Honiton Health Matters is embarking on a new and exciting partnership between five towns in the East Devon locality; Honiton, Sidmouth, Ottery, Seaton and Axminster.

The aim of this partnership is to have locally based 'Community Champions'.

These are people who have an interest in serving the community, increasing access to community wellbeing support and raising awareness.

They will develop both health and mental health wellbeing, responding to others and social opportunities. 

The partnership creates a collaborative advantage by bringing new opportunities for community development, wellbeing and social cohesion.

The aim is to develop community-based networks to be better equipped and more confident to use and enhance their existing mental health and wellbeing skills and services. 

It will comprise of multi-agency health teams, health and social care forums and communities in the five towns specified.

These communities have identified the need to offer prevention and early intervention strategies to support mental health issues.

More access points to wellbeing support through existing groups to reach more people in the community will be created, with a focus on all community members and age groups. 

'I belong' is a local approach to develop social support.

It is designed from research on coping and experience of community development and has demonstrated the need for more informal, but informed support mechanisms built into our everyday lives.

Identifying and supporting people who will benefit from preventative or early intervention strategies.

This community pathway will complement models such as the Hope Programme and Ways2Wellbeing providing key stepping stones.

The project will offer meaningful training, coaching and education for 50 connectors across the five towns.

 

'I belong Honiton' will help to increase wellbeing by creating more local, immediate and easy to access support through community connectors.

'I belong' offers:

• Training and coaching skills development
• Works with local people across the community developing skills to

offer on-the-spot support and signposting

• Develops responding skills to listen, communicate, problem solve

and build community resilience

• Brings out the strengths in people to support health and wellbeing

If you would like to find out more about being an 'I belong' community connector and are able to spend 18 hours at training events during February, then come along to, or sign up to our annual review on January 21 from 9.30am – 1pm at the Beehive in Honiton.

Please reply to Steve Craddock 07835 939246 or email [email protected] if you would like to be involved.