Models of Work – Together Wellbeing Hubs
Finding the right support when people are worried about their mental wellbeing can seem complicated and overwhelming and it can be hard for them to know where to start. Together’s Wellbeing Hubs provide timely, targeted support to help people across the diverse communities who want to improve their wellbeing.
Together Wellbeing Hubs aim to provide people with the tools, resources and links to local services to improve their wellbeing and resilience with the support of an experienced and skilled staff team. The Hub’s services are free and available to anyone looking to improve their wellbeing who are over the age of 18 living in the geographical area they cover or if they are registered with a GP in that locality.
The Wellbeing Hubs are run in collaboration with Adult Social Care Mental Health Teams from Local Authorities who fund them. They provide an easy point of access for any person who has care and support needs because of their experience of mental distress and any person who cares for someone else.
Signposting Support
Together’s Wellbeing Hubs help people navigate local services and available support showing how to get the most from them. The team provide information about what services and activities can be accessed locally, as well as guidance and tools to help individuals to manage their own wellbeing.
Community Directory
Community Directories list services that are based in the boroughs the Hubs cover and enable people using them to browse what can be accessed. Organisations can submit details of the support they offer in diverse categories like housing, physical health and fitness and substance misuse amongst others.
1:1 Support
A programme of practical and emotional support is provided in which Support Workers work alongside people who use the service to identify what their goals are and how they can help them to achieve them. Support can involve connecting individuals to local services that provide specialist support or meeting people in the community at a place that suits them. Alternatively, they can speak with the Hub team on the phone or meet online.
Peer Support
Peer Supporters use their own lived experience of mental distress to support others towards better wellbeing, either one-to-one or as part of a group. All Peer Supporters within Together Wellbeing Hubs are volunteers and receive comprehensive training prior to working alongside people who use the service. Peer Supporters are provided with support and supervision from the Hub’s Peer Support Coordinator.
Workshops
Group sessions are run at the Hubs which help people develop skills and tools to improve their wellbeing. These workshops may involve participating in activities, learning about different experiences of mental distress and coping strategies, or becoming members of support groups. Groups are run for specifically identified areas of need including neurodiversity, men’s mental health, older people, young people transitioning to adult services, or for significant life changes such as divorce, or becoming a parent.
Drop-ins and Pop-ups
Drop-in or pop-up support can be made available to people who use Together Wellbeing Hubs at community venues on designated days in the week. Appointments are first come first serve and during these sessions staff will provide a service through signposting and 1:1 practical and emotional support.
Income Maximisation Support
Groups and 1:1s on income maximisation can be run by Wellbeing Hubs providing information and support for people who use the services. Those sessions help people to apply for benefits and relevant grant schemes to maximise their income, address debt issues, and develop and improve skills around budgeting and money management.
Volunteer Support
Together Wellbeing Hubs have volunteer teams who offer practical support to help individuals to achieve their wellbeing goals and get the most out of the local area. The Hubs also provide volunteering opportunities where participants can get involved and lead on areas of the service delivery, whether in groups, workshops or events. Occasionally these opportunities can lead to people using the Hubs getting back into work or further education.
Impact of Together Wellbeing Hubs
Below you can see the impact of Together’s two Wellbeing Hubs based in Southwark and Lewisham respectively for the people that use the services. The reporting period for these figures is April 2023 to March 2024:
3037 Total number of people who used the services
2097 Total number of referrals received
181 Number of people receiving peer support
Percentage of referrals received from professionals or self referrals
57% Professional referrals
43% Self-Referrals
Southwark Wellbeing Hub Case Study
I started with Creative Writing, which sounded pretty good, and I ended up really enjoying it from the get-go. The facilitator was super helpful in getting my thoughts down, and I found it really therapeutic. After a while, it just started to feel natural.
Then, through the Hub, I got invited to other wellbeing workshops, and that's how I became a regular at the Gardening for Wellbeing workshops every week. I didn't know much about gardening or harvesting, but I loved the warm atmosphere of the group. I've met so many nice people here. I always look forward to their company and the weekly updates. It's such a welcoming atmosphere.
I've been surprised at how much I've learned about gardening and plants just from these weekly interactions. On Tuesday evenings, I actually look forward to going to bed knowing I have Gardening to look forward to on Wednesday mornings. It feels like a community - it is a community. And now, I've even started volunteering at the Farm shop, where we sell some of the produce grown on the farm, which is fantastic!
Testimonial on volunteering at Southwark Wellbeing Hub
‘’Volunteering at the hub as a peer supporter felt so rewarding. I felt as if the person I was partnered up with was really thought out and the whole process was so easy and enjoyable.
As someone who has had mental health problems in the past, it really felt amazing knowing that the provision of this kind of support helps someone who’s also struggling with their mental health.
At the start of the volunteering process, I had much more severe social anxiety, but with the patience and kindness of my peer support coordinator, as well as being a peer supporter myself, has truly helped me in managing that.’’
Lewisham Wellbeing Hub Case Study
“I was referred to Lewisham Wellbeing Hub by my GP who felt I needed to join groups as I had been feeling isolated. I started attending a Women's Group and also a Long-term Health Conditions (LTHC) Group. During the LTHC Group I found useful information about things like voter ID and it made me feel a part of something and helped me make positive changes in my life after struggling with my physical condition. I was able to sing a solo song at my brother's funeral recently which is something I would not have been able to do before attending the LTHC Group. I feel I have got my confidence back".
Lewisham Wellbeing Hub Testimonial
“I was called by the advisor who I worked with for 10 sessions of 1 to 1 support that the service offers. At first, I found it difficult to stick to our meeting time and missed the first couple but the advisor was patient and was ready when I was. After a couple of meetings, I was feeling better about it, and now it’s finished I’m really going to miss our weekly conversations. I learned a lot from the advisor when we talked. I looked forward to speaking with them and always felt better after these talks. I said to the advisor that even though I had really enjoyed talking to them, I wanted to stay well enough not to need it moving forward. The advisor said I stole their line.”
