Get Involved
Who can get involved in the LINk in Salford?
Anyone can be involved from individuals to nominated members of voluntary and community networks that provide services to local people of Salford. The LINk in Salford wants to hear from you, especially those people from seldom heard communities and those most affected by the health and wellbeing services in the city.
To register your interest to be involved in the LINk in Salford to receive up to date information and actively get involved complete LINk in Salford registration form.
Please click here to download a paper copy of the registration form.
Jonathan Kalmus – Case Study
It was nothing short of a huge opportunity which the LINk in Salford’s Healthy Lifestyles project afforded me, since, it has taken me in many more directions and further in my career than I could have imagined.
Up until putting in the tender for the project in 2009, I had had some small success as a freelance newspaper journalist, and had begun to make consultation films for Salford’s People’s Voice Media. The Healthy Lifestyles bid was really a first break, allowing me to invest in my own camera equipment and edit suite to take on the project, secure that I would have a return on the investment to begin with. My earnings from my current work were extremely limited, but I managed to pull the money together, which effectively set me up to build a small media company.
What is more, the support throughout the project from the LINk’s staff was instrumental in ensuring that the project was completed to brief and to time. It was after all, a three month project which involved hundreds of people in public settings, but essentially they assisted one man, little me, to complete what was a mammoth task.
After the Healthy Lifestyles Project for LINk in Salford, I have had a steady stream of film work, ranging from health related films to corporate productions for large companies. In fact, one of the firms I had filmed for the LINk project later wanted me to make their corporate film. Among my latest films have been a launch production for Michelin, the French tyre giant, and I’m currently working on a fundraising film for a school which does groundbreaking work for children with disabilities. I have also taken on a freelance editor as the business has expanded. Further, the opportunity has allowed me to branch into still photography as a sideline. I now take photographs for a newspaper.
Samantha McHale (WealthShare Creation) – Case Study
I set up WealthShare Creation in February 2010 with the express aim of, combining and bringing together, my personal expertise, knowledge and experience in Housing, Local Economic Development and Social Enterprise and integrating these areas of interest with the universal matter of Health.
The mission and aim of WealthShare Creation is to secure assets, work and opportunities for communities to increase their “wealth” – Wealth in knowledge, skills, facilities, opportunities and overall, attain good health!
The first contract secured for WealthShare Creation (Feb 2010) was commissioned by Unlimited Potential, on behalf of the LINk in Salford Steering Group, on the topic of Personalisation.
This contract enabled WealthShare Creation to develop and implement the MyCare Consulation Model – a new and creative model for engagement and knowledge transfer between communties and decision makers.
The additional benefit and support offered via the LINk contract of the PQASSO quality mark, has been very beneficial, for both the organisation and also the manner in which we operate. PQASSO has provided a surge in the momentum to develop WealthShare Creation’s processes and procedures in a structured and methodical fashion, running alongside the delivery of the LINk contracts.
The organisational development of WealthShare Creationi is as important as the development of its products and services and as such, the PQASSO quality mark and support from partners, Salford CVS and Unlimited Potential, has ensured that the organisation grows and blossoms into a more robust social business.
The implementation of the PQASSO quality mark has given me the opportunity to develop WealthShare Creation’s internal mechanisms over a set period of time. The long term obective is to increase WSC’s opportunities to secure additional future contracts. It also supports my vision of leading an excellent social business.
In combination, the directors of WealthShare Creation have accessed training and seminars on Health, Business Development and Implementing PQASSO, which supports the development of the organisation’s people and improves the knowledge and skills appropriate to deliver WSC’s vision.
The interconnectedness of the LINk contracts, the volunteer programme and the development of WealthShare Creation, all support and work towards securing more “wealth” for Salford residents! This has provided me personally, with a real sense of value and social benefit. There is still a way to go, however, the experience of working with LINk and others, has been a very rewarding and beneficial one both personally and for WealthShare Creation.
In the last 12 months, WealthShare Creation has successfully developed the MyCare Consultation Model, delivered 2 LINk contacts and secured funding to develop and enhance Salford Royal Hospital’s volunteer programme plus benefitting from a UNITE graduate placement via Salford University.
The experience of working with LINk and delivering contracts commissioned by Unlimited Potential has provided WealthShare Creation with a secure platform upon which to develop and grow. The ablity to develop our processes and procedures alongside the delivery of work, means that I have been able to take a very practical approach to our internal ogranisational development – this works for me – learning by doing!
