Health First: Community Development

Community Development

Health First values community groups and the voluntary sector.
We see their role as:

The voice on behalf of communities
Provide services
Knowledge of key issues and priorities in the various communities
Know local needs and know initiative ways of meeting them

Health First aims to support, promote and work in partnership with the community and voluntary sector. This section gives national and local information on community development and regeneration.

National Organisations

There are various national organisations, which help support the voluntary and community sectors.

The Community Development Foundation www.cdf.org.uk

Community Development Exchange www.cdx.org.uk/resources/glossary
(good glossary of terms)

National Council for Voluntary Organisations www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

Local Organisations

Each Borough has an organisation dedicated to developing the voluntary and community sector. There are a number of networks and partnership groups.

Your London www.yourlondon.gov.uk
Health Promotion Outreach workers Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

Lambeth Voluntary Action Council www.lambethvac.org.uk
Lambeth Community Empowerment Network www.lambethlen.org.uk

Southwark Action for Voluntary Organisations www.savo.org.uk
Community Involvement and Development Unit (CIDU) in Southwark www.southwark.gov.uk

Voluntary Action Lewisham www.valewisham.org.uk
Lewisham Community Network www.valewisham.org.uk/lcn/
Community Sector in Lewisham www.lewisham.gov.uk/communityandliving/

Current Forums

Forums bring people together to network, give information, discuss current priorities and give updates about the changes in the Borough.

Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham African Health Forum.

The Forum started around 1991-1992. It meets on a bi-monthly basis on the last Thursday of the specific month. A directory of member organisations is available here.
Health First contacts Anna Aguma and Maria Loizou.

Lewisham

Community Health and Social Care Forum contact Miriam Long 0208 698 6034 Miriam@lewcvs.dircon.co.uk
Community Development Forums contact Brian Wagenbach 0208 692 5274 brian@lewishamcen.org.uk

Southwark

Southwark Community Care Forum contact admin@sccforum.org 020 7703 2368
Southwark Community Refugee Forum contact southwarkrcf@tiscali.co.uk 020 7277 4400

For the Refugee Health Team directory of LSL services and organisations click here.

Lambeth

Health and Social Care Voluntary and Community Sector Forum previous minutes and information found here.

National Funding Opportunities

There are national organisations that have grants available for voluntary and community groups

Big Lottery Fund www.biglotteryfund.org

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund www.cdf.org.uk

Awards for All www.awardsforall.org.uk

Why not come to the Health First Learning Centre and use FunderFinder on a Learning Centre computer. You can find sources of funding for voluntary and community groups.

Local Funding Opportunities

Local grants are available within Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

The Capital Community Foundation www.selcf.org.uk

Health First have several grant schemes (look under grants)

Community Sector in Lewisham www.lewisham.gov.uk/communityandliving

Lambeth Community Fund www.lambeth.gov.uk/services/communityliving/supportvoluntaryorganisations

Community Strategies

Community strategies are designed to improve the quality of life in local communities. They were drawn up by engaging local communities and involving partners organisations. It is a 10 year strategy and contains clear ambitions to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being in an area.

Lambeth Community Strategy www.lambeth.gov.uk/services/communityliving/

Southwark Community Strategy www.southwarkalliance.org.uk/aboutus/communitystrategy

Lewisham Community Strategy www.lewisham.gov.uk/communityandliving/communitystrategy.htm

Regeneration Initiatives

Regeneration programmes tackle multiple deprivation in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, giving some of the poorest communities the resources to tackle their problems in an intensive and coordinated way. There is no single prescribed form of urban regeneration practice. There are several regeneration programmes happening across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.

Lambeth

www.lambeth.gov.uk/services/environment/regeneration

Southwark

www.southwark.gov.uk/yourservices/regenerationsection
www.southwarkalliance.org.uk

Lewisham

www.lewisham.gov.uk

Neighourhood Renewal Fund Information www.neighbourhood.gov.uk

Area Information

To find out information about your area the following are good websites. Health First has designed ward profiles for Lambeth, click here for a pdf.

www.upmystreet.com

www.towntalk.co.uk

www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk

www.communityhealthprofiles.info

Lambeth statistics www.lambeth.gov.uk/aboutlambeth/

Stockwell Partnership www.stockwell.org.uk

Clapham Park New Deals for Communities www.claphampark.org.uk

Southwark Statistics www.southwark.gov.uk

London SE1 community website www.London-SE1.co.uk

Aylesbury New Deal for Communities www.aylesburyndc.org.uk

Lewisham statistics www.lewisham.gov.uk/communityand living/populationandstatistics

New Cross Gate New Deal for Communities www.newcrossgatendc.org.uk

Training at Health First

Health Trainers

Health First trains local people and workers to become Health Trainers. Anyone can become a Health Trainer. You just need to be able to work withlocal people. The role of the Health Trainer varies. You will probably:

Support people treated in the NHS to make healthy lifestyle choices
Be a central figure in the community
Guide people to services that will improve their own and their family¹s
health
Be based in an NHS or community organisations
Be paid or unpaid

The training has 3 modules, runs for 14 weeks (1 day a week) and includes
these topics:

Introduction to the NHS, local authority, local voluntary and community sectors
Health promotion models
Community development theory and principles
Communication and interpersonal skills
Motivational interviewing and assertiveness skills
Introduction to key messages in health areas: sexual health, physical activity, smoking cessation
Internet and other information resources
Basic first aid training

Contact people for more information on 2007 training courses or how to access a health trainer:

For Lambeth Borough contact Shashi Hussian 020 7188 2837

For Southwark Borough contact Pearl Darrel 020 7188 2837

For Lewisham Borough contact Alfred Banya 020 7206 3200

For more information see the Health Trainers news.

Food and Health, Food Choice and Trends

Health First has been running the 'Food and Health, Food Choice and Trends' module of the National Training Programme for Community Food Workers. The course is accredited by the National Open College Network and taught by registered nutritionists at Health First.

For further information about the course click here for a pdf.

To find out when the course will be running again and if you are eligible contact Christine Nolan

For further information on module content go to www.community-food-enterprise.org.uk

Health First – Community Development – a health perspective (runs biannually)

This course is aimed at health professionals, primary care staff, the voluntary and community sector who want to use community development approaches to reduce health inequalities.

Attending the course will help you to:

Have a good understanding of community development and regeneration
Understand the determinants of health
Build good relationships and work in partnership to engage with the PCT, local authority, education services, voluntary and community organisations
Evaluate community projects and highlight examples of good practice

Contact Shashi Hussain 020 7188 2837 shashi.hussain@lewishampct.nhs.uk