The Moray Healthy Living Centre
Country
Scotland
Project Description
The Moray Healthy Living Centre (HLC) project based in Elgin has been established since 2002 after securing a £1m grant fund from the New Opportunity Fund (renamed the Big Lottery) for a period of five years. Since then, it has introduced initiatives aimed at reducing inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of the Moray population.
The project's flagship is the Tailor Made Leisure Package (TMLP) programme which provides an individual package of relaxation and exercise for the target client group which includes those with mental health conditions, carers/young carers, medical problems, social isolation, physical, learning and sensory disabilities and older people. Clients are referred to the programme through statutory and voluntary agencies including health visitors, occupational therapists and support groups.
The project also offers a Choose Life Support Programme providing an intensive support programme for those who are suicidal or self harming. Formal research and evaluation has shown that individuals who have taken part in both programmes have experienced significant improvements in their health and wellbeing. The main reasons include staff support and the ability to take part in a non-stigmatised environment, resulting in increased self esteem.
Project Aims
The Project's Mission Statement is:
"To motivate, support and empower people to make positive lifestyle choices and develop life skills which will improve their health and maximise their potential to enjoy life".
Areas
Health, Leisure
Effectiveness
The project provides access to leisure activities and complementary therapies in a community social setting which is a none threatening, none stigmatised environment. The project addresses those barriers which precludes individuals from accessing leisure facilities for example transport, childcare, financial difficulties.
The project has recognised the significant difficulties individuals with mental health problems face daily and have developed a buddy scheme. The buddy scheme provides discreet, confidential support for as long as is necessary to allow individuals to improve self esteem, confidence and enhance their overall health and wellbeing. The project's external evaluators the Robert Gordon University of Aberdeen and the project has worked closely to develop specific research tools to capture both quantitative and qualitative data.
Evaluations to date have demonstrated significant improvements in individuals overall health and wellbeing including increased self esteem and confidence and ability to socialise. The evaluations have also demonstrated that individuals who have had complementary therapies have reported significant improvement in symptoms both physical and mental. The evaluation tools of the various elements of the project are constantly re-evaluated and developed further if required.
Sustainability
The project's activities, methodologies and impacts have made a significant contribution with regard to the needs of people with mental problems in accessing health, leisure and social activities. This can be demonstrated by the key programmes within the project namely: The Tailor Made Leisure Package Programme (TMLP), Health Referral Programme (HRP) and the Choose Life Support Programme (CLSP).
Tailor Made Leisure Package Programme - this programme provides an individual package of relaxation and exercise for the target client group including those with mental health conditions.
The programme addresses individual needs and barriers to participation. Clients have the opportunity to take part in complementary therapy, gym sessions, health referral programme, swimming, relaxation suite, ice skating, art classes, childcare facilities, walking groups, studio classes and self help workshops. Clients are financially supported to take part in introductory sessions of activities and therapies. Thereafter clients are assessed on an individual basis and financial support can be sourced through other partner organisations such as the local authority or voluntary organisations.
Health Referral Programme - Clients are referred by their general practitioners from throughout Moray - all 16 GP practices are registered with the programme. Clients undergo a fitness assessment to determine their level of fitness and from this information a fitness programme is developed for the individual. Each client has the opportunity to attend two sessions per week for ten weeks and is supervised throughout the duration of the programme. All staff costs are met the HLC and clients pay a nominal fee of £2.35 per session to attend.
Choose Life Support Programme - This programme is part funded by the HLC and the Local Authority. The programme provides intensive support to individuals who are suicidal, self harm or carers who are affected by the aftermath of these conditions. The programme allows individuals to access an intensive complementary therapy package which is designed to run for nine months however due to the chaotic lifestyles of these individuals this is not often the case. If individuals do not wish to take part in complementary therapy there is the flexibility to offer them other activities such as gym sessions, relaxation suite etc. The Choose Life programme includes one to one buddy support where necessary.
Fall's Prevention Support Group - This programme supports frail elderly clients who are at risk of falling or have fallen. This helps to raise self - esteem and also addresses social isolation therefore preventing deterioration in mental health.
