Celebration for Healthy Volunteering Success
News from South West Well-being.
A celebration to mark the end of a successful three year community led programme which as seen over 30,000 people take part in a healthy living project, involved 900 volunteers and contributed over 165,000 hours of volunteer time is being held in Exeter on Friday (June 10).
The celebration is being held to mark the completion and success of the Big Lottery funded South West Wellbeing programme, run from the Westbank Healthy Living Centre in Exminster. Special guest is Dame Suzi Leather who will be giving her personal support.
The event itself will open with a local volunteer choir which has been formed through the programme.
The South West Wellbeing programme is an innovative consortium of 10 voluntary sector Healthy Living Centres and five additional social purpose partners, working in their local communities to improve the health and wellbeing of people across the region.
The three focus areas of improvement were healthier eating, improved low level mental ill health and increased physical activity for people over 50.
Launched in 2008 and led by Westbank Healthy Living Centre the three year programme has succeeded its targets in all areas and external evaluators cited particularly significant improvements for people with low level mental health, said South West Wellbeing's Jaine Keable who has led the project.
"Overall the programme demonstrated measured improvements for over 30,000 people, motivated over 900 volunteers to contribute over 165,000 hrs. This programme has demonstrated the effectiveness of collaborative working, shared good practice and local service provision at a community based level. A true demonstration of Big Society in action," she added.
Big Lottery contributed £3.9 million to the 3 year programme supported by just over £1.2 million in contributions from partners own funds and in kind contributions, and an estimated volunteer time value worth a further £1.17million.
Also speaking during the celebration to recognise the achievements of the three year programme are Geoffrey Wilkinson, a member of Big Lottery England committee and Dr Virginia Pearson, director of public health for NHS Devon and Devon County Council.
Jaine Keable added:" This project, which has achieved so much, would not have been possible without Big Lottery support and the backing of the regions NHS. It has shown what can be achieved and that given the opportunity people will volunteer and take part in activities which improve their health and life style."
Beneficiaries from some of the projects will describe their experiences and will share with project leads and guests in a celebration lunch on Friday.
Contact: Jaine Keable or Sarah FordeTel: 01392 824752 (option 4 and then 3)
Date added: Monday 6th June 2011
Latest updated: Monday 13th June 2011
