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More Than £16,000 Has Been Given To Support Islanders' Mental Health

More than £16,000 has been awarded to support Islanders' mental health - thanks to a grant from the Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

A £16,176 grant has been given to Southern Housing Group from the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Mental Health Charitable Fund.

It will go towards funding the Housing Options Positive Engagement (HOPE) project which plans to offer a wide range of valuable support streams to people with mental health issues on the Isle of Wight.

HOPE aims to assist vulnerable members of the community by supporting them to find suitable housing and ensure they can access welfare benefits. Underpinning this project will be supportive independent living skills sessions, helping to build confidence and empower people to live
well.

The project also aims to combat social isolation through organised activities, promoting friendship and improving wellbeing. One example will be HOPE cafés and coffee mornings, which will allow members to meet up over coffee and form friendships in a relaxing and enjoyable setting.

Working closely with the NHS, IoW Council, and other voluntary sector organisations to support people recovering from mental health difficulties, the project will also extend to their families and carers to help build a support network across the community.

The project will be delivered by the Group’s Supporting Independence and Care (SI&C) team, which has been delivering support services and specialist accommodation across the Isle of Wight since 1990.

Naomi Keyte, Head of Care and Sheltered Services at Southern Housing Group, said:

“Mental health is an issue that we feel extremely strongly about at SI&C. The pandemic has exacerbated feelings of anxiety and loneliness for a lot of people on the island and we felt that now was a vitally important time to do what we can to combat this. The HOPE project will do more than just offer short-term support; it will provide vulnerable individuals with the skills to pursue long-term opportunities.”

Frances Murray-Smith, Quality Assurance and Engagement Manager, added:

“Our existing positive working relationships with the IoW NHS Mental Health teams have proved extremely valuable in this process. We have been able to combine our own expertise of providing years of outreach support with the experience of the other organisations, allowing us to create the strongest programme."

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