November 2022 ICS Newsletter – Let’s Talk: Your health & care campaign

/by

The third newsletter from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICS was issued this month.  During November, the ICS has been busy promoting Let’s Talk: Your health & care campaign. Let’s Talk is all about gathering views of people who live and work in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to shape the first-ever Health & Wellbeing Integrated Care Strategy.

Also, over the last month, two important strategies, the People and Communities Engagement Strategy and the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Strategy, have been agreed upon.

You can find details on both of these strategies here.

The VCSE Strategy focuses on the positive impact our VCSE partners have on the health and wellbeing of our local people, and sets out how we can all work together to create healtheir futures for our local people and communities.  The Strategy was co-produced by the ICS, including VCSE partners, and led by the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA).   An action plan will deliver the Strategy and future updates will be shared in this newsletter.

Autumn booster and flu vaccines are now available for those over aged 50 and over – the NHS COVID-19 and flu programmes continue to protect the county ahead of winter, with our 33 million people in England eligible for a free flu vaccine this year.  This will include primary-age and some secondary-age children, who will be offered a nasal spray.

Warm Hubs will be introduced to support local people and communities who may be facing difficult challenges as we get closer to winter.  The hubs will offer a warm, friendly and inclusive environment with access to hot food, tea and coffee. The new initiative has been developed by both South and East Cambridgeshire District Councils as well as Cambridge City Council, with support from the ICS. The hubs will be coordinated by Cambridgeshire ACRE – the charity dedicated to supporting and strengthening rural communities across Cambridgeshire.   For more information on warm hubs, visit the ICS website

In other news – £5m healthcare facility has been secured for new Bourn Airfield development.  This development at the airfield will see 3,500 new homes built – leading to significant additional healthcare needs for the local community.

NHS Blood and Transport (NHSBT) has triggered an ‘amber alert’ as blood stock levels across the country have fallen to critical levels.

To follow CPICS on socials channels – click here  – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Read November’s newsletter in full here

 

Changes to Charities Act 2022

/by

The first changes to the Charities Act 2022 are out.

The changes:

More information can be found here:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charities-act-2022-guidance-for-charities

Nominate your Wisbech Unsung Heroes

/by

It’s time to nominate your Wisbech Unsung Heroes

This autumn sees the return of Wisbech Unsung Heroes – a chance to recognise those who go the extra mile to help the town and community.

The awards are back for a third time after a two year hiatus thanks to the pandemic and so it’s time to get nominating your Wisbech Unsung Heroes as the competition is relaunched today (Wednesday).

Wisbech Town Council is running the Wisbech Unsung Heroes Awards with support from the Fenland Citizen and the aim is to recognise those townspeople who go the extra mile for their community.

The awards were initially launched in 2017 with an awards ceremony in early 2018.

This year we have seven categories: Best Neighbour (that person who goes out of the way to help those around them), Best Customer Service (could be shop, business or even medical person), Best Business (a firm that has made an outstanding contribution to the town), Wisbech Hero (someone who has done something heroic like help in an emergency), Roger Green Sports Award (someone who has made a fantastic contribution to sport in the town – participant or coach), Wisbech Community Hero (someone who has made a major contribution to help the local community), Wisbech Youth Community Hero (as per previous award for anyone under 18).

A panel of judges will choose the winners in each category from those nominated.
All those shortlisted will be invited to a presentation evening which will be held on Saturday January 28 at the Queen Mary Centre in Queens Road, Wisbech.

So, if you know someone who deserves recognition, why not nominate them – by writing all of the following details: Your name, name of the person you are nominating, contact details for both you and your hero, and a short piece explaining why you have nominated them for whichever award you have chosen, and post it to Wisbech Town Council, Town Hall, North Brink, Wisbech PE13 1JR, or email the same information to info@wisbechtowncouncil.gov.uk before Wednesday, December 14.

Coun Sam Hoy said: “These awards aim to recognise Wisbech people who have done something special for our town. We have some amazing people living here.

“We all know people who do extra things to help the community or us as individuals, so now is the time to give them recognition.”

Jeremy Ransome, Citizen editor, added: “We are proud to support these awards. It is always nice to recognise people who do things that make our community a good place to live.”

Health Alliance Group Update November 2022

/by

The Health Alliance group met on the 9th of November in Peterborough to update the members on the continual progress being made by the ICS and VCSE sector in working together to deliver the goals as set out in the VCSE Strategy.

The meeting was chaired again by Julie Farrow, CEO of Hunts Forum and was held at 100a Central Avenue in Peterborough. It was good to see some new faces attending the meeting from across the voluntary sector.

 

Julie opened the meeting by introducing Jane Coulson and Katerina Lagoudaki from the Integrated Care Board (ICB), who came and spoke about the ‘Let’s Talk’ survey the ICB is currently conducting.  This survey has been developed to show insight and receive feedback from the public and voluntary sectors on key health and care issues affecting the community.  It has now been running for five weeks and is due to close this week.  The survey has received over 2200 responses so far.

The findings from this survey will add insight to the Joint Health & Wellbeing Integrated Care Strategy and help the ICS set objectives which will be included in their Operational Plan due March 2023.

