Tackling Health Inequalities In Lockdown

Bevan Healthcare is social enterprise based in the centre of Bradford delivering a range of high-quality health and wellbeing services for vulnerable people who often struggle to engage with mainstream services.

With support from GiveBradford, they were able to set up their ‘Help Us To Grow’ project, which supports families with young children with food and interactive activities focused on improving health and mental wellbeing.

 

• Can you describe your organisation and the people/communities you support?

Bevan Healthcare exists to tackle and reduce health inequalities. Our aim is to reach and help those often forgotten within healthcare. These include refugees, asylum seekers, homeless people and those with mental health problems.

We recognise that the problems people might face are often complex and we work closely with individuals to tackle these problems, linking them to other organisations that might be able to offer help and support.

 

• How have you been supported by GiveBradford and what has this funding enabled you to do? 

This funding has allowed us to provide a wide range of support. For example it enabled us to distribute food parcels included step by step recipe sheets, delivered to those families in most need.

Physical activity resource packs were also provided to use in large outdoor spaces- promoting physical movement and relieving mental tension. Healthy Holidays Funding also supported creative resources such as arts and crafts equipment, reading books, board games, puzzles and jigsaws for all the families to reduce anxiety while promoting meaningful connections.

 

• Can you give us an example of an individual and or group and how they have responded to this work?

The funds have meant that the targeted families have had access to regular good nutritious food; making a massive difference to families experiencing financial hardship as many found it difficult to buy basic items they need to feed their families.

One Family we supported were seeking asylum and suddenly relocated to Bradford, arrived with only a few belongings. The family had no access to money apart from the £37.75 per week.

Both mum and dad have symptoms of depression, anxiety and have panic attacks. And one of their children Child aged 4 has additional needs.

The family have been supported with regular food parcels, lessening some of the financial pressures. The activity packs have been used to disrupt negative thought patterns, supported by our Occupational Therapist.

We have signposted to charities and organisations for clothing/essentials; working together to overcome practical barriers.

 

• What challenges and opportunities do you face as an organisation in the current climate?

Interaction with beneficiaries has highlighted a high percentage of people are presenting with a lot of anxiety, sometimes with depression. These have been referred to out mental health nurse and our family counsellor.

We are seeing a lot of people who have been doing their best to survive in often very difficult circumstances – we have quite a deprived population that we cover.

The various resources we provided promote regular physical activity to increase self-esteem, reduce stress and improve the quality of life in a small space.

 

• How is your organisation preparing for the future, and what kind of funding is needed? 

We will continue to investigate possible funders such as GiveBradford so that we are able to continue working with whose needing support and continue to deliver essential services. It has allowed us to address urgent issues and serve the most vulnerable families in our community and signpost to additional organisations in the city.