New River Green Good Neighbours Scheme Health and ... · I have a good routine which helps me manage my time. I don’t like getting bored and need to be put to good use. I need to

Help on Your Doorstep is a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales no 06960313 and a registered charity no 1133145. Registered office 13 Elliott’s Place, London N1 8HX.

New River Green Good Neighbours Scheme

Health and wellbeing insight report July 2017- August 2018


2 © Help on Your Doorstep, 2018

1. Introduction

The New River Green Good Neighbours Scheme (GNS) has been funded since

March 2014 in partnership with Islington Giving. It tackles isolation and improves the

health and wellbeing of residents of the New River Green estate through an asset

based Community Development model. We engage local residents who are

experiencing isolation, financial hardship, and poor mental or physical health in

community activities, enabling them to share their skills and lead and shape the

activities that are delivered.

The GNS is hyper local with all of the activities focussed around residents of the New

River Green estate in the Canonbury area. The GNS is run from our office at the

Walter Sickert Community Centre, Canonbury Crescent, London N1 2FB.

Over the past year, we have increased our focus on implementing the Five Ways to

Wellbeing (NEF 2008) within our work. This looks at enabling residents

1. Connect- talk and listen, be there, feel connected

2. Keep learning – embrace new experiences, see opportunities, surprise

yourself

3. Give – your time, your words, your presence

4. Be active – do what you can, enjoy what you do, move your mood

5. Take notice – remember the simple things that give you joy (also listed as be

mindful/ care for your mental health).

Evidence suggests that even a small improvement in these five areas of wellbeing

can help to decrease some mental health problems, improve physical health and

also help people to flourish.

Activities and developments to the scheme are run in a partnership between the

residents who volunteer and our Good Neighbours Scheme Coordinator, Nicky

Ludgate. Each group or activity offered by the scheme has residents who help to

support and facilitate them. New ideas which emerge from residents’ discussions are

explored.

For example this year the user or ‘reference group’ discussed going on more trips

but our budget would not stretch to that. As a result the residents designed and

delivered a fundraising event which raised £300 for a trip to Kew Gardens, which will

take place in autumn 2018. Examples of the residents really owning the community

this year include many participants spending time every day through the summer in

the communal garden outside project hours, and attending community activities in

Islington with each other outside of the project.

The regular activities delivered by the Good Neighbours Scheme include free yoga

and meditation classes, a community garden and gardening sessions, football for

young children, weekly arts and crafts sessions and coffee mornings, a lunch club

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and film nights. We also deliver seasonal events for the community to bring a wider

group of neighbours together and open up community spaces and deepen

community connections on the estate.

A relational approach is fundamental to the scheme. Friendships and mutual support

are valued and seen as a basis for improving individuals’ health and wellbeing in the

long term. We encourage people to share their stories and welcome new residents.

In fact, groups are more about relationships than the activities in themselves.

2. Methodology

We have used a wide range of evidence to put together this report, including

Statistical information on the numbers of group/ activity users and attendees.

An annual survey of a sample of residents which gathers in-depth feedback

about how the scheme impacts their wellbeing. This survey is based around

the Five Ways to Wellbeing and is influenced by the Warwick Edinburgh short

scale. We have used quotes from residents who have completed the survey

within this report and they are highlighted in coloured text.

Case stories to illustrate the improvements to wellbeing and reduction in

isolation that the Good Neighbours Scheme enables.

Feedback from a group discussion facilitated at a Good Neighbours Scheme

coffee morning about how the project impacts the wellbeing of regular users.

Feedback from Mums we talked to whilst the children were playing football at

one of the scheme’s weekly football sessions.

We are planning to use some loneliness scaling indicators in our evidence gathering

from 2019 onwards.

