April 2015 e-bulletin

Welcome to the Healthwatch Bristol e-bulletin. The content is a mixture of local,

regional information regarding health, wellbeing and social care services.
If you have any events or information that you would like us to include in our
e-bulletin please contact us at healthwatchbristol@thecareforum.org.uk
We need information for the next edition by 20 April.
If you have a group, event or organisation relating to health and wellbeing that you
would like to be listed for free please contact Well Aware T: 0808 808 5252
or E: infoservices@thecareforum.org.uk

Contents
Local Events
Local Information
Healthwatch Update
Training

Local Events
Local Events

Green Youth Day

20 April 9am-5pm, Colston Hall, Colston
CREATE Centre Strolls
Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR
Friday 10 April and Friday 1 May at 1.30pm,
The first official Bristol 2015 summit is focused
from CREATE Centre, B Bond, Smeaton
on young people and environmental issues.
Road, Bristol, Avon BS1 6XN
Led by an advisory group of young people,
Bristol Autism Spectrum Services invite
the day will address issues identified by the
you to join them for their monthly CREATE
group as important to them and their friends.
Centre Stroll. The walk on 10 April will be
Subjects covered include the science of
and around Clifton with short talks on the
climate change, protecting wildlife and the
historical people who lived and worked in
oceans, human rights, the clothes we wear,
the area. In May the walk will be to and
equality, how to campaign successfully,
around Greville Smyth Park and during the
and why questioning the establishment is
walk participants will be using the five ways
essential. The event is open to all young
of wellbeing (connecting, learning, being
people under the age of 25, secondary school
active, noticing and giving). The walks start
groups, college and University students. The
from the CREATE Centre. Both walks will
event organisers want to learn from young
end with a visit to a caf for refreshments.
people so that Bristol 2015 can take their
Contact Pam or Nicola for more information.
message to the world.
T: 07732 625781 (Pam) / 01173 521283
W: http://tinyurl.com/o2hsptp
(Nicola)
E: pam.sacree@virginmedia.com /
Nicola.ferris@bristol.gov.uk
#whyvotebristol15 Bristol West
candidates question time
Thursday 16 April, 6pm to 8pm, Trinity
Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol, BS2 0NW
Ask the parliamentary candidates for Bristol
West how they will represent your needs
and aspirations if they are elected.
W: www.voscur.org/diary/
whyvotebristol15
Off the Record are 50 years young!
Friday 17 April 7pm, Colston Hall, Colston
Street, Bristol BS1 5AR
Off The Record is celebrating their 50th
year of providing mental health support
to young people by holding a casual
celebration event. Please register for a
place.
W: http://tinyurl.com/kv4yj74
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Local Information

Service user priorities in relation to prison

mental health care
An undergraduate research study is looking
for participants who have an experience of
mental illness and/or who have been detained
in prison. The study seeks to address the
research question: What are the views and
opinions of people with a lived experience of
mental illness, and/or those who have been
detained in prison, on the types of services
they believe should be available to the people
in prison with a mental illness? Participation
will involve completing a questionnaire. For
more information, please contact Rose Wilson.
E: Rose2.Wilson@live.uwe.ac.uk
T: 07867596920

Local Information
Single parent research
A PhD researcher is talking to single mums
about their experiences using local services.
If you are a single mum with children of any
age and would like to share your experience,
please contact Kate Clayton who will arrange
to meet you at a time and location to suit
you. Costs covered and children welcome.
E: kateclaytonh@brookes.ac.uk
New website to inform patients about
Chronic Kidney disease
University of Bristol has launched a
new website that will help bridge the
communication gap between healthcare
professionals and patients diagnosed with
mild chronic kidney disease (CKD) after
research revealed a disparity between what
GPs explain and what patients understand
about the condition. Patients can view
video interviews with people talking about
their experiences of early stage CKD,
having regular check-ups and the ways in
which they try to look after their health. For
health professionals, the website provides
an insight into the experiences of people
who are being monitored for early signs of
kidney problems what information they
have received, what they found helpful and
unhelpful, their key questions and concerns,
and their views on how monitoring could
be made more meaningful to them. The
resource has been developed by University
of Bristol academics.
W: www.healthtalk.org/kidney-health
RSVP-West - Lay Assessors for Bristols
Home Care Service
The volunteer lay assessors visit people who
have home care commis-sioned by Bristol
City Council to find out what they think about
their service.
Some people receive a very good service
which they value. However, some are not so

