What is social isolation?

2. What is social isolation? An individual: • lacks a sense of belonging socially • has a minimal number of social contacts • is deficient in fulfilling and quality relationships • Impact on individuals • Obesity • High blood pressure • Onset of disability • Risk of substance misuse • Cognitive decline • Depression • Increased risk of suicide • Increased hospital admission • Early admission to residential care People at increased risk People with long term health conditions Unpaid Carers People who are housebound People with Dementia Older people living alone Lone parents People with mental health issues

3. Neighbourhoods Connect is commissioned by Haringey Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) from The Better Care Fund in partnership with Haringey Council. The Better Care Fund aims to focus on improving well-being and enabling people to live well in the community. • We’re a community based project, our aim is to reduce social isolation and enable people to be more connected to their community. • We do this by connecting people to social activities, hobbies, well being services, hobbies, community groups and volunteering opportunities. • We work with people aged 18+ • We can support people to realise community projects and events or establish community groups.

4. Individual and Community level objectives

5. Benefit to individuals We work in a person centred way and take an asset based approach residents meet new people and feel more connected with their community. Professionals can refer individuals to us if their clients are socially isolated or at risk of social isolation. Individuals are connected to tailored and relevant opportunities for them to engage in community activities. Opportunity to me new people and work with other members of the community on a resident led project. Benefits of social engagement: •Improved mood •Increased happiness •Improved quality of life •Healthier living •Successful ageing •Increased life expectancy

6. How we can benefit organisations • We have a range of drop-in’s and events in community locations professionals can sign post clients to. • We can host workshops, activity sessions and events in partnership with organisations or community groups. • We can promote existing opportunities and connect residents to community activities and events to increase participation. • We can connect organisations to each other to aid • better partnership working.

7. Groundwork Approach • Door knocking in priority areas • Asset mapping • Get connected guides • Forming links with organisations and other services • Attended events, team meetings and public meetings • Taster sessions • Receiving referrals Mind, Age UK, IAPT, Homes for Haringey, Home from Hospital, St Mungo’s, Home Sweet Home, Residents Association, Parks, HAIL, Community Centres, Churches

8. Groundwork’s Approach Referrals from organisations and professionals Gardening sessions Sports and Parks Well-being sessions

9. HAGA Approach • Drop-ins in community locations • Public and community events • Brief and extended interventions to support behaviour change • Social prescribing • Asset mapping • Partnership working • Taster sessions at Shine Enterprise Centre • Five ways to wellbeing workshop

10. We offer brief and extended lifestyle interventions HAGA’s Approach We have regular drop ins: Wood Green and St Ann’s Library We work with partner organisations to do targeted work with people at increased risk of social isolation.

11. Case Studies Groundwork Resident A attended the Mind wellbeing Saturday sessions. She commented that attending a Saturday morning activity has transformed her week and made her feel alive again. She has now found another activity on a Saturday morning to help her well being. Resident B was referred to us as he was overcoming an addiction and wanted to find an activity to occupy his mind and time. We recommended a local games group which he attended and will think about whether it is something he will continue with. Resident C had a long term health condition that prevented her from leaving her house a lot. She attended one of the wellbeing sessions as it was close to her home and learnt relaxation techniques which she can now continue to do at home in her own time

12. Case Studies HAGA Resident C met the team at a public event. He was working but new few people in the area after moving here a year ago. He was keen to share his skills with young people in the area and meet other people from Tottenham. The team had a conversation with him about the benefits of being connected to your community and followed up with information about volunteering opportunities with young people. Resident D attended a coffee afternoon at the sheltered housing scheme she lives in. The aim of the coffee mornings was to get residents using the communal space and socialising with each other. We talked to her about her interests and what activities she would like to use the communal space for. She enjoyed reading and discussing the books she read. We supported her to set up a regular book group with other residents.

13. Discussion questions • Thinking about people you know or work with, what do you think are the barriers to people being able to connect with their local community? What keeps people isolated? • We want to help build a picture of things that are happening in Haringey that we can link people in with. What assets are you aware of in your local areas? Please plot them on the map provided.

14. Contact us If you live in the West of Haringey with a postcode N2, N6, N8, N10, N11, N22. Please contact Rupal Shah:rupal.shah@groundwork.org.uk or call: 02079604283/07903 752826. If you live in any other part of Haringey please contact Sarah Stamp: connect@haga.co.uk or call 07891 572861 haringeyneighbourhoodsconnect @haringeync haringey.gov.uk/connect