On this page we catch up with our partner organisations who have been successful in applying for partnership funding to reduce health inequalities and improve lives. We showcase how the funding is being used in creative and innovative ways to support communities, make a positive difference and build resilience.
Health Inequalities Funding
In July 2020 we allocated over £500,000 to thirteen voluntary and community organisations across the area. The funds were used to support community organisations, working together with health partners, to support those disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
We are committed to reducing health inequalities. The funding allocation represents one of the ways in which we support local services and build resilience within our communities in partnership with our innovative and creative voluntary and community sector.
Third sector organisations are under extreme pressure financially, more so when their work to support people, who we know are subject to significant inequality, is most needed.
Feel Good Factor
Feel Good Factor worked with Orion partners (Shantona Women’s & Family Centre, Space2 and Zest) and the local care partnership, to support clinically extremely vulnerable people living in Chapeltown, Harehills and Burmantofts and Richmond Hill in Leeds. The project linked people who were feeling stressed, lonely or isolated or who needed advice on health, housing or finance issues with services and activities.
Befriending Network
The Befriending Network was delivered by four community organisations, The Thornbury Centre, Karmand Centre, Laisterdyke Community Hub and Womenzone working with health colleagues in Central 5 CP GP practices. The funding helped train 36 volunteers and helped provide a listening ear to 128 socially isolated people building connections in the local communities.
Advance care planning for the end of life
St Michael’s Hospice trained volunteers to deliver high level advance care planning conversations to people in care homes. The team held conversations using video calls to explore what the person wanted in their advance care plans. Funding went towards volunteer training from a palliative care consultant and ongoing consultant support, and a project lead to liaise between the volunteers, care home residents, care homes and GPs.
Dementia Inequalities Partnership
The Dementia Inequalities Partnership Project, delivered by Dementia Friendly Keighley, was made possible through the Health Inequalities Grant and continues to provide much needed support to those living with dementia. See the Dementia Inequalities Partnership website to find out more the range of services, groups and resources provided to those people living with dementia and their carers.
Healthy Lifestyle Solutions building mental health resilience
Healthy living organisation, Healthy Lifestyle Solutions CIC (HLS), is helping to reduce health inequalities in Bradford. They are training volunteer befrienders, increasing staff knowledge and skills and empowering local people to cope with mental health issues.
"I could have lost my home without Leeds Gate"
Leeds GATE have used the funding to recruit, a Health Advocate, Nichola, to build links with Gypsy and Traveller groups in Bradford and Wakefield. Through collaboration and by providing mental health, welfare rights and healthcare registration support, Leeds Gate is making a real positive difference to people's lives.
Building community connections in Calderdale
A collaborative partnership between People’s Voice Media, local organisations in central and North Halifax, VAC and the Community Foundation for Calderdale are helping to address health inequalities in those communities most affected by COVID-19.
Solace - promoting emotional well-being for refugees and asylum seekers in Kirklees
Solace, which helps people survive exile and persecution, are using Health Inequalities funding to extending their specialist therapeutic care approach to help alleviate emotional distress.
Watch our video and find out more about how Solace has been able to – and continues to - support those who experience barriers to getting help, in ways which promote their dignity, and respect their cultural identity.
Marginal Gains Third Sector Leaders (TSL) Kirklees
Third Sector Leaders Kirklees is a charity and membership organisation that supports and champions the third sector in Kirklees. They work with voluntary and community groups, charities, social enterprises and other not-for-profit organisations in Kirklees to help them achieve their aims and grow and develop.
Using the Health Inequalities Funding they were able to fund established community organisations to create new health and wellbeing offers to engage people from marginalised communities. From boxing in the park to windowsill gardening and an online slow cooker course: familiar, local organisations created a range of easy to access activities that helped people to feel like positive change was possible.