happy with their home care and we think it is

im-portant that their voices are heard. These
people are amongst the most vulnerable in
our community and this care at home is vital
to their ability to remain independent and to
have a quality of life.
RSVP recruit volunteers who are over 50
years of age, typically retired or working part
time. We are particularly looking for people
who have good communication skills; are
flexible and organised, use e-mail; enjoy team working, but are able to work on
their own, and are not judgmental. They
will receive training and good support
whilst they undertake this rewarding and
challenging volunteer role. RSVP pay of
pocket expenses and provide public liability
insurance.
If you are interested in finding out more or
may wish to apply, please contact:
Ken Dolbear on
E: Ken.dolbear@rsvp-west.org.uk
Jan Snook on Jan.snook@rsvp-west.org.uk
Tel. RSVP office 0117 922 4392/ 925 0505
Headway Bristols new premises
Headway Bristol has moved premises. Their
new address is: Headway Bristol, Frenchay
Beckspool Building (previously known as
the Burden Centre), Frenchay Park Road,
Bristol, BS16 1LE.
The new building is more spacious with
accessible facilities and brand new furniture.
They will have a dedicated library and
support room, as well as a brand new
and fully customised rehabilitation kitchen
that will enable Headway service users
to develop their cooking skills and gain
confidence in the kitchen. There is also a
large, open garden for service users to enjoy.
T: 0117 340 3771
E: info@headwaybristol.org.uk
W: www.headwaybristol.org.uk
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Local Information
Hospital Youth Council share latest
news
To find out more about what University
Hospitals Bristols (UHB) Youth Council
has been doing, read the latest edition of
their newsletter, Shout Out, on the UHB
website.
W: http://tinyurl.com/ksme7tu
Counselling service for Deaf women in
British Sign Language
Womankind is offering a free and
confidential counselling service for Deaf
Women with a qualified and experienced
counsellor in central Bristol.
Text: 07971345263
E: info@womankindbristol.org.uk
Saturday morning athletics
Saturdays, 10am to 11am, Whitehall Track,
BS5 9AZ
Learn a new sport or develop your skills in
a fun, friendly environment with coaching
and competitions. Open to anyone over 12
years old. 1 per session.
E: richard.gwyn@sgscol.ac.uk
Open art studio for refugees and asylum
seekers
Mondays 1.30-4.30pm at St Agnes Lodge,
St Agnes Park, Bristol, BS2 9LJ
The Open Art Studio at St Agnes Lodge
is now able to welcome 16 and 17 year
olds who have had or are still having
experience of the asylum seeking process
and mothers who have children with them.
Adult refugees and asylum seekers are
also welcome. Contact Sarah Robinson,
Programme Manager at Art Refuge UK.
T: 07939 764 152
E: robinsonarttherapy@gmail.com

New community fund is giving away up

to 25,000 for projects that will make a
real difference to local communities
The Aviva Community Fund offers support
and funding for projects to help enhance
local communities. To qualify, the project
must make a positive difference to peoples
lives in one of the following categories:

Health, disability and wellbeing

Supporting the younger generation

Supporting the older generation

Community support
There are four different funding levels you
can apply for, ranging from 1,000 to up
to 25,000. Submissions will open until 30
April.
W: http://tinyurl.com/p8ofbhz
T: 0207 358 6490
E: alice.holman@smallcharities.org.uk

Healthwatch Bristol
Update
Healthwatch Bristol: carers need more
support
Local people have been telling Healthwatch
Bristol their stories about health and social
care services in Bristol.
This month, a theme that is emerging from
their feedback is: cancer services are good,
but there is a need for more support for
carers of people with cancer.
What do you think? Have you or your family
or friends had any experiences, good or
bad, regarding cancer support services for
carers, or with any other health and social
care services?
We will take this information to the people
who commission the relevant services, so
they know what people think and can plan
improvements for the future.

