There are lots of things that can have an impact on our health and wellbeing. Many people may want support with finances, housing, employment, exercise, food, emotional wellbeing, life changes and feeling more connected. There are also lots of opportunities to improve wellbeing by feeling more connected to ourselves, others and a wider sense of meaning and purpose.
At Health Connections we try to offer many ways to get involved or get support. You may want to work directly with Health Connections and get one-to-one support or join one of our Health Connections groups. You may want to join 1,900 people who have done our Connector training. Or you could just browse our directory to find out about the amazing support, information and opportunities in our community. It is important for us that you have the support that is right for you.
If you are not sure about what support is right for you, just give your local team a call and we can chat through your options. You don’t need a referral, just contact your local team and we will be happy to help if we can. If we are not the right team for you, we can help you find the support that is right for you.
Living and feeling better can start with a simple step – connecting.
What support does Health Connections Mendip offer?
Health Connections Mendip offers different levels of support to local people:
The Mendip Directory
A source of information about local charities, social groups and support in the community.
Community Connectors
Community Connectors help friends, family, colleagues and neighbours find support in their communities by signposting to local support. Find out more about becoming a Community Connector below.
Groups
Health Connections Mendip run a number of groups that help people meet others, set health goals and manage long term health issues.
Health Connectors
Health Connectors offer free one to one support to people, giving information on local support and working to assist people in setting health related goals and supporting them to make sustainable changes.
Directory of Local Community Services for Families, Parenting and Young Children
- 121 Support with our Health Connectors
We can listen to your health story and give you information about local services such as exercise classes and support groups. We also assist people to set health-related goals and support them to make sustainable changes. This free service is open to patients of all Mendip practices.
Designed by healthcare professionals and informed by research, our interactive healthy lifestyle programme helps you identify what’s important for your health and make small changes to achieve bigger health goals.
- Youth Patient Participation Group*
The first in England, the Frome Youth PPG recruits young people to look at ways to improve wellbeing and health services for young people.
(* indicates that a service has been affected by Covid-19 but will return as soon a government regulations and advice permit)
Community Connectors
Community Connector training is designed to help everyone in Mendip be better equipped to signpost friends, family and neighbours to support in their community. Anyone and everyone can be a Community Connector. It is not about being a formal volunteer, it’s just about you being someone in the community who knows that there is support out there. So far we have trained police, taxi drivers, hairdressers, students, doctors, café staff, supermarket staff, parents, grandparents, homeless people, job centre staff…
Community Connector training can be as brief as 5 minutes or up to an hour. Come to one of our regular sessions or we can adapt the training to suit your needs and come to your place of work or community setting. Just give us a call.
Regular Community Connector training
Frome – 1st Thursday of each month, 10:30 – 11:30am at Frome Medical Practice, Glass ‘Live Well Room’ in the entrance area. There is also the opportunity to stay and chat with other Community Connectors after the event. Book via Eventbrite, call us or just come along at 10:30am.
For more information call 01373 468368 or email mendip.healthconnections@nhs.net
“Having the extra knowledge when talking with people who need help and support will be so valuable.” Police Community Support Officer
“This had been a very informative and helpful workshop. I never knew there was so much support out there!” Community member
