Sandwell Community Offers

Lead service provider/commissioner

Name:

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Type of knowledge

Type of knowledge:

Project description only

Prevention service description

The schemes were placed out to tender, as an initial grant award of £100,000, to lead providers or consortiums with the aim of providing community based support to vulnerable people, helping them maintain their health and wellbeing and reduce demand on health and social care services. There were no specifications placed upon service delivery allowing flexibility to reflect local opportunities, however lead providers are expected to work with additional community providers, with funding held back to incorporate new ideas from smaller providers within the lifetime of the project.

The six areas and their related services are: Area 1: Blackheath, Cradley Heath & Old Hill. Agewell is the lead organisation and have launched a new Age well Health Passport designed to encourage older people in being more proactive in relation to their health by taking part in activities such as having a health check and doing voluntary work. Age well also support carers of older people, those with a diagnosis of dementia, and provides carer training. Area 2: Great Barr, Yew Tree and Newton. Agewell is the lead organisation and the focus within this area is fall prevention for older people with home exercise or community classes with the aim of getting people steadier on their feet. Area 3: Oldbury & Langley. Better Understanding of Dementia in Sandwell (BUDS) is the lead organisation, supported by a range of partners including Agewell. The organisation provides a volunteer-led befriending service which then signposts to other local services to provide support such as home safety checks and gentle exercise classes.

Intervention/service type:

Support at home; Befriending, mentoring and peer support; Information and advice; Community services; Low-level support; Carers support; Social prescribing; Self-care; Community capacity building

Target client group(s):

Older people; Carers