Darlington Connect is a base for VCSE organisations, operating from a public facing shop front unit, centrally located on Darlington’s busy Northgate. Two of the project’s key strengths are the wide range of support offered and the visibility in the town centre; often the initial contact takes place when the person has walked in from the street.
The town centre base was set up in 2022 by a group of VCSE organisations as a response to the cost-of-living crisis. A range of organisations staff the centre through the week and people can drop in for advice about many of the challenges associated with the cost-of-living and the impact on mental health and wellbeing. Crucially, Darlington Connect have been closely linked with social prescribers, health services and the local authority from day one, and they have developed a robust referral network which enables them to refer widely but also for social prescribers to refer into Darlington Connect. To keep the referral system strong and ensure information is shared, they are in regular contact with the social prescribing team, ensuring good relationships. Darlington residents also benefit from some great examples of social prescribers based in the VCSE sector on a rolling programme, such as Age UK, MIND and local foodbanks. Additionally, NHS mental health workers also work out of Darlington Connect.
The numbers demonstrate the project’s effectiveness: to March 2024 Darlington Connect supported approximately one thousand, four hundred and fifty people at the town centre base, with seven hundred and seventy-five referrals made to other organisations.
Roy first walked in to Darlington Connect following a recommendation from a pharmacist. He was seeking information on support available for his physical and mental health needs as he was struggling with depression, anxiety, alcohol addiction and severe arthritis. Darlington Connect linked Roy with a number of organisations and following a self-referral to social prescribing, he joined health walks, a gym scheme, addiction support and chronic pain support via Escape Pain. Roy says of his experience with Darlington Connect:
“[It’s] really helped improve my mental health and confidence in meeting new people and trying new activities. I am now more able to leave the house! The referral to Escape Pain has really helped me manage and cope with my pain better, the walks have helped me so much with my arthritis and depression, I can’t thank them and social prescribing enough.”
VONNE have enabled investment, as part of our Healthy Communities and Social Prescribing Infrastructure Investment Programme, to support the outreach work of Darlington Connect. This programme is funded by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and supports thirteen organisations to improve the social prescribing offer in their localities. Darlington Connect have used the funding to engage a local VCSE organisation, Darlington Association on Disability (DAD), to help improve the accessibility of their support for disabled people. DAD are a user led organisation and support people regardless of their impairment. They support people facing multiple barriers to accessing support including physical access, attitudes, accessible information and understanding of disability issues.
One of the first tasks for DAD was to advise on accessibility for the Darlington Social Prescribing website with the aim of increasing self-referrals. Their work to reduce barriers for people to access social prescribing continued with the development of an outreach service for those who can’t access the town centre base. This service includes home visits to deliver support with a wide range of cost-of-living issues, including using fuel vouchers and accessible energy advice. To date, DAD have supported four hundred and fifty people as part of their outreach work.
Lauren Robinson, Chief Executive at DAD, explains: “With this work we’re reaching people who were not previously supported. We often catch people when they are almost at crisis point, supporting them into statutory services and to access local voluntary sector support. We can help prevent further crises and people know where they can come back to.”
You can find out more about Darlington Connect’s work on their Facebook page and more about Darlington Association on Disability on their website. If you would like to know more about VONNE’s Healthy Communities and Social Prescribing programme you can access the webpage here and join the Healthy Communities and Social Prescribing Network to receive regular news and information.