The Community Wellbeing Champions project has come to an end this week. Here are a few activities that the funded groups delivered over the six-month project:
Slough Integration Services
The group organised weekly trust-building sessions where community members and NHS professionals met and discussed vaccine hesitancy and booked vaccination appointments. Sessions were delivered in English, Somali, Arabic and Swahili by professionals and members of the community who champion vaccination and raise awareness of vaccination in these languages. They organised 16 sessions to promote the vaccination.
Ifra from Slough Integration Services said:
“Many of our participants either took one dose or none but we thankfully managed to explain the benefits of the vaccination and how or where to get the vaccine. Most of these people didn’t know how to get help on mental health support as well and we guided them accordingly. Following our sessions 11 people have had their vaccine for the first time.”
Rise and Shine
The Asian women’s group provided weekly exercise and yoga sessions, monthly health checks and talks in partnership with Solutions for Health providing a preventative approach to health and wellbeing allowing attendees to make informed decisions.
Dr Sarwat Mazhar, who is one of the leading volunteers from the group, has a background in medical healthcare produced some videos for #OneSlough. Dr Mazhar used both English and other languages to reach the wider communities in Slough explaining the purpose of the vaccine and the difference it can make. Many of the members of the group are carers. She empowered them to understand the impact of COVID-19 on themselves and their loved ones allowing them to feel confident about the health advantages.
Ujala Foundation
Ujala Foundation worked in partnership to organise the vaccination bus on Friday Prayers to promote uptake of the vaccine. They organised workshops to counter misconceptions of vaccine and through existing communication channels, spread the message to counter vaccine hesitancy and concerns. They utilised already running lunch clubs and ladies’ coffee mornings to encourage vaccine uptake and improve client wellbeing
Gaye from Ujala foundation said:
“Slough CVS has made it possible to work with Ujala to have their vaccines in their own community. Some of our ladies have disabilities and find it hard to travel to Salt Hill Park. While attending a Coffee Morning, Sara was able to have her COVID-19 vaccine. Ujala is always happy to work with the NHS for a healthy future.”
SWIPE
SWIPE worked in partnership with Slough Outreach to promote and encourage vaccination to Slough Outreach clients. They provided printed NHS messages through Slough Outreach as well as providing mobile phones and top-ups for clients who did not have any means of communication. SWIPE used the phones to send vaccination and health and wellbeing messages (such as where to get vaccinated and health check-ups). The vaccination bus vaccinated 25 homeless people as a result of the project.