3. Overall numbers of people attending and activities, July 2017 –

August 2018

Average No of attendees per month: 180

No of new people in the year: 107

No of regular weekly volunteers: 20 (additional volunteers who assist at

events only are not included in this figure)

Total no of volunteer hours: 676

Formal volunteering average no of hours per month: 43

Informal/natural volunteering average no of hours per month: 9




4. Regular groups and activities

Coffee Morning

Number of Groups run across the year: 47

Average monthly attendance: 43 people

Loneliness is a big issue these days and it’s good to come here and talk about

things and other people sometimes have an idea how to help you. I am sure

that there are more people in the flats who don’t come out who would like it.

(Coffee morning facilitated discussion, 11.09.18)

Lunch Club (Monthly)



I have a good routine which helps me manage my time. I don’t like getting

bored and need to be put to good use. I need to keep active and with GNS I

can do this in a group. Resident 6, a volunteer with a long term health

condition:

Over 55s Film Night (monthly)


Average monthly attendance: people: 9

Gardening


Average monthly attendance: 18 people (the average is lower because only a

few come in spring and autumn. In summer months of June, July and August

this year we had an average of 26 people).

“The garden is good, it shows how this is all about us meeting each other. We

open the garden most days and someone is there; and Nicky only leads an

actual session there on a Wednesday.” (Coffee morning facilitated discussion,

11.09.18)

Arts and Crafts



“I have learned about flower making, painting and making things. I have

enjoyed meeting people as well as the activities. My health feels better and I

look forward to going.” Resident 7

Yoga



“I am much more flexible and I have learnt breathing techniques which I use

when I get panicky.” Resident 22




Mindful Meditation



“I am more patient with others and kinder to myself; for example when I am

feeling stressed and unwell I am more quickly able to recognise how I am

feeling and look after myself.” Resident 32

Football 5-11s



“My son has made more friends & developed better social skills” Resident 34

“I can’t afford any other after school clubs and this is local, so he meets local

kids and gets to run around and do what he loves. It’s great.” (Football Mums’

discussion, September 18)

5. Events

The seasonal events are very well attended, as detailed in the chart below and draw

people into the regular activities and to use our Connect service, which can help any

social support needs that they have.

Events run July 17 – August 2018

an Autumn Community Day in October 17

a Christmas 2017 fete

a stay and play Christmas party for young families

a Christmas lunch party for regular attending residents

a Spring wellbeing event promoting a variety of local health and wellbeing

opportunities, including blood pressure checks, health checks and various

positive activities such as massage and nail painting.

A Summer garden party open to all residents

a summer trip to Southend on 23 August 2018. This had a great community

feel, with younger residents supporting older ones.

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SummerTrip

Autumn FunDay

ChristmasFete

ChristmasStay and

Play

ChristmasLunch Party

SpringHealth andWellbeing

SummerGardenparty

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6. Evidence on wellbeing outcomes

In August 2018, we gathered 34 surveys which looked the GNS impact on the Five

Ways to Wellbeing. The 34 respondents attended a range of our regular activities

9 attendees of the coffee morning

7 from arts and crafts

5 from football

2 from gardening

2 from mindful meditation

1 from yoga

3 from the Southend 2018 trip

5 from people who listed more than three activities.

Full graphics showing the outcomes of the survey can be seen in Appendix 1.

Be Active

85% of respondents said that they were more physically as a result of taking part in

GNS activities (38% much more; 47% a bit more active).

79% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their health has improved as a

result of taking part in GNS activities. 7 people neither agreed nor disagree about

this, and one person did not answer.

Connect

82% of people said that they felt more positive about the neighbourhood, with the

remainder saying that they did not know.

74% of respondents feel more connected with their neighbours than before attending

the GNS.

Keep Learning

80% of people said that they had learnt new skills, which included teamwork, craft,

gardening, knitting, breathing, football and patience.

Take Notice

53% of residents said that they felt closer to others all often or all of the time and

38% of people said that they felt closer to other people some of the time/

occasionally.

63% of people consulted said that they felt more relaxed all of the time or often as a

result of taking part in GNS activities; 34% said that they felt more relaxed some of

the time or occasionally.




44% of respondents felt better able to deal with problems all or most of the time;

44% they felt this way some of the time or occasionally. 12% either did not answer or

did not feel more able to deal with their problems.

