Out &About - "A Learning Resource"

A learning resource (report) about how one project has used social prescribing.

click here to view report

The Living Well - Community Services in Dumfries and Galloway. A search Tool

Please take time to read this post and search the directory of activities as developed by the Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway

We are moving towards a health and social care landscape that will see greater emphasis on personal resilience and looking beyond the clinical environment for solutions to health problems that are often socially determined. There is a wealth of community resources on our doorstep that could help people better manage their health, but often they remain unknown to us.

As a result, Third Sector, Dumfries and Galloway has developed a new service, designed to promote better health and wellbeing throughout the region, but also pull together all useful activities and services into one place. Funded as part of its Adult Health and Social Care project, ‘The Living Well’ provides an online directory for health, social and community services that is bespoke to Dumfries & Galloway. Its aim is to help improve access to information for the general public and health and social care professionals, ensuring everyone can have access to the services which will improve their lives or the lives of those they support.

Users can freely search for activities and services from a topic of their choosing - either from their local area or regionwide.

To search the directory click HERE  or go to the Third Sector logo on the right of the page.

The Living Well is open for submissions from any groups or services which benefit an individual’s health and wellbeing. Its overall aim is to be the central point where organisations big and small are able to promote their services to the widest possible audience.

For more information about the service or to get involved please contact:
Tel. 0300 303 8558 or email thelivingwell@thirdsectordumgal.org.uk

Community Transport

Do you know about community transport?

Royal Voluntary Service Community Transport is a door-to-door scheme that gives older people the freedom to get out and about.  Cost is mileage based and all drivers are volunteers so please click here to find out more.

Come and Join Us!

Please take a moment to checkout our groups. Click on the Groups tab above to see what's on offer and how to join in. Please remember though to contact us first to make sure we still have spaces available by calling Building Healthy Communities on 01387 279279.

Students and Volunteers Put Their Heart and Soul into Health

All set for lunch!

ng Healthy Communities’ Operational Manager, Sheila Campbell and Self Management Programme Worker Helen Mackintosh helped identify those who took part in the programme. Sheila said: “We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people in Dumfries and Galloway and this programme is an excellent way of bringing students together with people who would benefit from their skills and knowledge.”Helen added: “The people who took part were all over 50 and have a range of health conditions all of which can be improved with good diet and regular exercise and each student teamed up with a participant to design a food and fitness regime specifically for them.”Sports tutor from Dumfries and Galloway College, Paula McMinn works closely with the HND Fitness, Health and Exercise students. She said: “The people taking part went through a range of fitness and health tests which gave the students the information they needed to plan a six week fitness programme. They were also given suitable and realistic exercise and lifestyle changes to improve their health and wellbeing.“Students also looked at their client’s nutritional intake and gave advice on how to adjust to a healthier diet including healthy eating options, cooking styles and portion control. “The volunteers received a bespoke food and fitness plan designed to help them increase their fitness and improve their quality of life. They were also given suitable and realistic exercise and lifestyle changes that they would be able to keep going after the programme ended. The students got great experience of working with real people with a wide range of medical conditions that they had to take into account when developing the programmes.”The Heart and Soul programme is due to start again later in the year. For further information, including how you can take part, please contact Building Healthy Communities Health Support Worker Carolyn Watson on carolynwatson@nhs.net (01387 279 2Twelve students and volunteers got together for a healthy, nutritious lunch at Dumfries and Galloway College’s Zest training restaurant on Wednesday 2 March to celebrate completing the Heart and Soul programme.

Heart and Soul is a collaboration between NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Building Healthy Communities team and HND Fitness, Health and Exercise students from Dumfries and Galloway College. The students worked with twelve people aged over 50 to design and deliver a bespoke six week fitness and nutrition programme.

Building Healthy Communities’ Operational Manager, Sheila Campbell and Self Management Programme Worker Helen Mackintosh helped identify those who took part in the programme.

Sheila said: “We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people in Dumfries and Galloway and this programme is an excellent way of bringing students together with people who would benefit from their skills and knowledge.”

Helen added: “The people who took part were all over 50 and have a range of health conditions all of which can be improved with good diet and regular exercise and each student teamed up with a participant to design a food and fitness regime specifically for them.”

Sports tutor from Dumfries and Galloway College, Paula McMinn works closely with the HND Fitness, Health and Exercise students. She said: “The people taking part went through a range of fitness and health tests which gave the students the information they needed to plan a six week fitness programme. They were also given suitable and realistic exercise and lifestyle changes to improve their health and wellbeing.

“Students also looked at their client’s nutritional intake and gave advice on how to adjust to a healthier diet including healthy eating options, cooking styles and portion control.

“The volunteers received a bespoke food and fitness plan designed to help them increase their fitness and improve their quality of life. They were also given suitable and realistic exercise and lifestyle changes that they would be able to keep going after the programme ended. The students got great experience of working with real people with a wide range of medical conditions that they had to take into account when developing the programmes.”

