put forward by the Consortium that organised the conference (Penwith Community Development Trust, Voluntary Sector Form, Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change and Kerrier Healthy Living Centre) drawing upon the input from the delegates. This proposal was presented at a second feedback conference in January, where further comments were taken on board and incorporated into a final Action Plan.

In summary, the final Action Plan recommends that eight voluntary and community representatives are elected from the Community Network to sit upon the LSP, broadly covering all aspects of voluntary and community work. These individuals will be responsible for gathering views from, and feeding information back to the rest of the sector, via the Community Networks - currently the Penwith Interlink and the Information Exchange. Network co-ordinators will be employed using Community Empowerment Funding to increase the membership of these networks and ensure that all interested groups are involved. In addition, focus groups, considering specific topic areas relevant to the LSP (e.g. Health, Education) will be formed from Network members. These focus groups will be used to inform decisions made regarding the Community Chest Grants.

Restormel Primary Care Group and Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust – Community Health Development in the Clay Area – Famous Five

The HAZ Project consists of six Health Visitors: Di Mylnek, Ali Davis, Nicky Hughes, Carol Jones, Val Williams & Bev Alexander and five Health Visitor Assistants three of which have recently been appointed, they are: Amanda Clarkson, Loraine Hill, Dawn Pickering. Sam Bladen and Laura Lamprell have been working on the project for the last year. The project areas are Newquay and St Columb, St Blazey, Penwithick and St Dennis, as you can imagine these areas have very different needs but are similar in the fact they have been identified as the most disadvantaged in the Restormel district.

The present situation of disadvantage and deprivation has occurred through major changes in employment in these areas; there has always been an over dependence on the china clay industry, agricultural decline, aswell as a general low wage economy, characterized by part-time or seasonal work. Transport is a major barrier to accessing employment, education and training; public transport is inadequate and many do not have access to private transport; young people face barriers to education, employment and health and leisure. With low levels of education and skills caused through the out migration of the brighter young people, employment opportunities have decreased in recent years leading to low levels of self confidence among local people and a suspicious attitude towards initiatives introduced to the area.

To try to counteract some of these situations we have been involved in setting up and facilitating the following:

In St Dennis Di and Laura are running a slimming group, an aerobics class, a positive parenting class, an Eat the Healthy Way course and ClayTAWC Tiddlers which is an under ones group for first time mums.

In Penwithick Ali and Laura are running an Eat the Healthy Way course, Fit to Live Club, Golden Friendship club, Pentots and we are in the process of setting up a Figure Fit course, pilates class, health walks, stop smoking and homework club if there is enough interest.
In St Blazey Nicky and Laura are running a Munch Club, Under-One’s and Under Two’s groups, Under-One’s swimming and a three part Healthy Lifestyle group.

Carole in Bugle runs and Under-One’s and Tots group.

In Newquay Val and Sam are running a Figure-Fit slimming group, Smoking Cessation Programme and Exercise for the less able and are linking with Newquay Adult Education who are putting on computer classes and we are also hoping to get some activities for the youths running in the near future working with the local fire service.

In St Columb Bev and Sam are running a Figure-Fit slimming group and also Little & Large which is a run-down Healthy Living Centre where various activities are held, such as a stretch and bend exercise class, a community café, St Austell College Art & Craft classes, Housing and Financial Advice, Healthy Eating Activities and is a place to meet up with friends whilst your children play.

As you may well know we have applied for the NOF Healthy Living Centres Bid and have successful in going through to the second stage so now the hard work starts. Andy Gill has been appointed as project manager to give us the best possible chance of success and to take some of the pressure off the Health Visitors as they still have full caseloads to manage.

We are all working hard and hope to be successful in this next important step so that we can continue and develop the work we have been doing in the communities.

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Newquay Healthy Living Initiatives

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MONDAY

Play Sense - 10.00am,The Playroom, Newquay Resource Centre

This is a new group suitable for babies from 16 weeks to pre school children. We meet on a weekly basis and explore play through senses.

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TUESDAY

Weight Loss Group - 12.00 till 1.00pm, Health Education Room, Newquay Health Centre

This is a large, friendly group who have had staggering successes, one lady going on to become ‘Woman’s Own Slimmer of the Year’. The aim of the group is to provide information and support throughout the process of losing weight.

Look After Yourself – 1.30 till 2.30 pm, Health Education Room, Newquay Health Centre

As many of those attending the weight loss group have wide ranging health problems, we have developed a further group in conjunction with Newquay Adult Education to increase their overall knowledge of diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, strokes, irritable bowel etc. This is proving to be a very popular group.

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WEDNESDAY

Smoking Cessation Appointments – 1.30 till 4.30pm, Newquay Health Centre

These are one-to-one appointments, which offer support, information and advice to help those who wish to give up smoking.

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THURSDAY

Exercise for the less able – 10.30 till 11.30am & 12.00 till 1.00pm, St Michaels Church Hall

The first group is tailored to meet the needs of the individual and is suitable for all abilities. The object is to make people aware of the benefits of exercise.

The second group is for those who suffer from cardiac or respiratory disease, many of whom have attended cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation. This group was set up because we are aware of the benefits of continuing exercise to health and quality of life.

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FRIDAY

Ante-natal Yoga – 10.30 till 12.00 noon, Health Education Room, Newquay Health Centre (Beginning on 1 March)

Post-natal Yoga to begin soon.

