Healthwatch Hampshire have awarded grants to six community groups in Hampshire. The funding has been awarded to a range of projects, all of whom are helping improve feedback and access to mental health services. The feedback collected will be used to influence service providers and improve outcomes for local communities, particularly within mental health services.
Healthwatch Hampshire, an independent organisation that gathers people’s views on health services across the county, have funded nearly 30 groups over the past two years. Their work has been recognised nationally, winning an award for ‘The value we bring to our community’ in June 2016. This year, Healthwatch Hampshire are focusing on projects specifically to hear views on mental health services.
Successful projects include a group who will be working to improve knowledge about people with autism and mental health issues through a countywide survey, a local organisation who will be working with people who have accessed mental health services to enable them to write a short story about their experiences and a local charity who use contact with horses to help improve the wellbeing of people with mental health issues.
Steve Manley, manager at Healthwatch Hampshire, says, “These community grants allow citizens to develop their own voice and, with our support, share their work, findings, recommendations and innovative projects with local commissioners and providers. We recognise the power of using skills, experience and existing networks of our communities throughout the county to harness their participation and involvement in health and social care related services and I am looking forward to working with each of the successful projects.”
For more information of fund winners, go to:
http://www.healthwatchhampshire.co.uk/healthwatch-hampshires- community-cash- fund