The Heart and Soul programme is due to start again later in the year. For further information, including how you can take part, please contact Building Healthy Communities Health Support Worker Carolyn Watson on carolynwatson@nhs.net (01387 279 279).

Monday Crafternooners go Heart to Heart

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This is the latest project completed by our Monday craft group; one of the many different activities offered by Building Healthy Communities (BHC) at the North West Resource Centre, Lincluden. We will be showcasing the talents of various groups regularly on this page to let you see what we have to offer.
If you fancy having a go at something new why not contact BHC to find out about the many free options available to you at North West Resource Centre and elsewhere. It's fun, it's free and (mostly) non-fattening.

INKSPIRATIONS BOOK LAUNCH EVENT

The morning of Wednesday 25 November marked the launch of A Gallimaufry of Poems and Short Stories at the North West Resource Centre in Dumfries.

Gallimaufry is a collection of short stories, poems and lyrical ramblings produced by six members of Inkspirations, a writing group started by NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Building Healthy Communities team.

Juanita McNeish from Inkspirations said: “I have always been interested in writing but I never had the nerve to show people what I wrote. When I heard about Inkspirations I thought it would be a great opportunity to see what I could do. I can’t believe we have managed to produce a book of our work." Building Healthy Communities Manager, Sheila Campbell, is delighted that the group have produced their own publication. She said: “I am very impressed by the quality of the writing; this is a seriously talented bunch of people. It’s great that Building Healthy Communities has been able to give them the chance to work together to express their creativity.”

Building Healthy Communities in Dumfries and Galloway is a region wide programme based on the Healthy Living Centre concept and is a partnership of public, community and voluntary organisations that has been working together since 2001. The programme is designed to improve the health and wellbeing and quality of life for all individuals, particularly those who are encountering difficult circumstances and personal issues.
The Inkspirations group meets every Wednesday at the North West Resource Centre. For further information about the group or how you can join in please contact Carolyn Watson, Community Health Support Worker on Dumfries 279279 or email carolynwatson@nhs.net
The book is on sale for £2.50 from North West Resource Centre.

Volunteering Opportunity

We have been contacted by Sheila Doak who is a volunteer within the Tea Bar at HM Prison in Dumfries.  They are looking for a couple of volunteers to help out with the visitors.  A police check would also be required - assuming they would be providing this.

If any of you are interested, or know someone who is, could you please contact her on the following

shieladoak@tiscali.co.uk 

VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION

Building Healthy Communities held a Volunteer Celebration Day on Thursday 3 December at the North West Resource Centre in Dumfries.

The event aimed to give volunteers the opportunity to showcase the wide variety of activities they enjoy and to share the positive effect taking part in them has had on their lives.

Building Healthy Communities Manager, Sheila Campbell, heads up the team of dedicated staff who support and advise the volunteers.  She said:  “It’s great to be part of a project that helps people discover and develop their creativity.  There is so much undiscovered talent out there and this project encourages people to find theirs. 

“We held this event to celebrate the passion and commitment of the volunteers who generously give their time to support others.”

Bill Howat has been volunteering through Building Healthy Communities for nine years.  He said:  “While I have been a volunteer I have listened to others and shared my own experiences.  I hope that the time and knowledge I have contributed have been useful and that I have helped in some way.”

To find out more about volunteering opportunities with Building Healthy Communities please contact Carolyn Watson, Community Health Support Worker on Dumfries 279 279 or email carolynwatson@nhs.net.

Strategic Plan for Health and Social Care Integration Consultation 2016 - 2019

(click on pic to view)

Share your views and help shape health and care services in Dumfries and Galloway.

In preparation for the Integration of Health and Social Care in Dumfries and Galloway, (The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014), we are required to develop a Strategic Plan for health and social care that sets out how we will plan and deliver care and support services for the region.

To help do this, a consultation document for a strategic plan has been prepared by integration partners. The consultation on this document is from Monday 22 June to Friday 28 August 2015 and we are very keen to hear the views and comments of as many people as possible.

This document sets out the case for change, key challenges for health and social care and how we plan to address these. It has been developed by listening to local people, people who use health and social care services, families and Carers, partner organisations and staff. There are questions at the back of the document that we would ask you to consider.  

To view the full consultation document, also shown on the website, click HERE. or on the logo on the left hand side of the blog.

If you require the Consultation Document in other formats or hard copies, these are available by emailing dg.integration@nhs.net or tel: 01387 272749. 

You can submit your comments using the questionnaire at the back of the consultation document.

Below is a timetable of consultation dates and venues for Dumfries and Galloway.

Also available are information leaflets about the Strategic Plan:

For the main version click Here

For the easy read version click Here

Dumfries & Lower Nithsdale Activities - June 2015

Please click on images to enlarge

Our Place invites you to come along to influence how money will be spent in your community.

Please click here for more details