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Here to Hear – at our monthly drop-ins

Here to Hear – at our monthly drop-ins

Healthwatch Northumberland Monthly Drop-ins

Come and see us at one of our monthly drop-ins, which we hold in all five local council areas of the county. These sessions are a chance for residents to tell us, in confidence, about their experiences of NHS and social care services so that we can understand what is working well and what could be improved. You can also use our Signposting and Information Service to find out more about local support and services. Call in to speak to our friendly team at one of the venues below, or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

We also attend one-off events throughout the county. Please check our events calendar or social media for more details.

You can leave feedback at any time here on our website

Spotlight on…Anxious Minds

Spotlight on…Anxious Minds

As part of our information and signposting service, we’re shining a spotlight on organisations offering all kinds of support to people in Northumberland.

Anxious Minds is a charity which provides mental health support to people across the North East. Services on offer include support for children and adults, support for veterans and their families, women-only support, addiction support, help into employment or training, outdoor therapy and suicide prevention.

Their Blyth Women’s Centre (The Liberty Centre) is there to support local women and girls and empower them to achieve their full potential. The Centre provides a wide range of services to help women to overcome the challenges they are facing. This could be domestic abuse, the need to develop new skills, lack of self-esteem or self-confidence and isolation.

There are free support groups on offer for anxiety, grief and loss, drop-in friendship groups, SMART Recovery (for addiction) and arts & crafts.

Watch this short video about Blyth Women’s Centre.

To find out more email: blythwomen@anxiousminds.co.uk or call: 01670 946 188.

More information about all Anxious Minds services can be found at their website.

Knowledge gap restricts mental health support to the vulnerable

Knowledge gap restricts mental health support to the vulnerable

Last year we launched the Your Voice Fund, and awarded four small grants to local organisations to run projects with their service users.

These projects are helping us to gather the views of people whose experiences we don’t hear enough about, in particular, people with learning disabilities, people from LGBTQ+ communities, young people, black, asian and minority ethnic communities and people living in Northumberland through asylum or refugee resettlement programmes.

Being Woman, based in Ashington and Blyth, have been using the grant to support a conversation café activity called ‘KITES – when you are your own voice’. People from various ethnic backgrounds and at risk of social isolation have been sharing their ideas, thoughts and experiences of health and social care services.

The latest report from Being Woman shows that there is a knowledge gap restricting mental health support to the most vulnerable people in Northumberland.

A total of 61 people from BAME groups including asylum seekers and refugees were surveyed with questions around general mental health knowledge, services used and proposed future needs. 8 out of 10 people said they didn’t know they could speak with their GP about anxiety, low mood and depression.

Among the suggestions listed by respondents for better knowledge on mental health were leaflets, support groups, translation services, clubs and therapists.

Read the full report here

If you would like to tell us about your recent experience of mental health services give us a call on 03332 408 468 or tell us your story here.

Events

Wellbeing event at Phoenix Theatre, Blyth

Wellbeing event at Phoenix Theatre, Blyth

Find us at Phoenix Theatre in Blyth on Wednesday 13 November, 10am to 12pm, for this free wellbeing event organised by Northumbria Cancer and Patient and Carer Group.

Call in to find out what support is available in Blyth for cancer patients and their families. Or tell us about your experiences of health and care services.

Free refreshments provided.

Events

Winter Warmer – Blyth South Beach

Winter Warmer – Blyth South Beach

Winter Warmer – Blyth South Beach

Call into Neptune HQ, South Beach, Blyth on Tuesday 14 November, 10am to 12pm for this free Ageing Well event.

The event is an opportunity for over 50s and their families to find out how to stay safe and well this winter. There will be stalls from a number of local organisations offering advice and information.

Refreshments will also be available.

For more information please email: cllrcaitlinjones@gmail.com

Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

Wellbeing Day at Blyth Community Hub

We’ll be joining a range of organisations for this free wellbeing event at Blyth Community Hub, Keel Row Shopping Centre on Wednesday 11 October, 10.30am-12.30pm.

Also there on the day will be Marine Medical Group, Northumberland Recovery College, Anxious Minds, Headway Arts, Health Trainers and many more.

Find out about the activities, groups and support available in Blyth Valley, speak to us about health and social care services and pick up some free giveaways.

Drop-in session Blyth

Drop-in session Blyth

Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth December 2023

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We’ll be joined at this session by the social prescribing team from Marine Medical Group and Northumbria NHS Trust will also be there to listen to your experiences of care.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Alnwick, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Drop-in session Blyth

Drop-in session Blyth

Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth November 2023

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

If you’re a patient of Marine Medical Group, come to our free drop-in session to get advice and support with managing your health online. We’ll be joined by staff from the surgery to show you how to register for GP online services, how to use eConsult, or how to download and use the NHS app, and help you be fine online!

If you’re not online and would like to be, we can point you in the direction of local digital skills support.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Alnwick, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Drop-in session Blyth

Drop-in session Blyth

Healthwatch Northumberland drop-in session Blyth September 2023

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

Drop-in session Blyth

Drop-in session Blyth

HEALTHWATCH NORTHUMBERLAND DROP-IN SESSION BLYTH AUGUST 2023

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

This month we’ll be joined by the social prescribing team from Marine Medical Group so come along if you’d like to find out more about social prescribing or ask them a question.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Bedlington, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

Drop-in session Blyth

Drop-in session Blyth

Call in to our monthly Here to Hear drop-in sessions and speak with one of our friendly team, in confidence, about your experiences of care services. You can also find out more about local services with our free Information and Signposting Service and pick up one of our fantastic giveaways! Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

We also hold Here to Hear sessions in Berwick, Bedlington, Prudhoe and Morpeth. Full details of all of our drop-in sessions

 

 

Here to Hear Drop-in – Blyth Community Hub

Here to Hear Drop-in – Blyth Community Hub

Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions, in all five local council areas of the county. These drop-ins are a chance for residents to tell us in confidence about their experiences of NHS and social care services and use our Signposting and Information Service. Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

See details of other drop-in sessions

Here to Hear Drop-in – Blyth Community Hub

Here to Hear Drop-in – Blyth Community Hub

Each month we’ll be holding drop-in sessions, in all five local council areas of the county. These drop-ins are a chance for residents to tell us in confidence about their experiences of NHS and social care services and use our Signposting and Information Service. Just call in or if you’d prefer to make a specific appointment for one of the sessions, please get in touch.

Come and see us at Blyth Community Hub, Unit 6, Keel Row Shopping Centre, Blyth on the third Wednesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

See details of other drop-in sessions

Wellness in Blyth Event

Wellness in Blyth Event

We’ll be at Blyth Community Hub in Keel Row Shopping Centre on Wednesday 15 March, 10.30am – 12.30pm, for the Wellness in Blyth event.

Local community and support groups including health trainers, Magic Memories and Silxteen Bar, will be at the centre offering a friendly face and advice.

Come and speak to us in confidence about NHS and social care services you have used over the last 12 months or pick up some free information.