The Operational Plan will focus on building the infrastructure to deliver ‘person-centred care’ within our local communities. It will lay out the following four key priorities for the ICS, which will focus on;

  • Children – ensuring children are ready to enter and exit education
  • Environment – for people to remain as healthy as possible, including outdoor spaces and access to services
  • Poverty – reducing poverty, lack of housing & debt control
  • Mental Health – finding early intervention solutions

During the meeting, Julie received approval to sign off the Terms of Reference (ToR). This document reiterates the ambition of the Health Alliance group, stipulating the membership rules and aims and goals the group wishes to achieve.

Click here to open the Terms of Reference (ToR)

We have now completed the list of Voluntary Sector Representatives who represent the VCSE sector on many of the ICS Health boards and Committees, including the contact names of the Chair & Vice Chairs (where known).

Click here to open the VCSE Representation List.

The meeting concluded with Julie highlighting two areas of work the Group is currently working on – specifically ‘Health Inequalities’ and ‘Securing Funding’.

More action was agreed upon to investigate how much funding is currently coming into the VCSE sector, where the gaps were and if any external funding opportunities were available.  Healthwatch and CAB agreed to look at what data was already held in the voluntary sector and report back to the Group.

Action points still ongoing                                                   

  1. All members agreed to forward ‘content’ that can be uploaded and shared via a regular newsletter to all members detailing key activities, events, and feedback from attending the various health boards.
  2. A few members expressed concern over their commissioning contracts, particularly the delays in renewing their contracts, with many charities forced to operate ‘as a going concern.  Julie offered to send a letter signed by CEOs expressing their collective concerns direct to the CPICS.
  3. Create a ‘slide deck’ for Reps to use at ICS Boards and Committees to support them when they represent the VCSE sector at meetings

Any other business

Due to the extra bank holiday in May, it was proposed and agreed that we would not hold a meeting during this hectic month.

The 9th  December meeting will be held online. If you would like an invite, please email debbie.drew@huntsforum.org.uk.

Open Spaces Forum – open to all

/by

The Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Parks Partnership is a legacy of the Future Parks Programme where selected areas across the country received funding to help to protect and develop natural resources, and make sure quality green space are accessible for everyone, now and into the future. Cambridgeshire’s focus for future Parks Programme was to activate and animate parks by recognising the benefits that parks bring to communities’ health and wellbeing, restoring nature, strengthening communities through volunteering and tackling climate change.

The Vision for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Parks Partnership is a joined-up and sustainable future for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s parks and public open space. The mission of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Parks Partnership (CP3) will be to realise the benefits of parks and green spaces for local communities and the environment by activating and animating these spaces. To achieve “Healthier Parks, Healthier Planet, Healthier People”

Some early consultation was carried out with a group of people who are volunteers, members of parks ‘friend of’ groups and other organisations with an interest in volunteering in parks. The feedback established the need for volunteer networking opportunities.

The Open Spaces Forum is a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough forum that connects volunteers, friends of groups, charities and parish councils with a shared interest in working together to develop, manage and maintain parks and open spaces. Meetings enable communication, and information sharing and news relating to parks and open spaces, volunteering, opportunities for collaboration, funding, local and national updates. Meetings may identify areas of common interest and need, and will provide learning opportunities, sharing good practice, mentoring and networking between groups.

The Open Space Forum is a Support Cambridgeshire are working in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Parks Partnership to facilitate and promote the Open Space Forum. Support

Support Cambridgeshire helps community groups and organisations to strengthen and grow, providing a range of advice, training and support. Part of this package of support that is offered are networking opportunities for example health and wellbeing, managing volunteers and fundraising.  Support Cambridgeshire have a wealth of experience, expertise and contacts and are a valuable partner in helping the Strategic Parks and Green Spaces Partnership achieve its aspirations around community resilience through promoting and supporting volunteering in parks and green spaces.

The next Zoom-hosted Open Space Forum is on the 1st of December 2022  

This meeting will introduce Peterborough & Cambridgeshire Parks Partnership and Support Cambridgeshire. Discussion around volunteering recruitment experiences, challenges and sharing ideas.

To find out more or book a place follow this link https://OpenSpacesDecember.eventbrite.co.uk or  to sign up to our newsletter email StrategicParks@Cambridgeshire.gov.uk

To access the Open Space Forum Webpages follow https://cambsfutureparks.org.uk/community/

Free safeguard training for all

/by

Many don’t know about the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board and the fantastic information, resources and training they offer organisations and groups working across the two counties. Thier website is a fantastic resource, and we encourage all organisations to look through it for advice, guidance or general knowledge because safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Below is a list of up-and-coming training and a link below with a link on how to book. You might also be interested in their SWAY training and resources.

 

Date   Course   Time  
November
22nd November 2022 Self-Neglect and Safeguarding Adults 10:30 – 12:30
22nd November 2022 Update from the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board 13:30 – 15:00
24th November 2022 Early Help – Back to Basics 09:30 – 12:30
24th November 2022 Hoarding and Safeguarding Adults at Risk 10:30 – 12:30
December
6th December 2022 An Introduction to Child Criminal Exploitation 10:30 – 12:30
8th December 2022  Safeguarding Adults and the Mental Capacity Act 10:30 – 12:30
13th December 2022 Early Help – Back to Basics 13:00 – 16:00
15th December 2022  Introduction to Child Neglect 10:30 – 12:30

For more details about the courses and to book a place on any of our training, please visit Multi-Agency Safeguarding Training | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk)

Help us improve our website