Agenda item

(a)     Update by Shona Smith, Communities and Partnership Manager.

(b)     Health Care & Wellbeing – Reducing loneliness and social isolation.

          Presentations by:

          (i)      Margaret Smail/Richard McDowell – Community Learning & Development

          (ii)      Rachel Studinski – Social Prescribing

          (iii)     Discussion regarding the above presentations

(Current draft Plan attached.)

5.1       Shona Smith advised that the updated version of the Plan would be submitted to the next meeting of the Community Planning Partnership.  Copies of the draft Action Plan were on the tables for the information of those present.  There was still some work to be done on this and the final version would be circulated with the Minute of the meeting.  The Performance Framework would be included in the Community Plan.

            Health Care & Wellbeing – Reducing Loneliness and Social Isolation

5.2       Margaret Smail and Richard McDowell from Community Learning and Development gave a presentation on the work of her service.  The Service had a priority plan for the year.  They were currently targeting families and encouraging people to study for qualifications.  This empowered people and improved health and wellbeing.  Digital isolation was also highlighted and weekly IT drop in sessions were being held.  Two adult learners were also present and explained the help they had received and the positive impact it had on their lives.  Four young men from the Walkerburn Youth Group were also present and gave examples of the issues they faced and suggested that free bus travel for young people in rural areas and the availability of buses later in the evening would make a huge difference to their lives.  Examples of intergenerational projects were also highlighted.

5.3       Rachel Studinski gave a presentation on the Spring Social Prescribing project by Health in Mind which had been funded by the National Lottery.  This allowed NHS primary care providers to refer patients to the project who would in turn identify activities within their communities which would help to improve their health and wellbeing.  There could be up to 12 interventions with each person to assess their needs.  Activities included aqua fit and walking football and they would be accompanied by someone from the project until they had the confidence to attend alone.  The project was working well and was helping reconnect people to their communities.  Most referrals had been related to social isolation and lack of confidence.  A digital platform was being used to record all information and allowed both the Doctor and the patient to monitor progress.

5.4       Lorna McCulloch from the Bridge reported on their work.  40% of people in Tweeddale lived in a rural location.  They provided support to the Federation of Village Halls which included 14 halls in the area.  Village Hall played an important role in community life with over 400 regular lets and 150 one off hires per year.  They also provided a community transport service which had facilitated 6500 trips last year.  They maintained a Tweeddale Community Directory which contained over 300 groups and they were looking to develop this further over the next 6 months.

5.5       There were discussion sheets on each table which posed a series of questions including:-

·         Where there any gaps

·         What were the barriers to access

·         How can these be addressed

·         What would be the benefit to the community

Each table was given 30 minutes to discuss these issues which would be recorded by the table facilitator.  A summary of the outputs is appended to the Minute.

5.6       The Chairman invited the Walkerburn Youth Group representatives to ask questions. They asked if any help could be given for the cost of hiring the hall as this used all their funds.  The possibility of submitting a Community Grant Fund application was suggested.  They also felt that Walkerburn did not receive much funding from the Council compared to other areas and it was agreed that Councillors would look at this.  The need to bring forward specific projects was highlighted.  Concern regarding parents sending their children to St. Ronan’s Primary School rather than Walkerburn which might result in the closure of the school was also expressed.  Assurance was given that both the Headteacher and the Council were committed to keeping the primary school.