Community Links

Written by Steve McDonald

Monday, 26 January 2009 13:49

“The successful and key element of this project is the strong community links that have been developed through the life cycle of the project to date, which has culminated in the ‘buy-in’ of the community at each stage; to ensure that the project is driven towards the needs of the community (i.e. user-led) and tapered towards the mainstream” Community Links’ is the Aston Pride Health and Regeneration’s vehicle for community, communication, engagement and consultation concerning all of Aston Pride Health and Regeneration projects. Community Links to date has established 50 plus diverse community groups covering a wide spectrum of user’s views. These groups have been formed from previous attempts and through adding new and emerging groups. In order to maximise effective communication and retain an effective partnership, we have asked community groups to choose their preferred method of communication, and also to inform us of the level of involvement. This ranges from: 1.    Just wanting to receive all of the information 2.    Varying levels of involvement ranging from emails to one-to-one’s 3.    Full participation in events – deciphering responses to the theme’s vision. Communities have been involved in every stage of the development to necessitate buy in. Currently we have set up and are starting to work with professional community groups, where involving GP’s and pharmacists at the design phase of projects, enables their buy in, thoughts and views to be incorporated, making way for effective joint working at the delivery stage. This is particularly appreciated where professionals are involved in the delivery of projects. The Health Theme strongly recognises its commitment to community engagement and involvement, which is evidenced by the procurement of a dedicated Community Links Manager, who feeds back the responses that are representative of the community. Together with views provided by the COFSS Development Manager, it provides rich data which is a crucial tool in devising effective services. Community Links enables Aston Pride residents, the wider community and the seldom heard to easily have a “voice” about health and social care services while at home through newsletters and emails, while shopping, attending their Church, Mosque or Community Centre, meeting their children at the school gate and attending local meetings and events. Community Links plays an integral part of COFSS in reaching families in need and informing them that not only is help at hand, but that there are the COFSS teams available to help them change their family’s life for the better. More importantly, Community Links ensures that the COFSS programme continuously evolves to meet the needs of the Aston Pride community. The approach of the successful community involvement and engagement programme has been adopted on a wider level within the HOB PCT, in particular around the 2010 agenda. COFSS regularly hold community events, highlighting a particular subject and routinely providing health services alongside fun activities; this has proved most effective in promoting the COFSS programme “The very experience of participation itself, identifying needs and then bringing about change, is empowering and may increase personal confidence and self-esteem. Empowerment may lead to the development of local skills and competencies which can be used for future community development that can be extended into other areas of people’s lives”