Mental health, resilience and the recession in Bradford

Which coping strategies helped unemployed people in Bradford during times of recession? This research explores the mental health impacts of unemployment. Researchers spoke to 16 focus groups in Bradford that included 73 unemployed people to find out how job losses affected everyday well-being and which personal coping strategies and financial support opportunities were helpful. Participants revealed how financial losses could affect mental health and how aspects such as the loss of a previously valued social role and a lack of structure during the day also played a part. The study: - examines the impact of involuntary unemployment across different groups; - identifies the dangers to mental health associated with unemployment; and - presents the different coping strategies used by men and women and by different age groups. It identifies five main issues that require further policy attention to ensure that people who are unemployed do not also suffer from mental ill-health

Evaluation of the Altogether Better Asset Mapping in Sharrow and Firth Park, Sheffield

‘I am My Community’ is an asset mapping exercise led by Altogether Better that has explored a model by which trained Community Health Champions (CHCs) are used to undertake an inventory of the physical and social assets linked to the health and well-being of their communities and neighbourhoods. The project, which started in 2011 and was completed in April 2012, was undertaken in two communities in Sheffield, Sharrow and Firth Park, by two delivery organisations, ShipShape and SOAR. A steering group including Altogether Better, the Department of Health, Sheffield Well-Being Consortium, Sheffield City Council, ShipShape staff and CHCs, SOAR staff and CHCs, and South Yorkshire Police has overseen the delivery and development of the project and work. This report presents findings from an evaluation of the ‘I am My Community’ asset mapping, conducted by the Centre for Health Promotion Research, Institute for Health and Wellbeing at Leeds Metropolitan University. It presents evidence about the engagement of CHCs in asset mapping and offers recommendations regarding their involvement in future projects

Evaluation of the HSCVF Bursary Scheme

The ‘Building Sustainability: Extended Support Package’ aimed to increase the capacity and sustainability of 94 local projects - all were Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations funded by the Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund (HSCVF). The bursary scheme, as it became known, was managed by Ecorys as the lead partner alongside Eastside Primetimers, CSV and Attend as the three delivery partners. Projects chose from a menu of over 50 offers including mentoring, coaching, on-site support, training and ‘other’. A Support Consultant, allocated to each project, helped them assess their needs, choose the most appropriate offers and submit the application. The scheme was introduced in 2012 with all offers utilised by May 2013. It was funded by the Department of Health. This report presents the findings from an evaluation undertaken by the Institute for Health & Wellbeing at Leeds Metropolitan University

Hamara Healthy Living Centre - an evaluation

Hamara is a Healthy Living Centre which aims to improve health and well-being through providing a range of culturally appropriate activities and services. Hamara has a vision of 'bringing communities together' and since it was established in 2004, the Centre has provided a valuable community resource in South Leeds. Partnership work between Hamara and Leeds Met goes back to 2002. In 2007, the Centre for Health Promotion Research carried out an evaluation of Hamara in partnership with Hamara staff and Leeds Met Community Partnerships and Volunteering. This was followed by a highly successful community cohesion conference 'One Community' which was held at Hamara on 10th October 2008, and was supported through a Leeds Met public engagement grant. The event attracted over a hundred people from diverse communities and organisations across Leeds. A packed audience heard Hilary Benn, local MP and Patron of Hamara, talk about the importance of working in collaboration around community cohesion. Jane South, Centre for Health Promotion Research, presented the main evaluation results and set out the some challenges for the future. The proceedings concluded with the presentation of awards to a number of for local community champions who work to bring people together and make a real difference in the city of Leeds

Volunteering as a public health issue: Barriers to participation

Introduction Volunteering is acknowledged to benefit individual, community, and population health and wellbeing. However, those who have the most to gain from volunteering are often least likely to take part. There are questions about how to ensure all groups, especially those who experience social exclusion, can benefit from volunteering. This presentation reports on a rapid review of volunteering, public health and inequalities, with a focus on the barriers to volunteering experienced by population groups with characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010 (i.e. age, disability, gender, pregnancy/maternity, ethnicity, relationship status, religion, sexual orientation). Methods A rapid review of evidence describing barriers to volunteering experienced by each of the ‘protected characteristics’ was undertaken. After searching and screening, 98 relevant papers were identified across peer-reviewed and grey literature. Data were extracted and evidence synthesised across each of the groups. Results A varied number of papers were identified for each protected characteristic. ‘Age’ (n=23) and ‘sexual orientation’ (n=0) and ‘pregnancy/maternity’ (n=0) were the most and least common respectively. The greatest number of barriers were identified for ‘age’, ‘disability’, and ‘gender’, possibly due to limited research in other areas. There were some cross cutting barriers but also distinct barriers were identified in relation to specific groups. Conclusion Barriers to volunteering are not experienced homogenously within or across protected characteristic groups. The relationship between protected characteristics and barriers to volunteering is complex. The findings help identify appropriate processes promoting social inclusion to ensure all groups can benefit from volunteering. Funding was provided by Volunteering Matters

The self-care for people initiative: the outcome evaluation.

To determine the effects of a community-based training programme in self-care on the lay population

Self-care in primary care: findings from a longitudinal comparison study.

To examine the effects of self-care training workshops for primary healthcare workers on frequently attending patients

The transition between CAMHS and AMHS for looked after children: mind the gap

This project sought to identify the challenges encountered in the transition between CAMHS and AMHS for Looked after Children and consider what mental health and social care services can do to ensure it is a safe and successful transition