The Rise Awards 2011 for excellence in improving the quality of life and well-being of mental health service users receiving support in the community
A. About the Awards
The Rise Awards are presented by Lemos&Crane who are sponsoring a prize of
£1,500. Entries are invited from organisations working with mental health service users. In particular those organisations that deliver services in the community; residential care; supported housing; and to people at home.
Entries should be based on work in generating positive outcomes in one or more of the following three areas:
Developing positive personal identity: Examples might include work to enhance personal independence and control; service user involvement, choice and
empowerment.
Developing and sustaining relationships. Examples might include work to
enhance relationships with family and friends, loving relationships, relationships with pets and connections to communities and other networks or associations.
Promoting positive life satisfaction. Examples might include work to enhance contentment about finances, accommodation, employment, physical health and use of leisure time.
B. Timetable
Deadline for entries – 5pm Friday December 17, 2010 Shortlist announced – January 14, 2011
Winners announced – January 28, 2011.
C. Rules and procedures
1. Entries must be completed using this entry form and submitted electronically here:
http://www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/home/index.php?id=211749
2. Receipt of all entries submitted online will be automatically acknowledged. 3. Entrants may be asked to provide further information.
4. The judges' decision is final. Awards will be made at the judges' discretion and no correspondence will be entered into concerning any decision. Not all the awards advertised may be awarded if the judges consider the criteria have not been met. Additional commendations may be made at the judges' discretion.
5. The content of any entry may be used for informing other practitioners and also for publicity purposes unless the entrant withholds their consent to this in writing. 6. Entrants are deemed to have accepted these rules and procedures and to have
D. Your Entry
Please do not exceed 1500 words in total.
1. Your contact details
Full name Shelley Perry
Organisation Support and Education on Eating Disorders
Telephone number 0844 391 5539
Email address [email protected]
Address LF8 Preston College, St Vincents Road, Preston
Postcode PR2 8UR
Website www.lancashireseed.btik.com
2. Name of project you are entering for the Rise Awards
Support and Education on Eating Disorders
3. Describe your project in one sentence
A support service for those who are suffering eating distress and their carers
S.E.E.D is based in Preston College and has two rooms, Room LF5d is the drop in room where people can come in and gather information about eating disorders. There is also an office and a group area in LF8, this is where the day to day running of S.E.E.D happens. Also the Group at night is run out of this room.
5. What are the project’s objectives?
The projects objectives are to provide otherwise non-existent services for those suffering with eating distress and their carers with in the community and be accessible within location cost and approach. S.E.E.D is dedicated to raising awareness of eating disorders and early intervention towards the prevention and management of eating disorders in lancashire
Eating disorders are a mental health problem experienced by 13-20% of the population. At least 1.1 million people in the UK are affected. The need for such services are both locally and nationally recognised are acknowledged by Anorexia and Bulimia Care and via research completed by the national charity B-eat, to which S.E.E.D is affiliated.
Individuals suffering from eating disorders tend to become socially isolated. This is due to lack of local support networks. It is acknowledged that low intensity social support, accessible throughout recovery are key to reducing associated mental health problems e.g. depression and anxiety. These services also promotes a sense of health and well being and allows the individual to develop coping strategies/life skills, self esteem and confidence.
6. What are the project’s activities?
S.E.E.D offers a range of services designed to support people who are experiencing eating distress. These services include:
Drop in is a service that allows sufferers and anybody associated with eating disorders to come in and gather information and advice regarding eating disorders and how to start their road to recovery. It is also a service that allows service users of S.E.E.D to come and chat, have a drink, set goals and engage in low intensity therapeutic activities and to gain support from each other. It purpose to be a
relaxing, safe place for people to come and gather support. Two Drop in facilitators welcome new and current members and to facilitate what ever is happening at the time. Drop in is also offers a signposting service, as service users often have other issues alongside their eating disorder it is important that they know where help is available.
Self help group
A Self Help Group is held every other Friday, 7-8.30pm. This A structured self help group working through aspects of recovery. The group opens with a discussion around an aspect of eating disorders. A talk then takes place about a specific aspect of recovery e.g. reducing laxative abuse, raising self esteem, anxiety management, nutrition etc. Open to sufferers and carers over 18.
Carers Group
We also offer a carers group. A structured group designed to give carers some support with what they are experiencing. The group will offer a confidential area to talk about the impact of being a carer. Carers are invited to discuss issues and to ask questions to the service users to gain insight into the needs of the sufferer and how they might help them.
SEED is also setting up a befriending service for the sufferers of eating disorder. The purpose of this is so the sufferer can have a little extra support with in the community. Befrienders will be able to support a variety of tasks within the community such as, going to the doctors, food and clothes shopping and social activities.
The objectives of this project it to integrate sufferers of eating disorders back into the community which they may have become isolated from.
S.E.E.D also covers other activities that are beneficial to the community.
Hopes to deliver a schools project that works on improving body image and self esteem in young people.
Provides training to professionals
Provides a church awareness program
Deliver and host awareness events
Liaisons and collaboration with other like minded services/organisation to improve the experience of the service users.
7. What has been the impact of the project (please include any feedback or evaluation)?
After every group session we ask the service users to fill out a group evaluation form which shows how beneficial the groups where in aiding their recovery and improving to involve service users in planning/developing future services.
Both research and verbal feedback received from service users suggests that the Befriending Service could be essential to the recovery of those suffering from eating disorders. They have found that the supportive nature of the befrienders and the support of SEED has given them the confidence to become active members of the community again.
The service users experience enhanced social skills and social functioning. Allows smooth transition from tier 1,2,3 intervention to tier 4 interventions. The service users experience enhanced health, mental health, wellbeing and
independence.
Impacts on relationships with family and friends acting as an informed respite service.
Reduces the impact on GP/SW’s/CMHT’s and hospitals.
Relapse prevention leading to reduce the impact of eating disorders on NHS services i.e. medical assessment units.
The development of positive personal identity for service users. Provides support and education for schools/colleges/therapists. Increases employability prospects locally
awareness events.
Service users are able to continue their lives in the community rather than in hospital (using the recovery model) promoting choice and empowerment, positive life satisfaction and sustaining relationships.
8. What are your plans for developing the project further?
S.E.E.D’s long term plan are to expand and grow into a charity.
S.E.E.D has a short term goal of raising £5000 to become a registered charity.
S.E.E.D plans to have its own building where the operations of the organisation can be achieved without too much impact on the needs led service users.
Developing the organisation so that we are able to provide specialist and accessible early intervention services across Lancashire.
Improving infrastructure.
Providing further training for staff and volunteers to enhance the experience of all stakeholders.
Build and sustain capacity.
Befriending Service
E. Submitting your entry
Please return this entry form by 5pm, Friday 17 December 2010 by uploading it on this page: http://www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/home/index.php?id=211749
On this page you can also add documents, photos, videos or other media that are relevant to your entry.
If you have problems sending us your entry then please email
[email protected] for help.
