In our latest project spotlight, Groundwork NE and Cumbria shares their approach to building stronger links with social prescribing across several locations in Northumberland.

The Cultivate Northumberland partnership brings together a network of grassroots organisations managing green spaces and allotments, all united by a shared goal: improving health, wellbeing, and environmental outcomes. Many of these groups operate in areas facing significant challenges, including limited access to green space, lower levels of physical activity, and poorer health outcomes.

Groundwork acknowledges the specific challenges facing individuals in rural communities and outlines the flexible and responsive approach they’ve taken to ensure greater access to green spaces to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

With funding from the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), administered by VONNE’s Healthy Communities and Social Prescribing Programme, they have been able to build on existing work and strengthen connections to social prescribing.

A central aim has been to develop effective referral pathways into community-based activities. By working closely with social prescribers, health networks, and local infrastructure organisations, they are creating stronger connections that help ensure these opportunities reach people who can benefit most.

The NHS Neighbourhood Health Framework has been published, which sets out a list of “minimum interventions” to be delivered by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) over the next three years. The framework focusses on shifting care from hospitals into communities, whilst prioritising prevention and digital innovation. 

The ambition is to improve services for people who need routine healthcare, improve proactive care for people with complex needs and deliver “better alternatives” to hospital care, closer to home. This includes the creation of Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs), which can deliver multiple health, care and wellbeing services from one location.

There is a strong focus on plans being created based on need at neighbourhood level, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The document states, “These reforms will need to be led locally. ICBs need to reform services based on what’s right for their local population, and what the frontline tells them needs to change.” It also highlights the need for involvement of all parts of the health system, stating, “Neighbourhood health will only work as a joint endeavour between the NHS and local authorities, alongside wider partners.” The VCSE sector is referenced several times within the framework as an essential partner and there is consistent focus on person-centred care.

Following the release of the new Neighbourhood Health Framework, NAVCA and The King's Fund have published briefings and analysis, which you can explore at the links below. 

The report tells the story of Cumbrian people who have benefitted from social prescribing approaches, through a series of case studies. They have faced challenges including bereavement, addiction, homelessness and ill-health. Link work and community support from the VCSE sector has helped empower them to improve their health and given them hope for the future.

It also brings together the most recent research on the benefits of social prescribing both to the system (financial savings, reduced burden on healthcare) and to the individual (mental health and wellbeing).

The report is being launched at an event on 7th, May, 9.30am - 1pm, Harraby Community Centre, Carlisle. 

Join the team on the day to hear from members of the Steering Group on how the report was put together and what it means for the future of neighbourhood health in North Cumbria.

An inspirational community sculpture, created by the local recovery community to help others overcome substance and alcohol issues, has been officially unveiled in Newcastle.

The ‘Recovery Sculpture’ is an 8ft hand-carved wooden installation and a symbol of hope to encourage people wishing to take (or now taking) the first steps towards recovery. It is aimed at challenging stigma and was created by those with lived experience of addiction. The design, messages and symbols in the structure acknowledge their stories and progression. The programme combined professional, ‘people-first’ and ‘trauma-informed’ health and wellbeing support with creative activities at weekly woodwork sessions.

Approximately 40 participants - residents of Tyne Housing and service users from Oaktrees, a local community rehab centre - created the sculpture over a four-month period as part of a collaborative project led by Tyne Housing in partnership with Revival Newcastle and Newcastle City Council.

The sculpture has been a true labour of love for all involved and is now on full display in the orchard at Ouseburn Farm in Byker.

The North Pennines National Landscape team, alongside partner organisations, is delivering the Landscape Connections project, working with farmers to create opportunities for people to visit and experience the countryside. 

They are inviting community groups to apply for funding for farm visits and activities. By taking part, groups can support people to improve their health and wellbeing, build confidence, and develop a stronger connection to nature and local heritage.

Up to £2,000 is available to help more people experience the countryside and connect with nature. They are particularly interested in supporting groups who may have faced barriers to visiting the countryside in the past. 

Funding may be used for visits, activities or transport. For example, visits such as wellbeing walks, creative workshops (art, crafts, music, storytelling, photography, nature etc) or camping trips on farms. You can also access support from the North Pennines National Landscape team to help run your events.

Contact Kerryanne Higgens, On-Farm Engagement Officer, to talk through your ideas and to apply: Kerryanne@northpennines.org.uk

The Landscape Connections project is led by the North Pennines National Landscape team and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. The project partners are RSPB, The Farmer Network, Eden Rivers Trust, Tyne Rivers Trust and Wear Rivers Trust.

What is it really like to be a Social Prescribing Link Worker? The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP)'s new ‘Spotlight’ page features nine professionals, sharing first-hand, role-specific insights and advice - from their journeys into the role to the challenges they face and their advice for others.

This National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH)’s evidence resource outlines that when people and organisations come together in neighbourhoods to use creative health interventions there are significant positive impacts. 

The evidence highlights measurable impacts such as reduced GP appointments, improved self-management, increased physical activity, improved screening uptake, and enhanced wellbeing for people with chronic conditions.

It also features real-world examples, including a Gateshead GP practice that worked with local systems and the wider community to develop personalised approaches to care, resulting in improved outcomes and reduced pressure on both GP and A&E services.

