March 2025
The Board welcomed the provocation at the end of this video and there was a healthy discussion following the video being shown. In summary, the key points made were:
- We have so much more to do but we can take some hope from the great foundation of partnership working and the improvement journey we have been on in reducing the number of people with a learning disability and/ or autism receiving care in an inpatient setting. This work demonstrates the power of starting with people and we can build upon that to address these wider inequalities.
- Reflections on our role across the public sector in unlocking the potential for more employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
- The video has bought into sharp focus the inequalities that exist and board welcomed the chance to openly converse on the issue.
- There are pockets of excellence in the black country but we have a role in ensuring the work spreads.
- A thanks to the LDA board for recognising the call to action and organising the Stakeholder event.
Dudley Voices for Choice are respected and trusted by their members, families, advocates and professionals. Only through working closely with the DVC team are we able to shine a light on the less well-lit areas of the healthcare system and hear the honest experiences of people like Sam, Ade, John and Matty. Their generosity in helping to create this Feet on the Street video was greatly appreciated. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
You can learn more about DVC’s work and the team on their website www.dudleyvoicesforchoice.org.uk or contact them on 01384 217 057.
St. Peter’s Collegiate Church is located in the heart of Wolverhampton City Centre and is open weekdays for visits and private prayer. Approximately 40 people visit the church daily.
The church serves as a warm and welcoming refuge within the city, actively engaging with the community. It supports all individuals – regardless of their faith – offering a safe space where visitors can enjoy a drink and some food. It is also a registered hate crime supporting centre.
After speaking to the churchwarden, we were able to have an insight into their plans for the future. Although they are seeking a new priest, the church is open to build strong relationships with local organisations and groups.
Currently, they have a good relationship with the Good Shepherd and are keen for other charities and organisations to leave supporting materials at their church, as well as resources to aid the development of their volunteers.
After our conversation, our Involvement Team reached out to their contacts to raise awareness around the aim of the church and a clear call-to-action of sharing resources to help those visiting the church.
Since then, we have received a response from Rethink Dudley Sanctuary Hub, providing 24/7 mental health support across the Black Country, and they are able to share their resources with the church.
Going forward, we will share our resources with the churchwarden and will add them to our contact list to keep in touch to provide further support.
Wellbeing Empowered Solutions (WES) is a community interest company that supports Black, African and Caribbean people across Walsall, Wolverhampton and other surrounding areas. It provides befriending and interpreting/translation services, mental health and sexual health support, as well as support to HIV referrals, new arrivals in the country, single parent families, those who suffer from digital exclusion, and those who need help with housing applications.
We met the founder of WES to talk to her about her work, her experiences in the community, and the barriers currently faced.
She explained that she uses her own car and funding to keep the company going, and that she receives a high number of calls for support. They don’t currently have the equipment needed, such as laptops and phones, for their volunteers to support people digitally. She shared that she doesn’t have the funds to supply this, so they’re currently using their own phones. She added that funding would also be needed for a permanent base or room for them to utilise for more confidential conversations, as well as funding to support more community-based activities and events.
Within her area of work, she said that she witnesses a number of cultural issues, including social isolation, barriers with sexual health education in young girls due to strict households, and the view in some cultures that mental health is witchcraft. As she also receives referrals to support people living with HIV, she added that there is a lot of stigma around the virus.
When sharing her own experiences and feedback from people within the community, she spoke to us about challenges within primary and acute care. She explained that, with language barriers, people are going to see GPs or other healthcare professionals, but they don’t understand what they are being told due to the medical terminology and they struggle getting all the information they need in the short appointment slots. She also explained that there can be issues and miscommunication with different dialects, as some languages can be more broad and have a range of dialects.
She shared that one woman in the community was passed back and forth between primary and acute care for investigations, but she couldn’t receive any help from the NHS and ended up going back to her own country for a referral. She also shared her personal experience of struggling to get a gynaecology appointment for her own health issues, explaining that she paid to be seen privately after waiting over 12 months for an appointment.
Following our conversation, we contacted our digital inequalities lead to see if our Black Country Connected programme could support the company with some equipment. We have also advised them to speak to One Walsall for support and to keep them updated with any new funding bids that become available. We have sent them Cancer Awareness training to help the company with conversations around cancer awareness, and we have shared the feedback received on translation and interpretation with our involvement colleague who is currently leading a project on this within the Black Country Integrated Care Board.
We recently attended Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre to speak to members of the ‘Move Through Menopause’ group on their experiences since joining.
Move Through Menopause is a 12-week programme which combines physical activity, education and discussion on topics such as hormones, mental health and nutrition – improving the experience of women going through the menopause.
Each 90-minute session is divided into two parts: the first focuses on providing information and facilitating group discussions, while the second is dedicated to movement in a judgment-free environment. Participants will be guided through various activities available at our leisure centre.
