One Place: Bringing Health and Wellbeing Support Directly to Women Who Need It Most
The event was developed in partnership with refuge staff and the women living there. Rather than deciding what support was needed on their behalf, we asked them directly which services would be most beneficial and then worked to bring those providers together in a safe, familiar environment.
Women attending the drop-in were able to access a range of health information and checks, including:
- Sexual health advice and checks
- Dental hygiene information
- Substance misuse support and guidance
- Mental health advice
- Support to access and use the NHS App
- Healthy heart checks
One of the key learning points from the event was around digital inclusion. There can often be an assumption that younger people are confident using technology, but this was not always the case. Some women welcomed support with the NHS App, highlighting the importance of making digital health services accessible to everyone regardless of age.
Although only a small number of women attended, the impact was significant. One young woman told us:
"I think it's really good and I wouldn't have got checked if it wasn't here. I felt more comfortable knowing I only had to come downstairs rather than go to a GP or clinic."
Feedback like this demonstrates why community based outreach is so important. For people facing multiple disadvantage, accessing health and wellbeing support can feel overwhelming. By bringing services directly into a trusted and safe environment, barriers are reduced and opportunities for early intervention are increased.
The One Place drop-in is just one example of how Healthwatch South Tees is uniquely placed to listen to communities, identify gaps in support, and bring organisations together to meet local need. By acting as a trusted connector between services and communities, we can help people to receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.
Sometimes the most effective health intervention is simply making support available where people already feel safe enough to access it.