A researcher at Northumbria University is looking to design a study to measure whether Making Every Contact Count (MECC) helps people to live healthier lives and improves health and wellbeing. She is looking to partner with a VCSE organisation for the next stage of the research, which would be a feasibility study, ahead of an anticipated larger scale study.  

She would like to work with a VCSE organisation with national reach (whether this is a national charity, or an organisation that works in partnerships across regions), to shadow what kind of conversations take place between organisations and the communities they support. Your organisation would ideally support a wide range of people, and could, for example, address some of the wider determinants of health (such as housing or employability). The aim of the research is to measure the effectiveness of MECC in community settings. 

This is an opportunity for early VCSE involvement, which would ensure that a VCSE research partnership could be fully costed into the future funding bid. If your organisation would be interested in having an initial conversation, please contact: bethany.a.b.nichol@northumbria.ac.uk 

This new training from the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) is an introductory course aimed at anyone from across sectors with an interest in social prescribing for children and young people - from VCSE sector professionals and youth workers, to health and care staff, researchers, policy professionals and more. It covers:

• An introduction to social prescribing for children and young people 
• A guide to different approaches and models 
• A guide to implementation (including funding, advocacy and partnerships)  
• Safeguarding advice on keeping young people safe and measuring impact  

Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) are delivering Healthy Heart events for Community Health Champions. The aim of the session is to educate, support and empower community champions to raise awareness, deliver education and promote cardiovascular health. 

There are two forthcoming sessions available to select from: 

18th May - in-person event in North Ormesby. Register here 

14th July - online event. Register here 

A set of NHS-developed resources is now available to support evidence on the role of dance for people living with Parkinson’s.

Evidence shows that dance can help improve balance, mobility, coordination and confidence, while also supporting brain health, reducing symptoms such as freezing, and enhancing mood and social connection.

The materials are designed to support healthcare professionals, organisations and partners to communicate these benefits clearly and consistently, using evidence-informed messaging. They also encourage people to consider how dance can be part of conversations around staying active and living well with Parkinson’s, including through social prescribing and community-based activity.

The resources, on the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) website, include a clinical briefing and slide sets that can be used across health, care and community settings.

Co-produced by creative groups, disabled creatives, and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), these new toolkits are intended to enhance everyone’s confidence when participating in creativity, and to help groups think through how to be as inclusive as possible.

There is toolkit designed to help creative groups spark creativity among their local deaf and disabled community; as well as one focussed on a series of practical ways for Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) to identify and engage with local creative groups.

The toolkits were created by the Make it Together project - a partnership led by Disability Rights UK, alongside Creative Lives, Attitude is Everything, 64 Million Artists, Breakthrough UK, Wiltshire CIL, DABD and The Audience Agency. 

The campaign is underpinned by research evidence which shows the benefits of creative activities for children and young people. A briefing which summaries this evidence, and offers practical recommendations for professionals, was prepared by the NIHR ARC NENC to support the campaign.

Organisations and individuals can support the Make It Better campaign by sharing resources across their websites and social media channels to help spread the message about the benefits of being creatively healthy every day. A toolkit of campaign images and assets - alongside the independent review of evidence to support health professionals in conversations with patients and families – is available to download at the link below.

As part of the Integrated Care Board (ICB)'s WorkWell programme, a health and wellbeing support offer is available on the Boost platform here for all staff and volunteers, including those working in the VCSE sector, across our region.

It includes resources for emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, self-help guides, virtual resilience workshops, fitness and lifestyle tools including popular wellbeing apps.

You can also access the staff wellbeing hub which offers free, confidential, rapid-access psychological support. Again this service is freely available to people working across the VCSE sector involved in health and care work. Alongside one-to-one support, there’s a growing programme of wellbeing offers.  

If you would like to receive the monthly newsletter from the NENC Staff Health and Wellbeing Hub team, you can contact them on email: hubstheword@cntw.nhs.uk with subject ‘Briefing sign-up’

3rd June, 9am - 4pm, Northumbria University, Newcastle

This free event, in collaboration with Northumbria University, will provide an opportunity to explore Making Every Contact Count (MECC) through interactive sessions delivered by professionals showcasing their work, whilst networking with others from across a diverse range of sectors. You will have the opportunity to hear from keynote speakers and then attend four workshops based on your interests. Example workshops will include:

• The opportunity effect: Empowering staff to use MECC
• Bringing a health equity lens to health protection response work
• Father inclusive practice strategy
• Embedding a MECC approach within the Department for Work and Pensions
• Lessons learned from research into MECC across multiple projects
• Delivering MECC as part of University curriculum

The conference is aimed at anyone with an interest in health promotion, the MECC approach and population health. Those encouraged to attend include academics, researchers, practitioners, professionals, members of the public, and those working in the voluntary and community sector.

We also produce a series of other ebulletins. Sign up on our website for:

• Health & Wellbeing Network bulletin (North East & North Cumbria)
• Research Partnerships bulletin (North East & North Cumbria)
• VONNE News, a fortnightly round up of relevance to the region's VCSE community
• VONNE Jobs, a weekly round up of all the vacancies advertised through VONNE
• Funding Information North East (FINE)*, fortnightly details of funding opportunities.

*A benefit of Membership+ support.