Every week, a different menopause-related topic will be covered, offering information and opportunities to share personal experiences. The fitness component includes classes and access to gym facilities, table tennis, or swimming. While the sessions are particularly beneficial for women experiencing perimenopause or menopause, they are open to anyone over the age of 18.
Listening to the experiences from members of the group, it was clear to see how much of an impact the menopause can have on their everyday life, including their thoughts, relationships and physical health.
One member highlighted how they wish GPs had more insight into symptoms and should realise not all symptoms are the same. It was discussed that the lack of menopause-related groups and activities in Wolverhampton causes concerns for many. One lady found out about this group through her workplace and another from social media.
As people get older, some may find it difficult to connect with others and make new friends. It was mentioned that “This programme has fostered a sense of community. I’ve benefited a lot from this. I’ve not only don’t it for myself, but for my family – and made great friends too.”
Reflecting on the conversations with the women, we can see the challenges in raising awareness of these sessions and the link between physical health and the menopause.
To address this, both our Involvement Team and the Programme Lead has shared information with Active Black Country, Street Games, Primary Care colleagues, and our Women’s Health Reference Group.
For further information and to sign up, please email MichelleRatcliffe
Shaped is a weekly class in Stourbridge that focusses on fitness, nutrition and self-esteem. It’s aimed at people of all ages and abilities, with the goal to provide a safe and motivational space where participants can develop a healthy relationship with exercise at their own pace, without judgment. The class is run by a former international gymnast, who also runs a 10-week project called Glow Girl, which is designed to support young women and girls by encouraging self-love, self-acceptance and body confidence.
We met with the owner of these two projects to talk about her experience of health and wellbeing and working with young people.
She shared that through her own experiences and work, she has observed how some young women and girls can have big personalities and hide their insecurities, whereas others can challenge, bully, compare bodies and fail to support their peers.
When talking about education, she said that she believes school staff struggle to relate to the issues she witnesses, causing them to be overlooked. She shared that with current challenges surrounding mental health support and child and adolescent mental health services waiting lists, she aims to help prevent these issues.
We also learnt that, prior to our conversation, her women's health co-production funding application was unsuccessful. She was waiting for additional feedback on the application, so we took this opportunity to give her some development points on how she could improve her application, utilising her strengths in community sports and health.
She shared that she’s eager to collaborate with other organisations in the Black Country to enhance the health, wellbeing and overall happiness of young women and girls. Before our conversation, she had already received information on how to apply to join our women’s health champions reference group, and we will now help to introduce her to Dudley Council’s community development workers to look at how they help her to raise the profile of her projects. We will also introduce her to the Mental Health Commissioner at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to discuss potential collaboration and inclusion in their funding newsletters.
Caldmore Community Garden in Walsall is a space open to all. Run by staff and volunteers, the garden is used to grow produce, as well as having a play area for children, a range of creative projects and family activities, a Women’s Tuesday group and a Men’s Shed initiative.
We attended the community garden for their under 5s toddler group to talk to attendees about their health and care experiences. We also had conversations about Eid, as the children were busy making cards for Mother’s Day and Eid for the approaching weekend.
When talking about healthcare experiences, some of the attendees raised their issues around children’s health appointments. One mother expressed that health visiting check-ups need to be improved, as she had to chase her son’s 12-month check-up, and another mother explained that her dental surgery doesn’t routinely call regarding her children’s dental check-ups. We also heard a positive experience from another mother regarding her care at Walsall Manor Hospital. After sadly losing her first baby at 32 weeks, she was told to contact the consultant who cared for her directly for her next pregnancy. She shared that she had a caesarean section for her second pregnancy, and that she had a really good experience.
We also received feedback on primary care services. One attendee mentioned about the lack of consistency when attending their GP practice, as they see a different person every time and have to keep repeating their medical history. Another attendee who speaks Polish shared that she was trying to contact her GP for an appointment regarding concerns over her skin. She wanted a face-to-face appointment but couldn’t get through, and she specified that she wanted to see a GP instead of a nurse. We advised that she can submit an online form via her GP practice’s website. She also explained that, while she can speak English, sometimes words can get misunderstood in translation during her appointments.
We also heard about waiting times, with another attendee telling us that after contacting NHS 111, he was advised to attend his local Urgent Treatment Centre. He attended and had a seven hour wait, after originally being told it would only be an hour.
We have shared the feedback received from this conversation with our Time 2 Talk customer service team and the primary care commissioner.
April 2025
Your Helping Hands is a charitable organisation addressing key issued faces by Wolverhampton’s diverse population. They aim to tackle issues including overcoming language barriers, cultural differences, financial constraints, social disadvantage and providing community care and supported living.
