Wandsworth Care Alliance

International Women’s Day: celebrating and supporting women

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International women’s day (IWD) is a globally celebrated day annually on the 8th of March. IWD gives a focus on important issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. This year’s campaign theme is ‘inspire inclusion’, where we aim to inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion and for women themselves to be included and felt a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Together we can create a more inclusive world for women.

At Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA),we are committed to supporting individuals, families, and communities in Wandsworth. We share and advocate for a range of services includes health advocacy, community engagement, and support for caregivers. But beyond these vital services, WCA plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment within the Wandsworth community.

We provide resources and support to ensure women have access to essential healthcare services, including reproductive health, mental health support, and preventative care. By prioritising women’s health and well-being, WCA contributes to breaking down barriers and promoting a culture of inclusivity and support. WCA also shares opportunities for growth such as career development, networking events, activities and so much more to allow women for all walks of life to come together and connect, collaborate, and share their experiences.

Resources:

The menopause charity:
This charity aims to educate everyone so that perimenopause and menopause are properly understood. They want women to understand the changes that are happening to them and be able to know what to do next. They also want to ensure that health care workers, employers, friends, family and co-workers understand and have the appropriate resources to be able to provide correct information and support.

To learn more click here.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG):
Wandsworth is committed to developing an ambitious, long-term strategic approach to ending violence against women and girls. Wandsworth now has a safe space where women or girls, or anyone who is feeling vulnerable can go.

For more information click here

Girl guiding London:
Girl guiding has great opportunities for young girls and leaders looking to join them, providing non-stop fun, learning and adventures. They cover a wide range of South West London areas.

Discover more and get involved.

Talk Wandsworth:
Talk Wandsworth offers a wide range of therapeutic groups and courses that take place across Wandsworth.  They also offer several wellbeing workshops designed to support a variety of needs.

For more information click here.

AGOE Empowerment Network:
Agoe Empowerment Network CIO are a charitable organisation that serve Wandsworth and wider London communities. They support underprivileged women and families from disadvantage backgrounds who have English as their second language. Their aim is to support women and families and help empower them to overcome obstacles they are facing.

To learn more, click here.

Events:

Enable community are offering free fit mum classes in Wandsworth.

These are free physical activity classes for new mums in Wandsworth. The session is wonderful and allows new mums to bond with other mums and create a social hub through physical activity, the best thing is that the mums can bring their children along as well.



Richmond women’s hub:
The women’s hub is a new service which aims to deliver holistic support, enabling women survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence or multiple disadvantages who live in the borough to thrive and recover in a community wellbeing setting.



For more information click here.

Women enterprise awards:
The Women’s Enterprise Awards have been created to spotlight the achievements of female entrepreneurs in the borough, many of whom run a successful business whilst jugging the needs of their families.



For more information, click here.

Breathe mum’s event:

Breathe Melodies for Mum’s is a free group singing programme for mothers and their babies looking to boost emotional and mental wellbeing.

They are hosting a free 10-week programme for new mums with babies aged 0-9months, for Wandsworth residents.

For more information and to sign up click here.

Do you have more resources to share on this article on International Women’s day?
Email communications@wandcareall.org.uk so we can share resources and support one another.

Cost of living: support and advice

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The cost-of-living crisis has become a huge worry for individuals and families across the UK. The rising cost of energy and everyday expenses such as food has been having an impact nationally as well as locally.

The burden of maintaining a decent standard of living seems to be becoming more daunting each day. There are also huge concerns about how the crisis is impacting people’s mental and physical health.

At Wandsworth Care Alliance we have been investigating the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on the local community and how it’s been impacting them since 2022. The aim of our report was to gain insights into how it is impacting people’s mental health, physical health, lifestyle, and financial status. We conducted a survey in which 165 people took part in and from that we found that 14% of people were concerned about food costs and 22% were negatively thinking about the future.

People who are most vulnerable whether due to physical health, mental illness or financial status have been the most affected by the cost-of-living crisis so far. One response from a survey participant was “Through my work at Wandsworth food bank, I am speaking with people who are badly affected by the cost of living crisis every day and hearing about how it is troubling their mental and physical health due to a lack of money for essentials such as food, gas and electrics.”

Read the latest report here and discover more about what we investigated and found.

What is next?

Recently Wandsworth Council announced a council tax freeze which means for Wandsworth residents they will pay the lowest council tax in the country. The council is also increasing it’s cost of living support package to £15 million.  You can find out more information on this here.

There is also a wide range of support and advice available on Wandsworth cost of living hub and a free helpline available too.

