Understanding wider networks and key partners can help Town and Parish Councils to improve community health and wellbeing through collaboration and effective engagement. This section has a number of useful links to organisations working across Worcestershire and resources from national networks.
Health and Wellbeing in Worcestershire - Advice and guidance for physical health and mental health and wellbeing. To access the many resources and a wealth of information to support the wellbeing of people across the county visit Health and wellbeing | Worcestershire County Council
Centre for Ageing Better – Age-Friendly Town and Parish Guide
This guide demonstrates the important role of town and parish councils in creating age-friendly communities and gives examples from local councils who are already leading the way.
The guide covers:
- How town and parish councils' responsibilities, activities and influencing roles can be applied to make the built and social environments of towns and parishes more age-friendly
- Example case studies from 21 town and parish councils of age-friendly practice in action
- Mapping and action planning tools to help town and parish councils take the first step
Centre for Ageing Better have also produced this practical Toolkit Age-Friendly Engagement Toolkit to help you work with older people in your community to ensure they are part of decision making.
Healthy Worcestershire – A free health improvement programme in Worcestershire. The weekly sessions will help people to be active and healthy and have fun meeting new people in their area. Delivered by Solutions 4 Health on behalf of Worcestershire County Council, the service is open to anyone over 18 who lives in or is registered with a GP in Worcestershire. To find your local group visit the Healthy Worcestershire website.
Outreach in Motion: A new way to connect with the community.
Are you a service provider who wants to reach out to more people in the community? Do you want to join a network of mobile outreach projects that can help you deliver your services more effectively? If so, you might be interested in Outreach in Motion, a new initiative supported by Worcestershire County Council.
Outreach in Motion is a collaboration between the Mobile Community Outreach Partnership. It aims to offer opportunities for other services to use the existing community buses as platforms for outreach work. You can either join one of the buses at an event or be hosted by the bus on their rounds. You can also display your information and advice materials on the buses to reach those who are not online.
To find out more visit the website here Outreach in Motion :: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System
National Association of Local Councils (NALC) – Host a useful health and wellbeing page and an informative resource containing example case studies and links to information for Town and Parish Councils, visit – Health and wellbeing (nalc.gov.uk).
Community Services Directory - Enables you to search for support or services in your area. You can also register your organisation to appear on the directory for Worcestershire residents to find you here.
The VCSE Alliance – Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations play a critical role within local health and care systems both as service providers, in engaging communities and giving people a voice.
The aim of the VCSE Alliance is to promote a strong and visible VCSE sector working collaboratively to deliver excellent services that are aligned to need.
The Alliance supports (VCSE) organisations to become partners within the Integrated Care System (ICS). By working together we aim to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Worcestershire and reduce inequalities.
Parish and Town Councils are invited to attend meetings and to access resources and training through The VCSE Alliance. Visit their website to find out more information.
Worcestershire Advice Network - A partnership of local agencies here to help you with everyday problems such as benefits, housing and debt. They can also help you understand how care and support services work locally, the care and funding options available and how people can access care and support services. All advice and information is free and confidential. Follow this link to find out more Worcestershire Advice Network.
Network of Wellbeing – A Devon based charity that have some really interesting online content to help inspire and inform on wellbeing, see their Five Ways to Wellbeing page for further information. Their Improving Wellbeing in your Community article is also insightful.
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire - An independent charity who use physical activity and sport as a tool to improve the lives of residents across Worcestershire. They run a number of initiatives and programmes and would be a useful consultee if considering any physical activity initiatives. To find out more about the support they offer visit their website here.
Worcestershire Insights - A free and open website designed so that users can easily access local data relevant to Worcestershire. This site brings together data from local and national sources, across several themes to provide a full overview of Worcestershire and how it compares locally and nationally.
The data available could support both planning and research prior to any funding application. The data will form a base line of research which could be used to support your bid for funding or grants. An essential tool to support local charities or groups to secure funding.
Worcestershire County Council have developed a helpful guide for Town and Parish Councils to access relevant information for their communities. You can access it here through the ‘Parish Data Resource’ using this link PowerBi Dashboards or you can request a parish or ward profile from the data team here Public Health Intelligence Profile Request Form
Worcestershire Community First - It is an enabling organisation for supporting individuals and groups to make a difference for their local communities. This is achieved through connecting and engaging with the community, identifying where essential services could make a difference to peoples’ lives and facilitating this change through the actions of dedicated individuals and organisations. Connect central government funding initiatives to communities so they can make a real difference. Running a variety of programs visit Worcestershire Community First to find more details.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Wellbeing and Recovery College - offer a wide range of FREE educational courses covering Mental Health, Wellbeing, Recovery and Life Skills online and face-to-face. They also have a number of valuable resources on their website to help people to understand their own mental health and that of people around them. Visit their website here HW Wellbeing & Recovery College | NHS Charities Together
Health in Neighbourhood Planning - Planning shapes the places in which people live and their ability to live healthy lives. Neighbourhood planning, introduced by the Localism Act 2011, gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. The process of making a neighbourhood plan provides an important opportunity to ensure that new development and changes proposed in a neighbourhood plan area (typically the area covered by 1-2 town or parish councils) are planned and designed to support people’s health and wellbeing.
Norfolk County Council have developed a guide for anyone working on a neighbourhood plan Health in Neighbourhood Plans
Effective Community Engagement – Many councils look at ways to engage and understand the needs of a community. One method is to use a Community Survey, either specifically for Health and Wellbeing or as part of a wider Parish Plan. We have developed an example questionnaire that you can use as a starting point Example Health and Wellbeing Survey
Digital Switchover 2027: Key Information for Councils - The UK’s traditional analogue phone network (PSTN) will be switched off by January 2027, with services moving to digital, internet-based connections. This change will affect any council systems that rely on landlines, including telephones, alarms, CCTV, door entry systems, and telecare.
Town and parish councils are encouraged to begin preparing now by reviewing existing equipment, speaking to suppliers, and planning for upgrades where needed. It’s also important to consider how vulnerable residents who rely on telecare services will be supported during the transition.
Worcestershire County Council has published local guidance to help communities understand the change and what actions to take:
https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/communities/digital-switchover-coming
For a practical step-by-step overview, councils may also find the Phonely PSTN Switch-Off Checklist useful to help ensure vulnerable residents (or simply anyone that relies on their landline) know to contact their telephone provider so they don’t have any service disruption and they don’t accidentally get cut off (which unfortunately has happened). Most people won’t even notice change but it’s those that are most vulnerable that are the concern and telephone providers are offering support.
Early preparation will help minimise disruption and ensure services remain resilient as the 2027 deadline approaches.
Victim Support West Mercia - Victim Support is a charity that provides free, independent, and confidential support to anyone affected by crime and traumatic events. You can find out more about what they offer to enable your council to signpost and support residents who may have become a vistim of crime Victim Support Presentation
