My Blog

>Earlier this year Ann Girling and I were pleased to deliver a couple of day workshops for antenatal education to mothers in the Halton and St. Helens areas of the NW of England as part of the Wellbeing Project.
http://elainehanzak.blogspot.com/2010/05/launch-of-antenatal-sessions-for.html

The Wellbeing Project Community Interest Company was set up in 2006  in Halton and St Helens. They provide a range of community based  activities for everyone who would like to improve their mental wellbeing.  www.wellbeingproject.co.uk 

Here is the press release about their awards!

NHS North West Trust triumph at regional award ceremony

 The success of the NHS Halton and St Helens Wellbeing Project was recognised at this years Health and Social Care Awards, which took place online on Thursday 14th October. The Wellbeing Project CIC came top of the Mental Health and Wellbeing category, with its innovative ‘Ignite Your Life!’ community resilience programme.The unique scheme equips the general public and people working in  the customer service professions with the skills to support their  neighbours and colleagues experiencing low level mental health issues. It has invited the general public to a number of events that teach people useful and practical skills and techniques to stay resilient during difficult times and educates people about the  signs and symptoms of common mental health problems like depression and anxiety and how and when to seek help.
The scheme, which is co-directed by Dr Laura Pogue and Paula Gamester, also teaches people about the simple things anybody can do to improve their mental wellbeing, with a focus on the ‘5 Ways  to Wellbeing’ informed by the Foresight’s Report on Mental  Capital and Wellbeing.
The excellent work carried out by the Wellbeing Project will now gain some well-deserved recognition for their hard work at the national Health and Social Care Awards at a ceremony on 18th November, after being selected by the national panel of judges.
Commenting on the standards set this year, Dean Royles, NHS North West Director of Workforce and HR said, ‘The regional awards highlight and celebrate the excellent and innovative work of teams from PCTs, trusts and voluntary and third sector teams across the region, who have made a big difference to the lives of the people they care for. We were really impressed with the project and how it has real impact on the quality of people’s lives and drives meaningful improvements in people’s mental health and wellbeing.’

Mark Swift, Founder and Programme Manager for the Wellbeing Project said ‘The Ignite Your Life’ Community Resilience Programme ‘teaches every day people the practical skills to stay strong during difficult times.’
‘The programme places emphasis on the innate skills and talents of individuals, and the assets within our communities and the ways in which we can mobilise these to improve the quality of people’s lives.’
‘We are delighted that the scheme has been selected to go on to be recognised at a national level and that we have been given the opportunity to have our hard work celebrated at such a prestigious event.’

 For more information about the scheme please contact Mark Swift,  Programme Manager, Wellbeing Project T: 01744 26444 E:  m.swift@wellbeingproject.co.uk
For more information about the Health and Social Care Awards 2010 please visit http://hscnhsnorthwest.wordpress.com/

Elaine Hanzak

www.hanzak.com