Their experienced teams have extensive knowledge and deliver high-quality individualised care. We met with the Operations Director to understand how we could support.
When talking about their connections with other support services, he explained their aims of connecting with social services ward managers and mental health hospitals across the Black Country. Their next step is to establish new relationships with these services to better serve the community. In particular with Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
After our conversation, a member of our Involvement Team has been looking into how we can help with these connections and have put them in contact with OneWolverhampton Partnership to organise focus groups around what matters most to people around technology enabled care. Dates for these focus groups are most likely to be held in June or July.
These engagements help us learn more about what matters most to people and how their insights can improve this service across Wolverhampton.
As part of our Women’s Health project, we spoke with a student wellbeing champion who is in her second year of studying physiotherapy and has a passion for public health. During our conversation, she shared her experiences with domestic violence and her dedication in raising awareness about the issue.
The student emphasised the need for awareness on how people can represent themselves to solicitors and those that can help their experience living with domestic violence. She explained that she often felt herself always “fighting and healing” and believes that professionals – who often have a stronger voice than the public – need more awareness to build trust and professional relationships with those undergoing similar experiences.
During our conversation she highlighted the lack in experience across the city in help in identifying the signs of domestic violence and it only takes one person to make a difference. She also explained that some people will not want to repeatedly explain their situation to healthcare professionals and work needs to be done to provide help without triggering the person suffering from domestic violence.
To assist with the student’s passion for women’s health, a member of our Involvement Team has shared details with the Wolverhampton Women’s Health Champions Reference Group to sign up for our Insight Library, so they can share their articles, as well as introducing her Ruth Hopper who is the Physio Lead for Black Country Perinatal Pelvic Health Service about supporting her with a future university placement.
We also encouraged her to sign up to the Get Involved database and the Insight Library, allowing her to share her valuable work across the Black Country.
As part of our work to improve Severe Mental Illness (SMI) checks across Wolverhampton, we visited a local Head 4 Health group which is a Premier League and Professional Footballers Association funded project working with City of Wolverhampton Council.
This project aims to improve the mental wellbeing of people aged 18 or over who wish to improve their mental wellbeing through informal educational workshops and physical activity. Whilst nobody within the group had direct experience of attending a physical health check for SMI, we collated a few key themes regarding access to GPs and healthcare services.
Members of the group highlighted one issue between primary and secondary care services due to the lack of shared information being minimal causing incorrect referrals and inefficiency. Continuing the theme of being inefficient, we were told patients were frustrated that they are unable to see the same health provider which can lead to inconsistencies in care.
As we heard during other conversations, access to booking appointments differs across the city with some practices offering telephone bookings, others app access only and some using a mixed approach. We have been told that it “creates barriers” for patients trying to access appointments. People are also worried about seeing their GP as they don’t want to waste their time due to the demand for appointments.
We also spoke with one attendee who expressed their concerns about their local GP encouraging everyone to book appointments online and noted “not everyone has access to a digital smartphone.” After listening to their views, we reached out to the practice and was told patients are still given the opportunity to call their GP surgery for an appointment.
Many GPs across the Black Country are carrying out ‘Total Triage’ which are a set of specific questions either through an online form or over the phone (depending on your digital access) and are seen based on clinical urgency and are usually responded to within one working day. This frees up patient’s time due to not having to wait on the phone as long as usual. If patients need to be seen on the same day, they receive a call from the practice. If they need to book a routine appointment, they receive a text message telling them how to book.
After this conversation, our Involvement Team addressed these concerns with the services involved.
Global Diabetes Initiatives (GDI) was founded in 2014 following on from a local doctor experiencing poor care growing up in Cameroon. Dr. Matilda Chonga – driven by a belief in the power of education – is dedicated to improving diabetes care after the death of her mother.
The GDI programmes are well attended, however, their main challenge is getting resources for their activities and professional speakers to educate and raise awareness of important health-related issues that communities across Wolverhampton are facing.
With our networks, we are able to help source the assets and people they need to strengthen their work. Our involvement specialist has sourced some wool and donated it to support one of their groups.
After our conversation, a member of our Involvement Team introduced Dr. Chonga to colleagues in OneWolverhampton, Wolves Foundation, Active Black Country, and colleagues within the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Following on from these connections, Dr Chonga was invited to attend and support an upcoming Father’s Day health event at West Park on Sunday 15 June 2025, and also connected with ICB digital colleagues to improve digital access across GDI and will be receiving two laptops. In addition to this, Kevin Priest from Digital Dynasty will also be delivering basic computer training.
GDI are meeting with Michael Salmon from the Lawn Tennis Association on Thursday 19 June 2025 to discuss how they can possibly work together.
Lastly, we’ve asked our diabetes commissioners to seek support for screening materials like glucose meters and test strips.