Healthwatch England conducted a survey indicating that a considerable portion of respondents struggle to afford essential healthcare expenses such as medications, dental care, and transportation to medical appointments.

Read more here.

Resources:

Free gym and Swim Scheme: Residents are reminded that more people are now eligible for free gym and swimming sessions at council leisure and sports centres. Young people who are on free school meals can receive free sports activities and swimming and adults who are on certain benefits are also able to get access to the gym. Learn more and see if you’re eligible for the free gym and swim scheme.

Talk Wandsworth: Wandsworth offer various mental health services one of which is called Talk Wandsworth. They provide free confidential talking therapies for people over the age of 18 for problems such as stress, worry and low mood. You can refer yourself or be referred by a healthcare professional. Learn more here.

Wandsworth food bank: If you’re unable to cover food and essentials Wandsworth food bank is available, find out more information here.

Family Action

Family Action transforms lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across the country. They help strengthen families and communities, build skills and resilience, and improve the life chances of everyone they work with. Family Action work to tackle some complex and difficult issues families are facing such as financial hardship, mental health problems, social isolation, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, substance abuse and alcohol problems.

With our findings from the cost-of-living report we found that 14% of participants were concerned about the increase of food costs. “I have to buy less, eat less. I look for the reduced-price items in the shop and have smaller quantities and eat what I can afford.” Approximately 57% of the participants said the cost of everything (particularly household bills) has increased and they are struggling to buy necessities. One participant shared they had gone into debt for the first time as a result. Family Action carries out vital work to help families, they have two services which aim to provide quality discounted food for families and another to ensure young people have access to healthy breakfasts they need to thrive at school. They also help with mental health support by offering a free family line which allows parents/carers to talk through the pressures they are facing in confidence. Family Action always need volunteers and donations to deliver their vital work.

Volunteer

Donate

Events in the area:

Enable Community – Warm Hub


Enable community are running a free hub where you’re able to come into a safe warm space at Wandsworth Council’s Community Hubs.

Richmond Women’s hub


This event is to help empower women to thrive. It will allow women to connect with other women and take part in free activities.

Do you have more resources to share on this article on the cost of living? Email communications@wandcareall.org.uk so we can share resources and support one another.

How your health priorities make a difference to services

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woman choosing between post-its - what are your health priorities?
woman choosing between post-its – what are your health priorities?

Healthwatch Wandsworth have a survey live now to find out what the most important health priorities and social care issues are to focus on for Wandsworth.

Take the survey

Healthwatch priorities won’t stop you from telling us about any issue, and we’ll keep sharing news. What priorities do is help us to focus our research and conversations on the issues that matter most, to effect change.

How our priorities shape action in services and the community

We make sure NHS leaders and decision makers hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care. We can also help you to find reliable and trustworthy information and advice.

To make sure people’s experiences help make health and care better we need to focus our energies on a few topics each year.

Tell us about the topics in health and social care that are most important to you and your community so that we can make sure we work on providing information and pushing for change on things that matter to people in Wandsworth.  

What difference we’ve made – an example

Local carers told us there were many ways care could be improved by involving carers when someone leaves hospital. We’ve advocated for change and there have been quite a few! Nationally the Department of Health and Social care told hospitals and social care services that they need to ensure carers are identified, that their needs are assessed and that they are signposted to help as part of the process when someone leaves hospital. Locally St George’s Hospital have committed to this and are making these improvements to how they work.

Why we need priorities 

We need to focus our energy on a few things each year so we can build enough research and insight to make a difference. We can move on to other things in other years. By announcing what our priorities are and what is important, local leaders of health and care services take notice of these things and it motivates them to improve things.

What we’re hearing most about

We’re already hearing that people think that the following are important topics to focus on:

  • Getting appointments with GPs and Dentists
  • Mental Health
  • Dementia
  • Homelessness and housing

Tell us what you think

Are these the most important topics for you and your community? Does there need to be more information or improvements in the way health and social care services support people’s health when facing these issues? Or are there other topics?

We want to hear how health and social care issues affect you and people you care for. What would make things better?

Change takes time, and by setting priorities we don’t expect these issues to be fixed. But there are things we can do to move change forward by making your stories heard. We want to hear what the most important conversations are to you.

Tell us what you think in under 2 minutes

Health Inequalities Fund: welfare support and legal advice for all people

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people sat in a group with laptops collaborating

To be effective in tackling health inequalities we must not just react to illness but also prevent illness by helping people to live well and stay well. Some people may struggle to access welfare and legal advice, (particularly those belonging to less advantaged groups).