Beverley Fletcher (WealthShare Creation) – Case Study
My work to complete both commissions for the Local Involvement Network (LINk) in Salford has really assisted my current and future work in Health & Social Care. The first commission, a project called MyCare, engaged with people with mild, moderate and complex needs through participatory consultation asking the question, “What is good health?”, culminating in a final report, interative workshops and a DVD.
The second commission was again in the participatory but also used other methods to glean information such as online questionnaires, formal interviewing techniques and asked the question, “Why do people use A&E for non-urgent care rather than out of hourse GPs, Walk In Centres, Pharmacies, or, NHS Direct?”. This again resulted in a final report, interactive workshops and a DVD. Both resources are held with LINk in Salford.
Following on from this work WealthShare Creation (WSC) was successful with a funding application to BIG Lottery to support a feasibility study for SRFT. This study identified whether SRFT hospital employees were in favour of developing an enhanced volunteer programme. It was felt that “buy in” had to be at every level of management to make it successful and sustainable. The sample group targeted included strategic managers, tactical managers and ancillary managers. The consultation included face to face interviews, questionnaires and once again culminated in a detailed final report demonstrating a way forward for SRFT.
As Beverley Fletcher away from WSC, I am a Director of two social enterprises, i.e. Salford City Radio, an organisation which I helped to set up, Salford Film Festival, which I also helped to set up and I am Chair of Langworthy Cornerstone Association (LCA) where I was the first Centre Manager when the building was initially opened. LCA has recently been awarded a three year contract with NHS Salford with a twenty year lease on the building. The move from being managed by NHS Salford to being managed by the community was developed as a study for my MBA, which I achieved whilst working at LCA as Centre Manager. So I have always had a keen interest in research projects which influence service delivery.
Moreover, I am a qualifed teacher and teach for two days a week. My curriculum area is Health & Social Care. From a teaching perspective I have gained so much knowledge and a better understanding of current issues such as personalised care resulting from teh above studies. This has also included research on quality and levels of domicillary care delivered across Salford. This again has resulted in a detailed report to inform market trends and needs. Working on all four projects has really built upon the underpinning knowledge to support my teaching with students who wish to enter a career in Health & Social Care. I have been able to share my experience with each and every one of them and it has made my teaching much more interesting.
I have always been interested in studying hence my qualifications, MBA, BA Hons, DMS, Cert Ed, DPQS and the above work has made me want to do further study. So I am currently looking to embark on a PhD. This will be possible through my work with H.E.
I have also been successful with a further commission for a Credit Union to develop their organisation and provide two new satellites for the organisation in Lancashire. Again, this will be the result of another feasibility study.
I anticipate that further work will transpire from LINk through their recent public consultation and would be very happy to get involved in this work as it is what I know I do best “Working locally with local people and organisations to benefit communities across the city”.
Consequently, the LINk work has really spurred my interests to develop further professionally, it has helped to increase my knowledge and understanding of pertinent Health & Social Care issues and on a personal level, I have met many new people and made some good friendships.
Rabia Qureshi (Salford Link Project) – Case Study
My journey began in 2009 when the Salford Link Project won the contract to conduct some research on understanding access to healthcare issues among the black, minority and ethnic communities of Salford. My role was to assist with the research as part of my role at the Salford Link Project.
Whilst working with the LINk in Salford I found the team to be helpful and supportive. Their advice and guidance helped to form a good working relationship to progress and work towards getting results. The LINk in Salford funded the PQASSO quality mark training for the Salford Link Project. Being involved with working towards this quality mark has helped me to enhance my communication skills and work together more effectively with my colleagues as a team.
The LINk in Salford have always been available to communicate with via email, phone or face-to-face. They take their work seriously and this gave us the confidence that the work we do will also be taken seriously. Once the research work was complted by ourselves and submitted to the LINk in Salford, they circulated the findings to their statutory partners. The LINk in Salford has statutory powers and so the statutory partners were given a deadline of 20 working days in which to respond to our report and recommendations. This helped us to understand that all the work we did does have a process and that the LINk in Salford are open and transparent. Meena, Wendy and the team have been professional at all times.
We hope to work with the LINk in Salford again in the future.
Martin Halton, Research Manager, Social &Research & Development (SRD), Seedley & Langworthy Trust (SALT)
The Seedley & Langworthy Trust (SALT) welcomed the opportunity to successfully for one of the LINk in Salford research projects in 2010/2011.