59% said that taking part made them feel more optimistic about the future all or most

of the time; 32% said they felt more optimistic some of the time or occasionally, and

9% felt that participating did not make them feel more optimistic.

69% of residents responding reported that taking part made them feel more useful

often or all of the time. 25% said that they6 felt more useful some of the time. 6%

declined to answer.

Give

Of our respondents, 35% reported that they had often given time or shared their

skills with others since being part of the Good Neighbours Scheme. 44% had given

time occasionally, and only a fifth, 21% either declined to answer or said that they

had not contributed in some way. This reflects the project’s ethos of resident

participation in leading the project.

Wellbeing Highlights for Residents

We asked what people have enjoyed about being involved with the activities at New

River Green GNS. A range of the responses are listed below:

“I love it, it makes me want to get up in the morning as I have something to do

that day.” Resident 20

“Mixing with other people, laughing and helping each other.” Resident 23

“I am less isolated.” Resident 16

“I feel more confident.” Resident 15

“I don’t have to be lonely & I can feel safe in my neighbourhood.” Resident 13

We asked if people felt that their health and wellbeing is better since joining the GNS

and in what way; the range is again represented in the quotes below:

I feel much healthier and fitter since joining the group Resident 11

“I feel more positive about life and myself.” Resident 25

“Being more social.” Resident 8

“I have a focus for my week and I don’t get stuck inside navel gazing.”

Resident 6

“I am more active now and happier.” Resident 20




7. Case Studies

We use the Five Ways to Wellbeing (New Economics Foundation, 2008) to help us

to assess our impact on residents’ health. The sample case studies below show the

impact of our work on residents for each of the Five Ways.

Connect

Preventing isolation for people with early stage dementia

A local resident who has lived on the estate for 30 years and has attended GNS

events over the previous years of the scheme has begun to attend weekly sessions

with a friend. She recently disclosed that she has been diagnosed with dementia.

She values attending since she lives alone and is isolated. She reports feeling like

she fits in at GNS, and is able to have frank and open discussions with other

neighbours about how their various difficulties affect them. She also said she leaves

feeling better from having a laugh and a chat.

Preventing isolation for single older people who have been bereaved

Another resident, who is a widower and lives alone, has been watching residents

meet in the garden throughout the spring and early summer from the window of his

flat. Nicky the coordinator noticed him watching each day and recognised him from

the neighbourhood. When he passed her in the street in early July 2018 she invited

him in to the garden for a cup of tea. He has since been attending the gardening

group and coffee morning lunch club and arts and crafts every week, and has shared

about his isolation and bereavement. He has become friendly with some of the other

male residents and he is already helping out with various tasks, contributing as well

as participating in the groups. He says he has really enjoyed getting to know his




neighbours and says he was so bored for so long and he is beginning to make real

friends. He came to the trip to the coast and says he has not seen the sea since the

1960s.

Give

Volunteering

We have a young volunteer in her 20s who is unable to work or study at present due

to her long term physical health condition. She attends our coffee morning every

week and helps at other events and groups when she is able. She states that it gives

her a sense of value to input into the community and she has very good relationships

with some of the older residents.

The case study below in Take Notice/ Be Mindful also illustrates the value of giving

in rebuilding self-confidence for a participant with mental health difficulties.

Be active

Providing health promotion activities for people with long term health conditions

K is a resident in his late 30s who sustained a brain injury 8 years ago. He has

difficulties with communication and social skills, and is significantly overweight. He

has been known to our Connect team for some years but has only ever felt able to

speak to one member of staff. Our GNS Coordinator has consistently been friendly

towards him and invited him to participate. In spring 2018 he began to come to Arts

and Crafts group, and he was then invited to the user participation Reference Group

which he did. Following the discussion at this group about exercise classes, he has

been attending the yoga class. He says he is comfortable to start exercise at this

community class since we have built up trust with him over time. He wants to

improve his health, and his attendance at two groups each week also reduces his

experience of social isolation.

