About Us

In 2004 Frank Gulley, Headteacher of Temple Sutton Primary School, conceived the idea of a Healthy Living Centre following consultation with the residents of St. Luke’s ward. A strong cross sector partnership was established to develop the idea further with representatives from the community, the third sector and all the public sector agencies.

A funding bid was submitted to the Department of Health Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF) Pathfinder programme in 2007, with a very strong and clear partnership approach. During this time St. Luke’s Healthy Living Centre Community Interest Company (the CIC) was established – a social enterprise is a business with social aims and any profits are reinvested into services for the local community.

The CIC was chosen as a Pathfinder (pilot) project to progress the vision of a local Healthy Living Centre into a reality, scope services and plan the Healthy Living Centre.

Since 2008 Gareth Gault the company’s Social Enterprise Director has built strong and fruitful links with the public, private and voluntary organisations, residents and individuals leading to the submission of the SEIF of an additional application.

This £243,500 revenue awarded on 19/03/2009, is in addition to over £300,000 of capital, carried forward from the SEIF pathfinder phase, which will be invested into the funding pot to build the Healthy Living Centre.

St. Luke’s Healthy Living Centre CIC - Services

The following is a snapshot of services which are being planned for 2009/10 onwards.

These will operate from a number of community based settings prior to the development of the Healthy Living Centre building.

ST. LUKE’S HEALTH & WELL-BEING PROGRAMME - PROJECTS OVERVIEW:

St. Luke’s Health and Well-being Programme is a portfolio of community based projects that will focus on increasing activity, encouraging healthier lifestyles and improving social and mental health wellbeing for residents, not just in St. Luke’s but adjoining wards too including Victoria, Kursaal, Southchurch, Shoebury and Prittlewell.

Our partnership with NHS South East Essex has led to the establishment of a temporary medical centre, St. Luke’s Surgery, adjacent the Temple Sutton Primary School site on the grounds of Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre in Pantile Avenue, which was erected on 17th March 2009.

We are delighted that the people of this area will, from June 2009, gain the medical care and advice which they told us they wanted in Temple Sutton’s first Extended School Community Survey four years ago.

The project and the company have gained support and recognition at senior government departmental and ministerial levels, and we continue to work closely with the NHS South East Essex and Southend Borough Council, and other partners, to ensure plans for the permanent Healthy Living Centre are progressed.

Both Frank and Gareth were closely involved with the bidding and procurement process leading to the appointment of Care UK as the Centre’s provider of medical services, whilst Jannine Speer, CIC Company Secretary, has liaised with NHS South East Essex and South East Essex LIFT representatives to host community consultation sessions.

Gareth has been working alongside professional partners, community leaders and residents’ groups to develop health-related activities, services and advice sessions in St. Luke’s Ward which are intended to complement the PCT’s medical provision and will integrate into the Healthy Living Centre, when open.

The original aim to build a Healthy Living Centre from which to run services has altered during the planning stages. The priority is now being given to rolling out services, from existing community based settings, so residents can benefit immediately.

A permanent building to house the Healthy Living Centre is now planned for 2011.

Health Walks – A health circuit around St. Luke’s area twice a month for residents. Building on the Health Walks Initiative elsewhere, the local volunteer walks co-ordinator is keen to design and run walks in St. Luke’s area.

Sit & Fit – Exercise classes for the elderly in a safe group environment, targeted at those who are unable to undertake traditional fitness regimes but can do gentle exercise while seated.

Stepping Stones – personal trainer group centred activity for those who have never been to a gym, to give a very basic and light introduction to getting fit.

Target to enable local residents to access introductory ‘bite size’ exercise classes as a pathway and stepping stone to joining a gym, such as Garons.

Dads’ Health Too – Adding to the successful Dads Club run from Temple Sutton Children’s Centre – adding a health theme and intervention to every fourth session targeting the men who attend the group to talk about and avail of advice from relevant Health & Social Care professionals, in the informal and comfortable surroundings of the club.

St. Luke’s Community Allotments – Support the development of community allotments on vacant land. A community steering group has started with community, resident, youth, police and faith representatives.

The plan is to encourage the development of a community allotment(s) to be built and maintained by residents and the food to be consumed by those who work and tend the allotments. There will be a specific inter-generational project and as the allotments develop, the steering group will look at the potential to develop a St. Luke’s Food Co-op.

St. Luke’s Community Directory – The level of community activity are greater than ever and it is an exciting time to live, work and volunteer in St. Luke’s Ward.

This needs to be captured and promoted to all in the wider community and a community directory could deliver this. A directory outlining the range of organisations working in the area, their functions and contacts together with a community map and a calendar of community meetings, events and activities will help focus and celebrate our community.

St. Luke’s Community Business & Enterprise Advice service (SEIF Funded): A Community Business and Enterprise Adviser(s) will be employed by the CIC to:

Give pre-pre business start up advice to local residents thinking of starting a business or social enterprise

Support existing and emerging community based organisations in being more business focused

Support existing businesses with advice and signposting to higher level agencies such as Business Link and the Chamber of Commerce

Manage on behalf of and in partnership with Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS), the Southend Start Up Network (SSUN) to support Social Enterprise Development.

St. Luke’s RE:Cycle project:

In partnership with Essex Police (Southend East division), the CIC will develop a cycle reclaim and bike maintenance training service in Cluny Square. The project will also work with the local Connexions team, to target young people who are not in employment education of training (NEET). There will also be work with the community and residents groups to target the wider adult community too.

The project will come under the Southend Cycling Demonstration Town programme and will also offer, bike maintenance training, safety training and signposting, bike hire for people needing bikes for interviews or jobs and will also develop a programme of ‘Health Rides’, encouraging cycling as a form of exercise and as a social event.

THE FUTURE

Alongside starting to develop and run some of the services, outlined above, to improve ‘health and well-being’ in its widest context, the CIC is working to ensure that the services reflect the needs of local people and add value and complement existing community based services and activities.

The CIC will be working in partnership with NHS South East Essex and Southend Borough Council to progress the planning and shaping the proposed Healthy Living Centre building which is due to open in 2011 with a range of health, social care, front line local authority services and multi disciplinary teams as well as incubation units for business and space for the community and third sector to meet and operate.

The Healthy Living Centre will be a ONE STOP HEALTH AND WELL-BEING COMMUNITY HUB where residents will be able to access health provision, training, advice as well as social activities in a well managed, modern facility with integrated services for all.

For further information Contact: Gareth Gault

Tel. 01702 445525 or 07527806520 or email st.lukeshlc@hotmail.co.uk