Winter Outreach Wellbeing project coming to a rural area near you
Shropshire Council’s Community Wellbeing Outreach Team (CWOT), Public Health, has launched the WOW (Winter Outreach Wellbeing) Project, a mobile hub initiative designed to bring health, wellbeing and practical support directly to Shropshire’s most rural and isolated communities.
The Winter Outreach Project Wellbeing mobile hub van
CWOT will deploy their mobile hub van across various remote villages and hamlets to provide residents with onsite access to practical advice, health promotion and wellbeing services as part of the WOW project.
Residents will be able to access support and signposting for cost-of-living and energy guidance, food security, mini health checks, vaccination and screening information, lifestyle and smoking cessation advice, mental health support and more.
A key part of the project is to listen to local people; gather insight on the challenges they face and feed that intelligence back into place-based planning so that services better reflect community need for now and in the future.
WOW’s vision is to enhance the health and wellbeing of Shropshire’s most underserved and isolated communities by facilitating connection and support through comprehensive mobile outreach. Its main aims are to build relationships and trust with rural residents, reduce barriers to information and services, strengthen community connections and integration and address rural health inequalities and disparities.
The WOW programme responds to needs that have been identified through the place-based joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) and local system partners.
The project will be delivered through partnership working between Shropshire Council, health services, charities, parish councils and many others to ensure a coordinated local response and to maximise the range of support available at each hub visit.
CWOT held its launch meeting in October, which was met with a fantastic response from partners across the voluntary and community sector, town and parish councils, local charities and professional organisations. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with partners expressing strong enthusiasm for the project and a clear desire to be involved.
It is widely believed that the initiative will be instrumental in supporting our residents, enhancing collaboration, and allowing us to deliver added value and improved service to our community.
Cllr Bernie Bentick, portfolio holder for health, said:
As the colder months arrive with many challenges in hand, it is essential that we work collaboratively as a system to support our most rural residents and each other. The Winter Outreach Wellbeing (WOW) project is designed to ensure individuals in our most remote and rural communities have access to vital health and wellbeing information, support, and appropriate guidance to remain safe, healthy, and connected.
Our aim is to improve awareness and access, reduce isolation and ensure no one who needs support is overlooked during the winter period. Through this initiative, we are dedicated to going out into our most rural areas offering timely information, practical assistance, and supportive listening to those in greatest need.
We are partnering with key services and organisations across the system to enhance our ability to reach and assist our residents. Together, let us foster a season of care, compassion and wellbeing for all throughout the winter.
Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council said:
Bringing wellbeing information into rural areas can only be beneficial for our communities, particularly for residents of villages that have no public transport links. Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council fully supports this great project.
Chloe King, project manager from Marches Energy Agency, added:
“We’re really excited to get involved with the WOW project. As an energy advice charity, we are here to help anyone needing guidance on keeping warm and reducing energy usage this winter — collaborating with Shropshire Council and the WOW project will be a great opportunity to Keep Shropshire Warm.”
A schedule of dates, locations and participating partners is on the Shropshire Council website, shared via parish council channels and with partners across Shropshire.
Communities, organisations or groups that would like the hub to visit their area should contact the project team for further information.
For more information, please contact: communityoutreach@shropshire.gov.uk
