People are at the heart of our services in Greenwich.

As we develop our integrated neighbourhood approach, we’re working with our communities to understand what they need, and how we can do better.

When thinking about how to support people with frailty and long term conditions, we:

• spoke to people using the Extra Time Hub run by Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) which brings retired and semi-retired people together for activities such as exercise classes.
• attended wellbeing coffee mornings held by local community groups.
• interviewed people using Time to Talk, Stronger Together and Oxleas services.

Residents told us that depression and isolation, the pressure of caring for loved ones, managing financial issues and other factors impacted their ability and motivation to manage their health. For support to be effective they needed to be seen as a whole person, with all their health and personal circumstances considered.

One resident told us:

“Carers, nurses, GPs, social workers, whoever should actually ask about mood.”

“I love my flat, but I can’t get the wheelchair out when people fly-tip their rubbish – I need something done”

Many wanted to play an active, meaningful role in the community. They needed a personalised, sensitively introduced route from being supported to becoming a supporter. When they were able to do this, it made a huge difference to their communities.

One person said:

“I didn’t need a professional grief counsellor. I needed someone who knew what it was like.”

People told us about the value of lived experience in understanding local challenges and working together as part of a network to make real change. They saw the need for joined-up thinking, creativity and empathy.

One organiser and resident, who worked as a social prescriber, told us:

“In my area behind a lot of the mental health, the money issues, the food and housing there was unemployment. It is all connected by lack of opportunities. I could see it because that was me once. So I decided to do something about that.”

Another said:

“The volunteers who understand the need, who have lived the need themselves – they are like gold.”

While most of the people we interviewed said they trusted GPs or other professionals like pharmacists, not everyone does, and even those who do might be uncomfortable discussing non-health concerns. There is a need for a range of touchpoints.

They said:

“I wouldn’t tell my GP I was struggling managing the house or that I worry about falling on my own. GP is for medical isn’t it?”

“The small groups, the ones in the community, they know how to talk to people in a way that will land. A lot of people won’t trust a professional stranger. Or they think ‘that isn’t for me’ or it doesn’t fit their life, their culture, their needs. They need the message to come from those who are there with them.”

Other residents had warnings about the need for change to be sustainable, and for support to continue over the longer term.

“It (the support) can sound great but it’s a worry that you’d get to the end and just get dumped. Then you’d be worse off than if it never happened. It needs to set you up for the long term – like being settled in a group and having something that will last.”