People need a good standard of living and protected rights to stay healthy.

WCA are programme managing the Health Inequalities Fund to allocate funds to voluntary sector projects in Wandsworth and create a steering group to deepen conversation about this issue and address barriers to accessing local services. Project delivery will run from March 2024 – March 2025.

What groups are we working with that experience health inequalities?

Organisations who work with the community in the following 6 theme groups are being invited to collaborate and join the following project information sessions.

19th February – 11:00-12:00 Unpaid/young carers project – RSVP

19th February – 14:00-15:00 Learning difficulties/autism project – RSVP

20th February – 11:00-12:00 Black/Asian/Global majority ethnic project – RSVP

20th February – 14:00-15:00 LGBTQIA+ project – RSVP

21st February – 14:00-15:00 Asylum seekers and refugees project – RSVP

22nd February – 14:00-15:00 Socially isolated people project – RSVP

Is there funding available to support the projects?

Funding may be available to support people with activity addressing these issues at the discretion of the lead organisations who will be organising an engagement group in March 2024.

Could you be a project lead?

Do you believe your organisation is a leading voice in Wandsworth on engaging people in one of these 6 key themes? You could be a project lead and access funding support from £10k-£80k.

Project leads will receive a fund and a programme manager for development support.

We are taking project proposals for 6 project leads (1 per theme) in the voluntary sector from 5th February – 29th February.

What’s the expectation for health inequalities project leads?

These projects must build on insight (from existing work with one of the above themes in the community) but we also expect you to propose a new approach to work and activity to engage people in welfare support and legal advice.

You must be prepared to engage other organisations in the delivery of this work at steering group meetings.

You must agree reporting requirements and accommodate external evaluation at the end of the project.

How to apply to be project lead

Register your interest by emailing communications@wandcareall.org.uk

We will be in touch with more information.

Want to hear about other funds and opportunities for voluntary sector organisations in Wandsworth? Join our mailing list.

Better mental health support for Mums in Wandsworth

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Having children is celebrated as a joyful time full of celebration, but for many, becoming a parent can be destabilising, lonely, and even life-threatening. MBRRACE’s recent report shows that 40% of all maternal deaths (occurring between six weeks and a year after the end of pregnancy) are from mental health related causes. Maternal suicide is the biggest cause of perinatal deaths.

At Wandsworth Care Alliance we’ve been doing health studies and talking to local community organisations to find out more about these issues since 2022. We aim to start a bigger conversation about mental health support for mums and birthing parents, connecting people with the support services they need. For the last 2 years we have been building a healthwatch report on the impact of perinatal mental health, and the way parents access mental health services during this time.

When we spoke to 13 birthing parents from ethnically diverse backgrounds, we found that many didn’t ask for help with their mental health. Issues included not feeling safe to open up with healthcare professionals, experiences of discrimination, and not knowing who to turn to.

Read the latest report

A range of factors affected parents during this time, like having a partner for support, having a positive relationship with maternity staff, and 50% of participants claimed that poor housing negatively affected their mental health.

What next?

There is local mental health support available for parents. However, we’re finding out that people might not know where to find it or how to access it.

Talking to the NHS about working together on discussing this issue as part of maternity services will be key over the coming months but there is also action we can take together to make sure that people know where to get support.

Here are 3 support links you can use or share with parents.

Family support

Little Village story

“When having a baby you need a lot of stuff,” Jen, the Tooting baby bank manager. Jen first found the baby bank Little Village when she was looking to donate items her child had grown out of. She started volunteering and fell in love with the cause.

Not everybody has everything they need as a parent and Little Village offers free support bundles to Mums in need, with clothes, toys, bassinets and more, available to be delivered, or picked out in their shop experience.

Little Village pride themselves in giving more than just things, with a creche, space to talk and a signposting team. They often hear shocking stories of adversity from local Mums. This Winter, they’ve had more emergency calls from St. George’s Hospital for Mums who can’t be discharged from hospital because they have nothing for the baby to wear or sleep in. Little Village always needs donations and volunteers to deliver this vital work.

Volunteer

Donate

Free Events & Support for Mums

  • Breathe Melodies know that mental health makes a difference and offer informal Mother and Child singing sessions which are a great way to build bonds and share culture too. Find out more
  • Enable offer free fitness classes for Mums every week
  • Estate Arts are holding a free Baby & Me morning on 3rd February with life support training
  • The NHS are promoting early learning and development activity ideas on the Better Start for Life website. Click here

Do you have more resources to share on this story for local Mums? Email communications@wandcareall.org.uk so we can feel each other’s support.

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