Clients who take part in the TMLP and CLSP are referred in to these programmes through a variety of statutory and voluntary organisations throughout Moray which includes Occupational Therapists, Social Work Departments, Moray Carers, Moray New Futures, and Mental Health Drop In Centres. Clients can be directed to any of the support programmes and are followed up for a minimum of 1 year by project staff.
The provision of support for mental health clients is currently being evaluated by the Robert Gordon University. The aim of this evaluation is to determine why mental health gatekeepers refer their clients into the HLC support programmes with a view to looking at how the project can be sustained at the end of the funding period in March 2007.
Innovation
The innovative aspects of the project are as follows:
- Client centred approach
- Non clinical setting
- Non stigmatised environment
- Extensive support
- Buddy Scheme
- Financial support
- Childcare facilities on site
- Wide variety of on site leisure activities
- Wide variety of on site complementary Therapy as well as outreach venues
- Working with Employment services such as the Job Centre and Employment Support Services. Developing innovative approaches to supporting people back into employment after being in receipt of Incapacity Benefit for medical conditions including mental health problems.
The HLC is effective in terms of quantitative and qualitative results. Evaluations to date have demonstrated that the innovative approach to people with mental health problems has shown that individuals have experienced increased social inclusion, increased self- esteem and confidence, increased social interaction and improvements in overall health and well-being.
Added Value
The evaluation to date has demonstrated a significant contribution with regards to the needs of people with mental health problems in accessing health and leisure services. In addition to the services already outlined above the HLC is currently involved in negotiations with Employment Support Services that have identified individuals who have already benefited from taking part in the programme. These individuals are keen to volunteer to support other individuals. These individuals will be supported by staff from the Employment Support Service. The aim of this approach is to improve the individuals self -esteem and enable them to return to paid employment in the future.
The partnership with the voluntary and statutory sector allows the project to work directly at a local level on local policies linked to national directives in the area of social exclusion.
Moray is a rural area and has major issues regarding transport. The HLC to date has addressed this problem by working in partnership with local Taxi Companies, local authorities and voluntary car share schemes. Through negotiation the cost of transport to the individual has been reduced significantly as these companies are willing to accept HLC leisure passes as part payment. Only clients who are diagnosed with a severe mental health condition can access free transport however many of our clients do not fit into this category. Therefore the transport schemes set up through the HLC has allowed these individuals to access the programme.
Transferability
The project and its related materials are potentially transferable to other countries and communities whilst remaining flexible enough to allow individual or community ownership.
The project model is low in complexity and can use local resources and is reasonable with regard to human resources and financial cost. The project is currently working with individuals to prevent the deterioration of their mental health condition through empowerment leading to self management and self awareness. In the longer term it is hoped that evaluation and research will demonstrate a financial benefit to mainstream mental health services.
Currently there are no established guidelines for replication however this may be developed as part of the ongoing sustainability.
Mainstreaming Potential
The project is extremely relevant to national and local policy and fits into the local joint Moray Health Improvement Plan. The project is an additional service that combines the social, medical and leisure models and currently provides extensive additional resources and facilities.
People involved in the Project
HLC core staff members:
- Project Development Leader
- Leisure Link Co-ordinator
- Community Development Co-ordinator
- Training & Development Co-ordinator
Health & Wellness Team:
- 6 staff who although under the management of the project are not funded through the Big Lottery Health Referral Staff:
- 4 staff (2 full time equivalents are funded by the Big Lottery) Childcare Staff:
- 15 staff (not directly funded by the Big Lottery although come under the management of the project).
Complementary Therapy Staff:
- 5 therapists (part-time) funded by the Big Lottery
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Project
Strengths:
- Experienced and highly qualified staff
- Diverse range of activities available both on site and in outreach venues
- Strong partnership network with both statutory and voluntary organisations
- High level of monitoring and evaluation
- Formal research projects undertaken
- Unique programme models
Weaknesses:
- Funding ceases in March 2007
- Programmes require ongoing staff resources
- Change in local authority priority areas
- Ongoing funding for specific areas requires ‘new' innovations which can be difficult when existing programmes are only beginning demonstrate improvements in individuals' health and wellbeing.
Contact Person for the Project
Gil Strachan - Training & Development Co-ordinator
+44 1343 541677
gil.strachan@mlc-elgin.co.uk