Liverpool based charity, Chasing the Stigma, wins the Technology category at major 3rd sector awards

MARKEL UK, a leading insurer of not for profit organisations with over 10,000 clients in the sector is delighted to announce that Chasing the Stigma has won the Technology category at this year’s Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, which took place on:- Friday, 3 March 2023, at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham.

Now in their 9th year, The Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards recognises and rewards the hard work, dedication, innovation and excellence of the not for profit sector and all those who make a positive difference to people’s lives.

The Technology award is aimed at an individual, team or organisation that has used technology in an innovative and person centred way to enhance the life of an individual or group of people; or indeed the whole service.

Chasing the Stigma won with their ‘Hub of Hope’ initiative. Of the winners, the judges said:- "The winner of the Technology Award this year clearly demonstrated how their website and digital app has helped direct over 300,000 people towards life-changing, and sometimes life-saving help, since its launch in 2017. The digital platform that has been created fills an absolute gap in terms of need and not only helps people find vital mental health support, but also brings together services to discover each other and form important connections. The passion and drive to give people in crisis support and hope shone through, and the development of important partnerships with organisations such as the NHS, police and Samaritans, has proved crucial in making sure that as many people as possible have free access to the help and support they deserve. It was great to see so many amazing charities at the Markel 3rd Sector Awards ceremony, all with fantastic stories to tell."

"The awards go from strength to strength each year and we would encourage as many charities as possible to enter for next year." said Neil Galjaard, Divisional Managing Director, at Markel UK.

If you’d like to nominate a Liverpool based individual or organisation doing outstanding work for the 2024 Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, please visit:- dotdigital-pages.com.

Cost of living a '2nd health emergency' after COVID

LOCAL health chiefs are warning that the increase in costs of essential food items and energy has created a:- '2nd health emergency' after the Covid19 Pandemic.

At this week's virtual Annual Public Health Conference, which starts today, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), said the rising cost of living is having significant health consequences, particularly in those communities that have higher levels of deprivation already.

The LGA and ADPH are today publishing their Annual Public Health report, which has found that people with least financial resilience are affected the most, but increasing numbers of people who were previously:- 'just about managing' now need support.

Despite the best efforts of Councils and their directors of public health, who have provided support such as dedicated warm hubs and access to affordable food, the LGA is concerned that current health inequalities could be widened.

The report marks the 10th Anniversary of the transfer of public health responsibilities to local Authorities, with it finding that a year of uncertainty about the direction of public health policy and the approach to tackling health inequalities has concerned local directors of public health.

However, it found that Councils, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector have upped their game once again to respond to the rise in the cost of living, building on relationships forged during the response to Covid19.

Economic prosperity and health go hand in hand but the links between the 2 need to be much more widely understood. Councils are calling on the Government to address this challenge by making long term increases to local public health funding, which can go to support those in communities who need it the most.

Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board said:- "The increase in the cost of living is having a real impact on our local communities, particularly in areas with higher levels of deprivation. Councils have been doing what they can to help; bringing together partners from the NHS and voluntary sector to support those who need it the most. Building on the experience of the Pandemic, public health is at the forefront of each local response. However public health services, such as for sexual health or School nurses which are crucial in helping to relieve the pressure on our health and care system, continue to face challenging financial circumstances. To address this, the Government should provide long-term funding increases to public health services, which do so much to improve health outcomes in our local communities."

Prof Jim McManus, ADPH President and Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire said:- "The last 10 years have seen a great deal of progress as a result of the move to Local Government. Directors of Public Health in England are able to work in much closer partnership with Local Government departments than before to help ensure that our communities' health needs are put at the very heart of decision and policy making. There is however still a long way to go and our colleagues in the NHS and voluntary and community sector are a critical part of the work we are doing in public health to help people, right from the very start of childhood, live longer, healthier lives. However, last week, new Public Health Grant allocations were published and yet again we find ourselves in an untenable position, without adequate funding. Sadly, these cuts are counterproductive and, despite our best efforts, will inevitably result in vital services being reduced at a time when existing health inequalities have been further exacerbated by the rising cost of living."

Case studies:-

• Walsall Council operates an:- 'advice from next door' approach recognising that some people need support closer to home. The Walsall Connected approach means information has moved from a central 1 stop shop to 7 local libraries and 18 community hubs which also help people to learn how to use the internet and online services.
   

• Newham Council is carrying out proactive telephone winter welfare checks to reach vulnerable people who may not otherwise seek support. Newham Social Welfare Alliance which drives work on reducing poverty, has trained thousands of workers to provide brief interventions on social welfare topics such as income maximisation, debt advice and housing.
   

• Cornwall Council's community hubs are a partnership of over 50 voluntary sector organisations, working with the NHS and the Council, are providing warm spaces, activities, access to practical information on money management, energy saving and benefits entitlement, social and practical activities including cooking skills and IT and signposting to further help. A new Community Gateway service has been established for support in people's homes if they are not able to access community hubs.