Deprivation and poverty go hand in hand with poor health and wellbeing outcomes and people with medical and social problems are often unable to access the very services which will support and address these issues. Often, they are unaffordable, inaccessible or there are confidence barriers to accessing them. In 2012, our organisation recognised this in North Lanarkshire and wanted to address the gap by providing a health and wellbeing service which was non-clinical, therapeutic, holistic and was also affordable, accessible, and most importantly inclusive so in the June of that year, a health fayre was run to confirm this need and 100 local people showed up, telling us that there was a need for a locally based community health and wellbeing service. Since 2012, the organisation has built up a good local reputation in North Lanarkshire with local people and organisations and we have a good grasp on continuing to address local challenges within our community. This has been further evidenced during the Covid 19 crisis and now again during the cost of living crisis.

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We have a particular focus on helping people who are marginalised and disadvantaged by reason of age, ill-health, disability, and financial hardship and we provide community-based services in areas of North Lanarkshire that are in the top 5-15% data zones for multiple deprivation according to Scottish Index for Multiple Deprivation (SIMD stats 2020) thus working towards trying to reduce health inequalities.

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The Health and Wellness Hub operate as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and some of the key services we provide which address the issues outlined above include:

 

·A Holistic centre -providing specialised programmes for people with a range of health issues, provision of therapies, classes, training, workshops and multipurpose rooms for hire.

 

·Volunteer led weekly health and wellbeing “Hubs” in community settings within North Lanarkshire where multiple deprivation exists. Hubs provide access to proven nonclinical/holistic type activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, mindfulness, relaxation classes, holistic therapies, which help improve emotional and physical health. Participants also have the opportunity to meet new people, develop skills, create circles of mutual support and reduce social isolation levels. Currently running weekly in 2 areas of North Lanarkshire that are within the top 10-15% data zones for multiple deprivation. Since 2012, have operated in 17 other areas of North Lanarkshire.

 

·A Volunteer Development Programme (Transforming Lives) aimed at people with a diverse range of health needs where they can learn new skills, be part of a peer support network with others who have similar lived experiences and share their skills and support local people by contributing in a volunteer capacity in our other services e.g “hubs”, gardening group, peer support groups or as a hub buddy within one of our specialised programmes.

 

·A health and wellbeing service (social enterprise activity) to various community groups and organisations (third and statutory sector) across North Lanarkshire.

 

The Charity is an accredited Living Wage Provider and currently employs 8 staff. The charity identifies as a supported business (employs a percentage of people with barriers and are furthest removed from the labour market) There have been 19 volunteers who have been employed by the charity and 6 of our current staff who were previously volunteers are currently still employed with the charity.