Voluntary and health organisations meet at Town Hall
In May, the second combined meeting of TWBC’s Health Action Team and Voluntary and Charitable Sector Summit took place in the Council Chamber, Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Hall.
With over 50 attendees, this meeting presents a valuable opportunity for local organisations with similar interests to network, sharing ideas and resources to improve the wellbeing of our borough.
In May, the group hosted a presentation from Citizens’ Advice about their newly launched VCS Hub in Royal Victoria Place, which aims to provide a shared workspace for charity groups in need of cheap, accessible desk and meeting space. The hub is already hosting Protection Against Stalking on a regular basis, and Citizens’ Advice are actively seeking more tenants.
You can find out more about the hub by visiting twhub.org.uk.
The VCS and HAT meeting also saw presentations from the four recipients of Innovation Fund Grants. The Innovation Fund offered grants of up to £10,000 per organization to new or adapted tailored initiatives to support three specific age groups: 11 to 25s, 25 to 40s and 55+. The grant was offered to projects focusing on one or more of the Health Action Team’s priority areas: mental health, loneliness and isolation, addictions, obesity and physical inactivity, people with disabilities and older people.
The recipients of the grant were:
- Imago – Dial2Drive
Dial2Drive is a volunteer-led community transport service in that helps older and vulnerable residents access healthcare, social activities, and essential services. - Moving Memory – Moving well for older adults
24 weeks of free creative movement workshops for older adults aged 55+ in Tunbridge Wells, addressing loneliness, poor mental health and physical inactivity in priority areas. - Kent Wildlife Trust – Wilder Wellbeing
Two six-week nature-based mental health programmes for adults aged 25-40. - KHWP – Youth wellbeing forest school
Two Forest School programmes at a local school to support young people aged 11-25 with their mental health.
If you are part of a group which could benefit from attending the VCS and HAT meetings, please contact health@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or sign up for our Community Groups Newsletter at twbc.online/alerts.