Local Information
Contact Healthwatch Bristol
T: 0117 2690400
E: info@healthwatchbristol.co.uk
W: www.healthwatchbristol.co.uk
Text: text bris + your story to
T: 07860 021 603
Twitter: @HWBristol and Facebook

Children and Young Peoples Mental
Health Taskforce report is published
Earlier this year Healthwatch Bristol shared
the feedback given to us by children and
young people living in Bristol with the
Parliamentary Children and Young Peoples
Mental Health Taskforce. The taskforce has
now published their report which outlines
a number of proposals the government
wishes to see by 2020. These include:
tackling stigma and improving attitudes to
mental illness; introducing more access
and waiting time standards for services;
establishing one stop shop support
services in the community and improving
access for children and young people who
are particularly vulnerable. The report sets
out how much of this can be achieved
through better working between the NHS,
local authorities, voluntary and community
services, schools and other local services.
It also makes it clear that many of these
changes can be achieved by working
differently, rather than needing significant
investment. Anna Bradley, Chair of
Healthwatch England, said: The increasing
importance being placed on mental health
at the moment is really encouraging, and
the Government should be applauded
for both the intent behind this report and
for promising additional investment in
childrens mental health services. []
Whatever happens, local Healthwatch is,
and will continue to be, a reality check on
the ground for reviewing the access to and
quality of CAMHS. Full report available at:
W: http://tinyurl.com/ka3vhdo

#YHWBeingMe Survey
In response to feedback from children and
young people about a lack of support for
their health and wellbeing, Healthwatch
Bristol has launched the #YHWBeingMe
survey to find out more about children,
young people and families experiences of
accessing and receiving support for their
emotional wellbeing and to collect ideas for
how to develop services. Please share and
complete the survey.
W: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/
NJ6FPVW
Deaf and Deafblind Sports event
On Saturday 7 March, as part of the Deaf
Health and Wellbeing Promotion and
Access Sport and Ignite Programme, a
sports taster event for people who are Deaf
or Deafblind was held at City Academy,
Bristol. The event featured 15 different
sport activities and 21 information stands
and was attended by 110 people. During
the day Healthwatch Bristol spoke to
lots of people about their experiences of
health and social care services. People
told us that they often have to ask a family
member to interpret for them, using British
Sign Language (BSL), during medical
appointments, and were unsure about
how to request an interpreter. Healthwatch
Bristol will share all the feedback with
commissioners and service providers. To
read the full report and to tell us your own
feedback, visit the Healthwatch Bristol
website.
W: http://healthwatchbristol.
co.uk/?p=1614
LGBTQ Community Health Survey for
Bristol
The Diversity Trust has launched a LGBTQ
Community Health Survey for Bristol which
has been funded by Healthwatch Bristol.
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Berkeley Wilde, Director of the Diversity

Trust, said: We are really pleased to be

launching this survey. We have carried out
similar health needs assessments in other
local areas and we are mapping the health
and wellbeing of LGBTQ people across
the area. We plan to use the results to
influence public policy and decisionmaking. We have found, for example,
LGBTQ people have higher levels of
anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts
and feelings and self-harm. We have
also found that LGBTQ often experience
barriers when accessing services even
fearing discrimination. We want to gather
evidence to make a real difference to
the lives of LGBTQ people in our local
communities. Healthwatch Bristol and
The Diversity Trust encourage people to
promote and complete the survey which
can be accessed online.
W: www.surveymonkey.com/r/
healthwatchlgbtqsurvey
The Kings Fund Report Local
Healthwatch: progress and promise
Over the last few months the Kings Fund
have been conducting an independent
evaluation of local Healthwatch on
behalf of the Department of Health.
The report states that the activities of
local Healthwatch are wide ranging
and recognises that they are on their
way to making an impact for local
people, but in some areas the network
is in a development stage. The report
acknowledges the progress local
Healthwatch have made in gathering
peoples views and using this evidence to
influence providers and commissioners.
However, the report reflects that local
Healthwatch are reliant on building
relationships with other
local stakeholders in order
to develop legitimacy,

