As part of our continuing Community Champions programme another group of Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprises from across the borough have taken on the task of raising awareness of health inequality.
This Small Grants scheme is specifically designed to deliver projects and create initiatives to promote wellbeing, access & inclusion to Health information and services in Knowsley. This second round of awards from the Community Programme are listed below, with a brief explanation of their projects.
You can find out more about our Community Champions Programme here
In this months round we have awarded grants to:
Beautiful New Beginnings – Health Anxiety Workshops:
The group will be running workshops led by counsellors to help people who struggle with help anxiety. Sessions will run for four weeks and will include topics such as Needle Phobia. They are also offering to run online courses for people within the Knowsley Region. Their aim is to reduce stress and anxiety around vaccinations.
Beyond Raw Materials
They will be using vacant shop windows in Huyton and Kirkby town centres to display video projections the group are aiming to engage the public to have conversations about Health issues and inequallities. They will encourage the public to have their thoughts and opinions to be a part of the projections.
Centre 63
Centre 63 are offering a wide range of activities running until the end of July. Activities include Social Supermarket, Coffee mornings, YES project, which is a digital inclusion hub, Employability Project, Youth Club ‘Myths and Facts’, Remake Yourself Hub – Women’s Group Upcycling drop-in service and they will also have Health Promotion days.
Kirkby Espositos
Their project ‘Learn to Fish at Milly’ is a day for families and young males where they can learn to fish. In the sessions participants will be coached by an accredited fishing school North West Angling Academy (NWAA Fishing 4 All) and Knowsley Park Ranger, Louisa Bibby. The aim of the sessions will encourage people to be outdoors and to create a safe space for people to talk.
Kirkby Happy Hour
Over ten weeks the group will deliver dance classes in Towerhill area of Kirkby, Town centre of kirkby & Whiston town hall. The aims are to improve confidence, healthy lifestyle and mental health.
ME2U
With three events that target Youth, Families and Cares ME2U aim to have fun filled days for people to enjoy. From live music to games and fun activities the live events will be chance for people to have fun and socialise.
Bringing people in from the local community ME2U want to encourage open conversations about health inequalities.
Rainbow Kids- Family Positivity Day
Bringing families together who have children with additional needs for a fun event that includes a wide range of activities, animal shows, party bus and refreshments for every bodies needs.
The event will be held in Kirkby town centre and will be welcoming families from all over Knowsley, the aim is to help parents/carers to have adult led conversations about health and wellbeing. Focusing on hospital anxiety the group want to familiarize families the processes involved and the equipment that is used, they will do this with handouts and role play.
Rainbow Kids – Rainbow Dots
The group will create a sensory environment for children with additional needs to use. Families of the service users will be engaged with one another helping with advice and guidance about accessing health information. Rainbow Kids aim is to provide a place families feel comfortable, confidant, independent, a place where their loved ones can relax and enjoy the facilities available to them.
Rebound
The group will be running a weekly programme of around 15 sessions in a community hall in Huyton. In each session there will be focus on improving physical and mental wellbeing for people in the local area.
St Gabriel’s
By working in many community centres around Knowsley St Gabriel’s aim to recruit at least one community champion in each Community Centers (minimum of 8). The community champions role will be to extend the reach and capacity of existing groups and organisations in the centres. Each champion will be encouraged to make contact with the various group leaders, ensuring they know how to signpost people to the champions and have access to up to date and accurate information themselves. Using digital media networks, the champions will promote regularly their presence and aims. Some of the meetings they will host will guide people on the dangerous effects of sharing social media.
Tarbock Jubilee Village Hall
The group will be hosting an activity filled Games Day where young men will be encouraged to take part in activities like playing pool, darts and other games at the village hall.
The Eco Therapy Garden
Based in Kirkby the Therapy Garden will be welcoming people from the community to visit their site and engage with them about topical issues.
Tower Hill ABC
Running a Weekend Drop In Event at Tower Hill ABC for the parents of the children in Knowsley to learn how to nurture their conscious children by engaging the parents and carers to help them support the children in adopting the new strategies and practices they have been taught at home. “COMBAT MINDSET” program uses boxing and Martial Arts as vehicles to drive critical Mindfulness lessons. To help mental health issues developing in young children the group will teach concepts and practices that help take control of thoughts and emotions.
Northwood Together
Hosting weekly drop-in sessions for members of the community the group will encourage volunteers to have conversations and offer update information regarding health inequality in Knowsley.
Mind Moves
Better Health Walks project is an outdoor group walk program that is aimed at providing Knowsley residents with information and advice about improving their health and wellbeing whilst out walking in Knowsley’s green spaces/parks.
The walks will include Court Hey Park, Halewood Park, Mill Dam Park and Stadt Moers Park. There will 5 walks in each park on weekends, weekdays and evenings aimed at teenagers and adults. Each walk is aimed at attracting groups of 5-10 people during the 20 walks providing information to as many people as possible. The Better Health project aims to engage over 100 target members. The walks and the promotion will be supported by community champions who will also provide information, signpost and support participants.
If you are interested in signing up to be a Community Champion or perhaps, you would just like to know more about the programme, then you can do that here.