I think it’s great as it improves my flexibility and helps my mind having to think what

movement to make, I feel so much better I surprise myself. Case Study Jan 2018

Preventing obesity in children

Our football group provides some fun and intense exercise for children aged 5-11.

Most children in this group do not have access to a garden at home. Parents report

that it helps with physical health and also behaviour, and that the coaches are great

role models for the children and that the discipline is good. Three boys have gone on

this year from our community group to be selected places in a more advanced team

for older children.

“My son is more active because of this. He loves to be doing things and it makes him

happier at home. I just think it is fantastic for this community because lots of kids

here have problems.” Resident 29




Learn

A resident with a severe mental illness has been sharing her artistic skills at various

groups, including the stay and play with parents and children. She enjoys being able

to have an outlet for her creativity and has been learning new skills at Arts and Crafts

and teaching others. She reports that that she has grown in confidence from her

participation.

Take notice/ Be mindful

Enabling people living with mental illness to gain confidence

A resident with a mental health condition has been attending for two years. He has

been a regular volunteer at the arts and crafts group and says that the GNS has

been a lifeline for him and has given him regained confidence whilst managing his

illness. Over the past year he has shared more of his story with our team and other

residents and has been supported to access more help through our wider range of

referral partners. This has led to him being able to re-connect with his family. We

helped him to obtain a gym membership since he wanted to reduce his weight and

increase his physical fitness, which he now attends regularly. Participation for this

resident has led to a significant improvement in both mental and physical health.

8. Links between the GNS and other Help on Your Doorstep

projects

New website and social media

Help on Your Doorstep launched a new website on 28 June 2018

(www.helponyourdoorstep.com). The new website includes enhanced information

about the GNS scheme (www.helponyourdoorstep.com/good-neighbours-schemes),

including information about all the events and activities provided by the scheme

(www.helponyourdoorstep.com/Pages/Events/Category/events?Take=32).

Between 28 June 2018 and 10 September 2018 over 1,700 new users have visited

our website. Since the launch of the website we have started to use social media,

including Facebook and Twitter, to promote GNS activities and events.

Connect advice and guidance service

Mrs G is an example how the links between the Connect outreach and referral

service and the GNS can benefit residents. She met our team when they were

knocking on doors on the estate and was offered support around a housing issue.

She then came in to the office and disclosed that she was very recently bereaved

and lonely since the death of her husband. She was encouraged to join one of the

GNS groups and she has become a regular participant and a natural volunteer,

always offering to help and supporting others. She feels more connected to others

and her community and says that she has gained comfort from talking to the other



http://www.helponyourdoorstep.com/good-neighbours-schemes

http://www.helponyourdoorstep.com/Pages/Events/Category/events?Take=32



people in the group about her bereavement and how cope with the waves of

loneliness and loss.

“Helping others has helped me feel useful and like I have a purpose again.”

GP advice project

Since January 2018, a member of the Canonbury Connect Team has been attending

the GP waiting room at River Place Health Centre once a week to offer advice and

guidance and referral support to patients. She has met several local people who are

isolated who she has referred in to the GNS. Three of these older women have

engaged with the scheme.

Wellbeing partnerships

During the past year Help on Your Doorstep has been developing relationships with

local GP practices and we have extended the number of surgeries in which we

deliver outreach sessions. For example, we now run regular outreach in the waiting

room in River Place Health Centre near New River Green and in the surgery rooms

in Andover Medical Practice. We chose these two surgeries because they are near

our Good Neighbours Schemes and will promote the GNS projects alongside

supporting residents to access the support they need through our Connect referral

service.

Attendees at our GNS activities undertook the CCG surveys about their experiences

of primary care, which is being reported on in September 2018. We are also working

in partnership with Whittington Health in recruiting and screening people for the

Diabetes self-management and Expert Patients Programmes running in Islington,

and explaining and guiding residents with long term health conditions to join the

appropriate programmes.

