Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

50 13.5.2 Buddying can help with access to activities, particularly for older people and people with mental health problems. It would even help with those who are physically frail and who might live close to amenities but have problems just crossing a busy road or with poor lighting and slippery paths in winter months. A simple helping hand or someone to walk with might make all the difference. Buddying might help when people have been bereaved and, as well as their grief, go on to experience loss of confidence and desire for social engagement. Where people have been a part of an active social group or activity others might be encouraged to check up on them if they slip from their normal social group following loss or bereavement. They may not wish to rejoin social activities straight away but might be encouraged to attend one of the bereavement and loss groups. 13.5.3 Awareness of how mental ill-health impacts on peoples’ lives is still a challenge, despite its high prevalence. Given the high levels of suicide, mental ill-health and drug and alcohol related problems, this needs a new drive to raise awareness and understanding. Early intervention services need to be easily accessible (in terms of information, location and physical access), non-judgemental and supported by access to clinical input when they are being developed. The HILL programme and SOS buses are good, holistic models for this. 13.6 Be Well - empowering adults to make healthy lifestyle choices 13.6.1 There are many vibrant and well supported activities taking place in every type of centre, church or village hall with some being set up as charities or community ventures to purposefully meet specific community needs such as the Jaywick Community Resource Centre and Walton Community Centre and, more recently, Dovercourt and Harwich Hub. There are activities available for all age groups, interests and physical abilities. Whilst unsurprising that many activities are clustered in the towns, these are predominantly those run or supported by organisations, registered charities or local authorities. The public health and social issues affecting Tendring communities have clearly influenced the development of many of the services available in towns and areas of deprivation, such as those held in libraries and additional services commissioned through pharmacies, offering lifestyle and wellbeing services which are mostly free to users. 13.6.2 Many of these local activities are clearly very popular but there is no obvious way for people to suggest where gaps exist and other services might be added (unless they wish to set them up themselves) and this seems to lead to (mainly rural) events being more focussed on existing popularity than potential need. There is little in the way of infrastructure to help people access the activities, for example transport or advertising. Some stakeholders spoke of the "invisible people", those who experience any number of issues without seeking help or being known to the authorities and these groups may well remain well hidden within rural communities. 13.6.3 There is an observable pattern that the more informal and user led services occur in rural areas and those of perceived affluence, with a concentration of system resources in the towns. Whilst there is an obvious concentration of effort in areas of known need it does pose a question about those with greater need living in rural areas and associated access problems that this may present for them. It is unlikely that diverting resources from high need areas can be justified but it may be necessary to acknowledge that there might be hidden need in apparently well resourced neighbourhoods and supporting them in accessing a wider range of activities than currently exists would be helpful. 13.7 Age Well - supporting people to live safely and independently as they grow older 13.7.1 In terms of addressing loneliness and isolation, older people particularly will respond better if engaged in a meaningful and genuine relationship, they will not favour being