Sandwell Council and Sandwell Consortium have launched a new programme to support people with mental health and wellbeing, including helping to prevent and manage long-term health conditions.
The Sandwell Health Inequalities Programme (SHIP) is a three-year grant funded programme developed with local community organisations. It will deliver health improvement for local residents through a varied programme of activities in 11 community centres across Sandwell.
Each of the 11 community centres will run activities over during the three-years, including projects to tackle childhood and adult obesity, Zumba classes, maternity and women’s health groups, exercise groups for over 50s, postural gentle exercise for older residents, a community swimming group, and football sessions for adults and young people. There are also multiple activities aimed at preventing and managing diabetes, cancer and other long-term conditions. These are complemented by wellbeing activities, social groups and coffee mornings in local community settings, which bring people together, to reduce isolation and improve mental health.
A launch event was held in November 2022 where partners could promote activities, meet referral agencies, and hear the impact that SHIP was already having on the lives of residents. Beneficiaries of the programme shared heart-warming experiences of how taking part regularly in SHIP activities was changing their lives for the better, helping them to make new friends and break out of social isolation.
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Health, who attended the event, said: “The Sandwell Health Inequalities Programme is there to support the local community, like an oak tree, spreading its branches and providing long-term support to those who most need it. The programme is reaching out to support residents right across Sandwell. We hope to help people improve their health and wellbeing and help them access the support services they need.”
The 11 community organisations delivering the SHIP are:
- Bangladeshi Islamic Centre (BIC)
- Bangladeshi Women’s Association (BWA)
- Brushstrokes Community Project
- Confederation of Bangladeshi Organisations (CBO), Greets Green Resource Centre
- Community Connect Foundation (CCF), North Smethwick Resource Centre
- Ileys Community Association
- Sandwell Irish Society
- Smethwick Pakistani Muslim Association (SPMA)
- Smethwick Youth & Community Centre (SYCC)
- West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre
- Yemeni Community Association (YCA)
For further information please contact Suni Patel, Healthy Ageing Project Manager, Sandwell Council Public Health: suni_patel@sandwell.gov.uk or call 07972 527171, or contact Sandwell Consortium: info@sandwellconsortium.co.uk or call 0121 533 2668.