Agenda item

The Area Council Manager introduced the item referring to the Health and Wellbeing Fund and the recently approved projects.

Members heard how TADS (Therapies for Anxiety and Depression and Stress) currently worked across the borough, but there was evidence of unmet demand in the Wombwell Area.  The pilot project aimed to show the benefit of supporting young people, in the hope that schools may wish to continue this.

It was noted that the Young Wellbeing Ambassadors project, delivered by Targeted Youth Support aimed to establish a peer mentor project to address mental and other health issues with themes to be established through consultation with young people.  The project would work with both Netherwood and Kirk Balk schools.

Concern was expressed that schools engaged when finance was available, but were reticent to engage on other issues.  It was also felt that schools that funded similar services themselves could find this unfair, however Members did agree that there was unmet demand for the services being delivered.

DIAL had been approved to establish a series of community workshops to upskill and enable residents to complete their own benefit claim forms in group settings. Working with CAB, it was thought this would reduce demand on the service currently provided by CAB, and used a format that had been trialled in the Central Area.   Some concern was expressed about the sharing personal information, but it was noted that for clients wanted to discuss sensitive information the sessions with CAB remained an option.

The final project to be approved was to be delivered by Fairshare and provided employability skills training. It would support 10 individuals to improve their skills and confidence to gain an accredited forklift truck permit with a view that they would move in to work.

Members heard how a further £4,998 had been ringfenced for an additional project subject to the provision of further information.  Taking this into account £14,192 remained in the fun with further applications invited.  The panel was set to meet on 13^th September to consider any submissions.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.