The funding supported the following projects:
Reaching out to marginalised communities
- Sofia and Andrei's story - taking part in activities at the Hillhouse Community Centre has played a vital role for a couple, who immigrated from Eastern Europe, and has been a massive boost to their health and wellbeing
- S2R, an independent mental health charity - designed a diverse range of online and meet up health and wellbeing activities for local people feeling isolated due to COVID-19. Activities were varied and aimed at people of all ages and abilities. Read our case study to find out more about the activities and the difference made to people’s lives and wellbeing
- Oasis Care Support Services - online weekly sessions helped African and Caribbean elders to share worries, information and laughter during lockdown. Find out how more about how the sessions helped to support people with their mental and emotional health
- Growing Together Kirklees - by distributing seeds, compost, pots and easy to follow instructions this project helped grow connections at a time when many were feeling isolated and disconnected because of lockdown - and produced some delicious food too
- Community skills at Hillhouse Community Centre - this project aimed to help refugees and asylum seekers with language skills and feelings of isolation during the pandemic. The team held weekly sessions focusing on health, food, exercise and managing stress and anxiety as well as supporting people with limited access to digital. Find out more about how building connections boosted individual physical and mental health
- Growing for success with Growing Focal - by developing community gardens and planting wildflowers, Growing Focal, based at Focal Community Centre in Huddersfield, is doing its bit to tackle climate change, help wildlife and pollinators, and transform people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Read our case study to find out more about how Growing Focal started small and planned big. You can also see our video to catch up with Lisa, Chrissie and the Growing Focal team to find out the crucial role the project has played and continues to play in the local community
Targeted Prevention Grant Fund
In November 2020 we launched a new Targeted Prevention Grant Fund worth £100,000 to help reduce the gap in health equalities across the area.
The aim of the fund is to support targeted, community level preventative interventions that reduce harmful health behaviours, improve health outcomes and contribute to a reduction in inequalities for population groups who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and the indirect social implications of measures such as isolation and shielding.
11 organisations from across the health, voluntary and community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector successfully applied for the funding. On this page we catch up with some of those organisations and find out how they are using the funding to support wellbeing, reduce social isolation and tackle health inequalities.
Case studies
Cook Together, Share Together
The Cook Together, Share Together project in Calderdale and Kirklees helps people with learning disabilities to cook budget friendly healthy, nutritious and tasty meals. By taking part, people also get a better understanding of foods and food groups that help with weight loss and reduce the risk of diabetes.
JAMES health cards provide a focus for discussions about health and wellbeing
JAMES designed and distributed positive health messaging cards with top tips on increasing activity levels, supporting mental health and singposting vulnerable families across the Bradford areas to extra support.
Get Back Onside with the Bradford Bulls Foundation
With the support of partnership funding, the Bradford Bulls Foundation has re-launched Back Onside – a free health and wellbeing initiative designed to get people back to enjoying exercise. Back Onside is open to all age groups and fitness levels, particularly those aged between 35 and 64 years old. Find out more about how Bradford Bulls are promoting physical fitness as a key to overall wellbeing.
Pop-up meals
The Old Fire Station community hub is using their share of the health inequalities funding to produce a series of pop-up meals at various Covid secure sites in the York Road Local Care Partnership area. Read our delivering pop-up meals case study to find out more.
Wild about Wakefield
Yorkshire-based charity, Open Country, has teamed up with Wakefield Recovery and Wellbeing College and Vibe Fitness to deliver a year-long intervention to improve health and wellbeing for people disproportionally affected by the pandemic. Targeted prevention funding is being used to purchase things like tablets, fitness equipment, dongles and wildlife gardening packs and deliver a range of online sessions to help improve physical and mental health. There’s been some great feedback from those taking part. Read more about the recovery college activities in our case study, have a look at the video and find out how one attendee has benefitted from beginner’s yoga.
Peer Support Plus
In April 2021 Peer Support Plus launched publicly with a targeted prevention grant. The team reached out to those who could not for reasons of mobility, caring commitments, employment, social anxiety, etc. access an in-person daytime Peer Support Group by providing a digital alternative. In July, Peer Support Plus doubled capacity when they were able to re-open the in-person peer facilitated support group with help from Leeds City Council who provide the venue. For more information please see the poster and learn more at www.
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