About us
CK Health Connect sprung from an understanding that the roots of optimum physical and mental health lie not in hospitals or GP surgeries, but in our communities. For many people, connecting with support groups and outreach community services within their neighbourhoods is critical to achieving health and well-being.
Following a Community Open meeting in May 2019, which attracted over 60 people, we launched our project to tackle loneliness and isolation across the Charlton Kings community. Through engagement with one of our main GP medical practices Sixways, local pharmacies, churches, Community Social Prescribers and other grassroots community organisations, the Parish council confirmed the need for actively supporting 'social prescribing' initiatives across the parish. '
Social prescribing' involves helping medical practice patients to improve their health, wellbeing and social welfare by connecting them to existing community services. Such an approach is supported regionally and nationally in response to the fact that 6-18% often of the UK population report often feeling lonely: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/loneliness-annual-report-the-first-year/loneliness-annual-report-january-2020--2
How we started
We employed a Community Development Researcher on a short-term contract, which was co-funded by the Parish Council and a grant from Gloucestershire's 'Growing our Communities' fund. Phase One of the project involved the research and mapping of existing support services/activities available locally in Charlton Kings and in the wider Cheltenham area. The information was put together as an online Directory for Social Prescribers working in the area, but also as an accessible hard copy full colour version for distribution across community hubs.
Whilst the research found a considerable number of support services and activities across Charlton Kings, a comprehensive report from the Community Development Researcher made recommendations for further service developments in the following areas, to build community resilience:
- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Transport & Mobility
- Digital Inclusion
- Young People & Families
Our partners
Parish Councillors Penny Hall and Lynda Johnson are delighted to be working with the following partner organisations, to support the resilience, health and well-being of the Charlton Kings Community:
- Badhams Pharmacy
- Balcarras Academy School
- Caring for Communities and People (CCP) Social Prescribers
- Charlton Kings Infant School
- Charlton Kings Library
- Charlton Pharmacy
- Charlton Kings Senior Citizens Welfare Committee
- Cheltenham Borough Councillors
- Cheltenham Borough Homes
- Cheltenham Town Football Trust
- Emily Vincent Educational Psychology Services
- First Line Physio
- Friends of Charlton Kings
- Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC)
- Holy Apostles Church
- IT Schools Africa
- JAM Basketball Collective
- NHS Directory Services Team, Gloucestershire
- Sacred Heart Church
- St. Mary's Church
- St. Edwards Senior School
- Sixways Medical Clinic