Duo connecting the community

Two people have been employed by a South Holland charity to help point people in the way of helping their mental health.

Jo Ireland has been appointed the Spalding and Pinchbeck Community Connector and Vanessa Collins has the same position for the South Lincs Rural area, covering the vast number of surrounding villages.
They are currently to be found within Tonic Health in both Spalding and Holbeach Wellbeing Hubs, and also out about in the community – to see what activities, coffee mornings, services and other support is available to local people.
“The intention is to provide on the ground support to individuals, groups and communities and make the most of community assets,” a spokesman for Tonic Health said. “They are part of the new integrated place based mental health team at Johnson Community Hospital, consisting of mental health practitioners, social prescribers and peer support workers working specifically with those experiencing low level mental health issues such as depression, social isolation and anxiety.
“Those meeting the criteria can be referred in to the programme via GP services.
“As part of this team the Community Connectors can provide individuals with non clinical advice and signpost to services for a range of things including dementia support, addiction, domestic abuse, financial hardship, housing issues and bereavement.”
Jo said: “We hope to meet many more people going into 2024 and continue supporting them to access the services and activities they will benefit from.
“It is amazing to see what fantastic things are happening in the community.”
Tonic Health host Wellbeing Hubs within Broadgate House in Spalding and at Holbeach Hub, which provide a safe space along with daily activities and free refreshments. In addition to daily 9am-4pm opening, Spalding Wellbeing Hub currently opens as a Warm Welcome Space on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm, for some company and light bites, and also has a representative from Citizens Advice available on Fridays for drop in sessions until the end of March.
Holbeach Hub has its Warm Welcome Space open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 3.30pm.
For more information on what is available, including a timetable of events and opening hours at both hubs, please follow the new Facebook page ‘Tonic Health Community Connectors’.
If you have a group or activity that you would like to make the Community Connectors aware of, or would like a drop in from Jo or Vanessa to speak with attendees, contact Jo (Spalding) on spalding@communityconnector.org.uk or Vanessa (South Lincs Rural) on slr@communityconnector.org.uk.