The Community Wellbeing Hub created by Bath & North East Somerset Council, HCRG Care Group (formerly Virgin Care), the 3SG and other third sector partners in March 2020, and has won recognition for its services in the annual Municipal Journal Awards.
Background
Set up during the Covid pandemic to deliver emergency food parcels and medication, as well as provide telephonic advice to people isolating during lockdown, the hub has become a central point of contact for residents to access support for their health and wellbeing.
The Community Wellbeing Hub set up to support the community in Bath and North East Somerset has celebrated its five-year anniversary with more than 15,000 people now having received vital help. It has grown to 37 partner organisations including Avon Fire & Rescue, Centre for Sustainable Energy and the Royal United Hospital.
Impact of the hub on residents
The hub has received 32,000 referrals over the five years it has been operating from residents needing help with a wide range of issues including money, housing advice, food access, mental health and caring for others. People who contact them will, on average, receive support from two or more services. Opening hours for calls are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
The hub has also supported more than 1,200 people being discharged from hospitals in B&NES and has distributed 500 HELP packs to ease patients’ transitions back home.
The Community Wellbeing Hub is a remarkable legacy from the pandemic that is still supporting the most vulnerable residents in B&NES. There could be no better example of what happens when a community comes together to help others and we are proud to be part of that journey.
Becky Brooks, Director of the 3SG
Funding
The Hub is funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council through the Better Care Fund (BCF) Programme. The BCF is a national programme in England that aims to improve the integration of health and social care services
Recognition and reward
The hub also celebrated news of being shortlisted for the Municipal Journal Awards in the Innovation in Public Private Partnerships category, which described the strength and trust across the partnership and being an example of good practice for co-production, delivering for local people.
Congratulations to everyone who has played a part in making the Community Wellbeing Hub the excellent resource for everyone in B&NES that it is today, giving the right support to people at the right time. We are immensely proud of the quick and effective support the Hub continues to provide our community, which is testament to the strength of the relationships between all the partners involved.