COMPUTER CLASSES

Many of those who have attended the above groups have felt motivated to attend one of three computer groups which have been set up for us by Newquay Adult Education

Pendeen Community Project

Youth Activity Afternoons

The February half-term activity afternoon was arranged for young people who were 10 years of age and older. The PROPEL team from the YMCA and the Project Office worked together to provide some action /participation for a couple of hours. The afternoon was advertised as ‘On Your Bike’ and Music Mixing. Over 30 young people attended. A surprise visitor was Chris Warner from the Cornwall Youth Music Action Zone (CYMAZ) who came along to join in. Jo Laity from A-pass training brought some motorbikes and chatted about motorcycle training, racing and what young people can get involved with.

Comments from young people about what they thought of the afternoon – ‘It was a GREAT afternoon’. Having a go on real electric bass guitars and an excellent drum kit all added to the excitement (and the noise). Craig Horsley from Propel brought his own professional mixing desk and let people have a go ! All in all a fun time was had by everyone, free drinks & snacks were provided and McDonalds kindly donated the plastic cups, beakers and straws.

Discussions are already taking place to organise other activity afternoons during the Easter, Half-term and summer holidays. We will be working with the National trust, Propel Youth Team, Energy Efficiency Agency and Cyclewise.

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Funding
Advice on funding and guidance has been given to three community groups on funding options and help has been given with their applications.
The Pendeen Parish Members Institute were successful with their request to the Penwith IAP Board for funding to ensure a Quantity Surveyor can undertake work on their building to enable them to move forward with their refurbishment/building project.
The Pendeen Silver Band were advised on the opportunity of funding for the Youth Element in the Band and were successful with their SRB application and their Community Fund application.
The Outreach magazine were also advised of the opportunity to apply for funding through the Community Fund and guidance was given to help with their application. The outcome of this application is unknown at present.
Advice is also being given to the Youth Activity Pendeen group about funding opportunities for their project.

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Sure Start
Since December last year discussions have been taking place with representatives of Sure Start about the possibilities of Mini Sure Starts in Cornwall. A meeting took place at Pendeen Primary School, which was attended by organisations from West Penwith who had an interest. Pendeen was one of the areas that were put forward as a possible mini Sure Start Area. Contact has been made on a regular basis with the administration at the Sure Start offices in County Hall and information has been given by the Project Office about community groups who have an interest in the 0 – 4 year age group and their parents. There are already community group projects that could benefit from the mini initiative. The good news is that it has now been agreed that Pendeen will be one of the areas covered and this will mean a real cash injection into the area and more importantly the expertise that Sure Start will bring with it to an area suffering deprivation. This initiative should start in April 2002

Cornwall Energy Efficiency Advice Centre
A meeting has taken place with Ian Smith the director of an initiative called Home Health and it has been agreed that we will work in Partnership with them to run a pilot scheme in Pendeen which will aim to insulate and heat up to 600 homes in the Parish. Discussions are still taking place but the pilot scheme should start in April 2002.

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TRAINING

Our partnership with NETwork is so successful that we are always fully booked on a Thursday and most people are in the process of obtaining qualifications. We have requested an extra afternoon of IT provision and are in discussion with Network to be able to offer additional times.

We are working with Link Into Learning and are running a 12 week Reminiscence Course that started on the 25th February. This course is intended to attract some of the older people within the community and enable them to talk about their and the communities past. These memories are being transcribed and will hopefully be published.

First – Aid Course
15 people attended the Free First Aid course, which took place in the Women’s Institute Building in Pendeen. The course was held on two Monday evenings and all 15 achieved their certificate ‘Emergency First Aid for Appointed Persons’, which lasts for 3 years. It was funded by the Pendeen Project Small Grant Fund. Due to the success of this course another one has been asked for by those who could not attend the initial course, this will hopefully be run in April 2002. This will be funded by our Small Grants Fund and by bringing individuals who live outside my remit area, who will be asked to pay £15 per person to date there are 18 people who wish to attend.

Food Hygiene Course
Due to the success of the First Aid I asked those attending if there was anything else they would like to do and there was a resounding YES. To date there are 12 people who have asked for this Food Hygiene Course and I am arranging one to take place in Pendeen. I am working with DM Training and Cornwall College and it looks as if they are prepared to run two evening sessions so people can gain their certificates. Others have also said they are interested in a Health & Safety Course and this is also being arranged.

A request has also been made to the Project Office to organise a self-defence class.

The Pacific Institute – STEPS
After the success of the first STEPS development programme in Pendeen they are being run elsewhere in Penwith. Those who have attended have nothing but praise for the programme. Pendeen is running it’s second course in March and it is fully booked.There are 3 more courses provisionally booked for Pendeen later in the year.

www.pendeen.info

We have our own web site. After 2 days of ‘free’ training provided by NETwork Training Enterprise we have the start of our information website. We are waiting a couple of weeks to ensure that there are no glitches before we launch it properly. To date we have asked people in the community to spread the word and ask all local groups to give us their information and we will put it on the site free of charge. This is really an asset and we are hoping to involve more young people in the community who are more likely to use the World Wide Web. We will be sign-posting as many community groups and voluntary organisations as possible. We will be trying to make this site colourful, with plenty of photographs and give people the opportunity to contact us about different topics at different e-mail addresses.

�The Future

The work of the Project Office is continuing and plans are being made for the future. Our funding applications look very promising. The NRF bid has been successful and we are awaiting the result of the SRB application. The groundwork of the last 18 months is now beginning to have an effect, capacity building is continuing, self – confidence is growing and the community believe that they will see the fruition of many of their projects. The holistic approach which encompasses broader issues to help to improve the health and well-being of individuals within the community is working.

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