Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
The Craigavon Health Improvement Programme (the Programme) has
sought to address the health inequalities that exist in the 3 designated
Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) areas in Craigavon of Brownlow, Lurgan and
Portadown North West through a series of targeted interventions. Managed
by the Promoting Wellbeing Team from within the Southern Health and Social
Care Trust in the Craigavon and Banbridge locality. The work commenced in
April 2011 and is due for completion in March 2016.
The Programme has been funded by Department of Social Development
under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, a cross government
strategy aimed at tackling disadvantage and deprivation by working with
and through local communities. The NR Strategy has sought to close the
gap in the quality of life between the most deprived neighbourhoods
and the rest of society through the better co-ordination of public services and
the creation of safer environments.
The Craigavon NR area has a combined population at the 2011 Census
of 20,281 individuals, with Brownlow having seen the most dramatic increase
in its population, particularly amongst those over 65 years where an increase
of 60% has been observed. Whilst past interventions have had a positive
impact, the situation in the NR areas continues to be worse than for the
Southern Health and Social Care Trust area as a whole, including:
General Health - individuals were more than 3 times as likely to describe their health
as bad or very bad and to have a longstanding illness
Mortality Rate - a 29% higher rate for premature and avoidable death with a 20%
higher rate in deaths to under 75s
Suicide Rate - a 59% higher rate for suicide
Mental Health - a 25% higher prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders
Obesity - adult obesity in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust is the highest in
NI at 28%, with childhood obesity 1.5 times higher in the most deprived areas than for
the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area as a whole
Alcohol and Smoking - hospital admissions for alcohol were twice as high with
smoking prevalence three times more likely
Development of
a Health Trainer
Network
Delivery of
Healthy
Lifestyle Programmes
Establishment
of the Verve
Healthy Living
Centre (HLC)
Network
Ten community organisations
came together to form the
Verve Network
Community Intercultural
Programme (was Craigavon)
Drumcree Community Trust
Drumellan Community
Association
Edgarstown Community
Centre (the Place Initiative)
North Lurgan Community
Association
Northern Pharmacies
Taghnevan Community
Development Association
Shankill (Lurgan)
Community Projects Ltd
(Mount Zion House)
Shankill Parish Caring
Association (The Jethro Centre)
Drumgor Detached Youth
Worker Project including
Fit Zone.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
in addition, other
support provided
included
Service Delivery - an opportunity to deliver health programmes in a more joined up way across the NR areas
Good Practice - the opportunity to successfully replicate a model of good practice as seen in mainland UK
Increased Organisational Profile and Usage - increased number of local residents making use of the services available
Increased Capacity - to deliver services directly without the need to bring in external support. Training provided
has increased community capacity and contributed to an increase in the numbers of individuals willing to act as
volunteers at each Centre
Skills Development - staff, Health Trainers and volunteers are better skilled to be able to deliver a range of courses
Career Development - training has improved the career prospects of the Health Trainers, whether in their
current role or in a similar job role in another organisation
Economies of Scale - Organisations involved in the Verve Healthy Living Centres have been able to share resources,
covering a wider geographical area resulting in improved working relationships and collaboration
Hard to Reach - anecdotal evidence suggests some individuals have been reached and engaged with for the first time.
Build Relationship with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust - relationships between the Southern Health and
Social Care Trust and local communities have improved, with increased joint working and greater communication
Cross-Community Working - with the focus on delivering the Programme as best they can, there has been little
mention of religious or sectarian concerns. Health Trainers have been willing to work in communities outside of their
own area and provide support irrespective of the individuals religious or political background
Accessing Funding - involvement with the Verve Network and the skills developed has increased the opportunity to
access additional funding for future sustainability
Addressing Health Issues - the softer approach has worked well in encouraging more individuals to seek help and to
begin to address the health issues they have
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
health condition
physical
mental
before
after
before
after
3%
2%
16%
1%
14%
40%
11%
36%
5%
35%
54%
37%
48%
6%
34%
11%
47%
very poor
poor
fair
good
excellent
Changes in the physical health of participants have included becoming more active; improved fitness; fewer aches and
pains; reduced weight; reduced blood pressure; toned and stronger; sleeping better; and improved energy levels.
Changes in the mental health of participants have included beating/coping with stress; greater peace of mind; feel better
as a person; feel good factor; reduced depression; increased self-confidence and self-esteem.
Improvements in the general health and wellbeing of participants have included feeling less socially isolated and reduced
loneliness; improved interpersonal skills including communication; increased motivation levels; improved balance in their
life with an increased opportunity to relax; happier appearance and generally more positive; improved appearance and
hygiene; and changes to habits including reduced eating, drug and alcohol intake.
The impact on clients health can be illustrated by the following case studies.
Before joining a fitness class through the Verve Programme,
I did not engage in much activity outside of the home. The
Programme has changed my life. I have more energy, I enjoy
myself, my self esteem is very high, Im keeping myself fit
and Ive made lots of friends. I am really grateful for
being a part of this wonderful programme. If it stops
I dont know what Im going to afterwards.
Thank you for everything.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Based on the findings of the evaluation, the following recommendations are put forward.
Core funding should be sought to support the Verve Network and Health Trainer activities. This would include support for
both Health Trainer salaries and programme costs.
The Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Council should be consulted to establish if funding through community
planning may also be available from 2016.
Programme Management
The future governance of the Verve Network needs to be clarified, with the ongoing role of the Southern Health and
Social Care Trust to be established.
The need for a Coordinator to oversee the work and provide strategic direction to the Network has been identified as
critical to its success; therefore securing this post is vital going forward.
Establishing the Network as a social enterprise should be considered.
Programme Delivery
Individual Health Trainers should be encouraged to collaborate more, with the potential to form teams of trainers to
address issues over a wider area.
Consideration should be given to individual Health Trainers becoming specialists on specific issues, for example as a
mental health specialist Health Trainer.
A Health Trainer Continuous Professional Development plan should be established annually and include all training to be
received by Health Trainers.
Succession planning for Health Trainers should be considered, including the usage of the community health champion
approach and the provision of training to new Health Trainers identified.
Supervision support should be established for Health Trainers to protect their mental health and help deal with the issues
they are encountering.
There is the need to establish better links between the Verve Network and Primary/Acute Care providers in the Southern
Health and Social Care Trust area, potentially through the implementation of Family Support Hubs in these areas.
Care pathways should be established, with the Health Trainer acting as the link, to provide effective cross referrals and
an exchange of information.
Social prescribing should be encouraged as an alternative to prescribed medications.
Prepared by
Supported by the Northern Ireland Executive
through the Department for Social Development