In September 2018 we will also be launching our health and wellbeing information

service funding by Cloudesley. This will provide information about local opportunities

and activities around the Five Ways to Wellbeing to residents with long term health

conditions and/or disabilities via SMS and email. We have already started signing

people up to the service, and it will be promoted via the GNS. The information

service will send links to relevant information on our website and recipients will be

encouraged to contact our Connect service for more information/ help accessing any

of the opportunities that they are interested in. Initial information can be seen on our

website at www.helponyourdoorstep.com/Pages/Category/5-ways-to-wellbeing.

We facilitated a Bags of Taste group for four weeks in autumn 2017, which teaches

participants to cook healthily on a budget. This was very well attended with 24

people taking part In New River Green. We will re-run this programme in partnership

with Bags of Taste in 2018/19.


http://www.helponyourdoorstep.com/Pages/Category/5-ways-to-wellbeing



9. Conclusion / plans for year ahead

Nicky, our GNS Coordinator, wants to build on the residents’ growing confidence in

shaping and leading the project by offering them more opportunities for leading and

encouraging them to run activities outside of programme hours. She would like to

offer a gentle exercise class for people with mobility issues, to add in a further

physical health opportunity since increasing numbers of participants have long term

health conditions. She is planning to develop her recruitment of new people to the

scheme in partnership with the Connect team’s outreach at River Place Health

Centre. We always aim to find new residents who might benefit from the scheme,

and Nicky continues to do weekly outreach to talk to residents about what is going

on in their community.

As an organisation we are planning to increase the teamwork across the Good

Neighbours Schemes and encourage increased sharing of learning and resources

across the different schemes in the Borough. We have recruited a new Community

Development team manager who will be leading the developments, starting in

October 18 and who will be working across all three projects, but based in Bemerton.

The Good Neighbours Scheme in New River Green continues to develop year on

year, and provide regular opportunities for community members to connect and take

part in activities which demonstrably improve wellbeing and decrease isolation.




Appendix 1

Results of Resident Feedback Survey Conducted August 2018

How much more physically active are you as a result of taking part in GNS activities?

Do you feel that your health has improved as a result of taking part in the GNS?

Do you feel more positive about your neighbourhood since participating in the GNS?

Much more 39%

A bit more 49%

Not much more

6%

Don't Know

6%

More Physically Active

All of the time 53%

Some of the time 26%

Not at all 18%

No Answer 3% Health has Improved

Much more 48%

A bit more 26%

Not much 5%

Don't Know 21%

More Positive About the Neighbourhood




Do you feel more connected with your neighbours than before attending the GNS?

Have you learned any new skills as a result of taking part in the GNS?

Taking part in the Good Neighbours Scheme has made me feel closer to people.

Much more 61%

A bit more 29%

Not much 3%

Don't Know

7%

More Connected with Neighbours

Yes 72%

No 9%

Maybe 13%

No Response

6%

Learned New Skills

Never 3%

Occasionally 13%

Sometimes 28%

Often 34%

All of the time 22%

Feel Closer to Others




Taking part in the Good Neighbours Scheme has made me feel more relaxed.

Taking part in the Good Neighbours Scheme has made me feel more optimistic.

Taking part in the Good Neighbours Scheme has made me feel more useful.

Never 3%

Occasionally 6%

Sometimes 28%

Often 41%

All of the time 22%

Feel More Relaxed

Occasionally 6%

Sometimes 29%

Often 39%

All of the time 26%

Feel More Optimistic

Never 6%

Occasionally 0%

Sometimes 25%

Often 44%

All of the time 25%

Feel More Useful




Have you given time or shared your skills with others since being part of the GNS?

What have you enjoyed about being involved with the activities at New River Green?

Do you feel that your wellbeing is better since joining the GNS? In what way?

Often 33%

Occasionally 46%

Not at All 21%

Given Time or Shared Skills

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Participants have enjoyed

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

How wellbeing is better




Do you have any other comments or suggestions about the GNS?


Documents

New River Green Good Neighbours Scheme Health and ... · I have a good routine which helps me manage my time. I don’t like getting bored and need to be put to good use. I need to