influence decisions and create impact,

and the limited capacity and differing local
interpretations of what local Healthwatch
should be focusing on is impacting
effectiveness in carrying out statutory functions.
Healthwatch Bristol is pleased to note the
progress of local Healthwatch as recognised in
this report, and is looking forward to ensuring
that the recommendations are implemented
locally to improve our service.
W: http://tinyurl.com/nggv7be

Training
SPAN is running a Healthy eating
Rethink Carers Service Caring and Coping
education programme
This six session educational programme is
an opportunity for family members or friends
of people with a mental health illness to learn
more about diagnoses and treatments, develop
practical skills in the areas of communication,
problem solving and self help, and to meet
and talk to a variety of professionals working
in Bristol as well as other people in a similar
situation. Starting on 29 April 2015, the
sessions are each two hours long, held once
a week in the early evening at City of Bristol
College. The sessions aim to be flexible and
respond to the requests and feedback of
participants. Rethink Carers Service is funded
by the City Council and NHS Bristol, and the
course is free to carers who live in Bristol or
who support someone who lives in the city.
Developed by Rethink Mental Illness, and cofacilitated by staff from Rethink and Bristol
Mental Health, the Bristol course is designed
specifically for those who are new to mental
health services or who have recently taken
on a caring role. If your relative or friend has
had mental health issues for a long time and
you have knowledge about illnesses and
treatments, this course may not be for you,
but there are other ways in which Rethink
can support you, including one to one

National Information
appointments, support groups and their
local newsletter. If you are a professional
and you are in contact with a carer, Rethink
encourage you to call them to discuss
whether they might benefit from the course.
Building Research Partnerships
Workshop
Wednesday 22 April 2015 9.30am - 4.30pm
at University of the West of England (UWE),
Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol,
BS16 1DD
This workshop is an opportunity for
researchers and members of the public to
find out more about involvement in research.
The workshop is for people interested
in getting involved in research, and
researchers interested in involving patients
and carers in their research. It will outline
the different types of research methods and
terminology used in research and how the
public can get involved, as well as exploring
the issues related to becoming and being a
member of the public involved in research. It
is free and lunch will be provided.
For more information contact Kim Thomas,
PPI Administrator, or register for a place on
the website.
E: kim.thomas@nihr.ac.uk
T: 0117 3421251
W: http://tinyurl.com/npdkgqr
Creating inclusion seminar See the
Bigger Picture
Tuesday 16 June, The Lighthouse, Poole.
The ACDC (Arts, Crafts and Dignity in
Care) cluster aims to reduce social isolation
through creative engagement, helping
socially isolated people enhance both their
participation in and contribution to society.
W: www.creatinginclusion.eu

National Information
Consultation: strengthening rights
and choices for people to live in the
community
This Department of Health consultation
seeks views to strengthen the rights of
people with learning disabilities, autism and
mental health issues to enable them to live
independently. The consultation ends Friday
29 May 11.45pm.
W: http://tinyurl.com/nq3mt78
Action to improve race equality across
the NHS workforce
NHS England has this week announced
action to improve race equality across
the NHS workforce. They have produced
a toolkit that aims to help organisations
improve the services they provide for
their local communities and provide better
working environments for all groups.
W: http://tinyurl.com/mndxuff
Report on how integrated working
improves the health of local communities
This report by Public Health England (PHE)
and the Local Government Association
shows how integrated working by local
government and local health teams and the
voluntary sector can improve the health of
local communities. The publication Local
leadership, new approaches includes seven
case studies.
W: http://tinyurl.com/lokmwdz

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