SALT is situated in the Central Salford regeneration area. As a community development trust, we have worked in the local area for thirteen years providing support and advice to local residents accessed through the community resource centre, as well as offering opportunities for community-based learning, volunteering and enhancing local employment prospects and opportunities.
The aim of the Trust is to create real improvment in residents’ lives through empowing the community to become more active in the regeneration process. As an umbrella organisation for over 50 resident associations and community groups we work to increase resident governance and participation, empowering residents to have a greater voice in decisions made.
Social Research & Development (SRD) is the Trust’s in-house research consultancy service that has been successfully delivering a range of soical research projects on behalf of clients from across the public and voluntary and community sectors since 2006.
SRD used its team of trained community researchers to consult with 512 residents from the Langworthy ward during the consultation period through face-to-face interviews in a number of community venues across the ward. The consultation also raised awareness and interest around the work of LINk in Salford – with 81 (16%) of those consulted, expressing an interest to become new members of the LINk.
SALT weclomed the innovative approach the LINk adopted in identifying its research topic priorities through consultation with its members – and the opportunities it gave to local 3rd sector organisations in being actively encouraged to get involved in the tendering process.
Through adopting this approach it has allowed Salford’s 3rd sector to demonstrate its capacity and ability to deliver quality, health-related research with meaningful outcomes for a range of stakeholders.
Long may this continue!!!
Kenyon Resident’s Group
The Kenyon Residents Group formed 21 years ago when a group of residents on the Kenyon Estate in Little Hulton looked at trying to improve the deprivation on their estate.
The Group are based in a shop unit on Kenyon Way which they get at a peppercorn rent from the City Council and are just responsible for the gas, electricity and telephone bills. To help fund their activities they charge for cooked breakfasts on a Friday morning and the profits from this go towards paying their bills and any excess pays for trips to the theatre for children in the area. During the month of August they provide a free breakfast for children on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As well as providing breakfasts the Group have a police surgery; a Council housing surgery; drop-in sessions for benefits advice, etc. They have also applied for Lottery funding and plan to have an IT suite and offer IT training in the community.
One cold and windy Wednesday in March 2011, three members of the Group (Cath Hamilton, Joan Schofield and Sharon Shimmons) braved the elements and came along to volunteer for the LINk in Salford at one of their annual events at the Ellesmere Shopping Centre, Walkden. The purpose of the event was to consult with members of the public and get their views on health and wellbeing services in Salford. Along with LINk members and LINk host staff the three members of the group worked tirelessly chatting to local people.
Joan said that she “felt like she was doing something important in the community”.
Sharon said that “it helped to put the views of local people to the people who provide the services” and that “she enjoyed mixing with the public”.
The group enjoyed being involved with the consultation exercise and said “they would love to get involved in further LINk in Salford consultation work in the future”.
Mount Skip Residents Group
The Mount Skip Residents Group in Little Hulton was formed around 20 years ago but became dormant. It recently re-opened in 2004 and teh main focus of the Group is to help the residents on the estate with support and advice and a friendly place to visit. The office opens on a Monday, Thursday and Friday.
The Group is based in a shop unit on Eastham Way. To cover their overheads they have a breakfast club on a Friday morning, sell secondhand clothes and sometimes get donations and grants. Any surplus monies are ploughed back into the community with events and trips, such as a recent trip to Cleveleys for the residents and a fun day organised for the recent Royal Wedding.
The Group offers the following serivces for their community:-
Monday – Council surgery
Thursday – Bingo
Tuesday and Wednesday – IT classes
As well as monthly visits from the Housing Officer and a monthly police surgery for the local community.
One Wednesday in March 2011, three members of the Group (Brenda Wright, Elaine Rigby and Carol Cummings) bravely faced the elements and volunteered for the LINk in Salford at one of their annual events at the Ellesmere Shopping Centre, Walkden. The purpose of the event was to consult with members of the public and get their views on health and wellbeing services in Salford. Along with LINk Steering Group members and LINk host staff the three members of the Group worked tirelessly chatting to local people.
Brenda and Elaine have been involved with the Mount Skip Residents Group for five years and said that “it is somewhere to go to help the residents”.
The Group expressed that they had really enjoyed being involved with the consultation exercise and “should further consultation work come along in the future they would like to be involved”.
