Health and Wellbeing Event

Today saw HARP hosting a wellbeing event for rough sleepers and residents, with drop-in advice and testing being offered to attendees.

Front of House Coordinator Natalie is hard at work in the Bluebird kitchen feeding a seemingly never-ending array of healthy fruit and veg in to the smoothie maker “We've just got smoothies, healthy stuff, a barbecue. There's lots of stuff going on”. Outside, the Bluebird Garden is a flurry of activity and chatter, staff and volunteers are cooking and serving up food at the barbeque while our service users get busy talking health and wellbeing with the assembled professionals.

“Today was just meant to be about, bringing everyone together, the rough sleepers, different health agencies. Helping our people to speak to the right agencies to help them manage their health and wellbeing. That's what we've done. And it has turned in to a great networking event. There's lots of new agencies in Southend and with staff changes at HARP, networking is really important to help us deliver outcomes for our guys. We've got Doctor Siddiqui and his team from Southend Medical Centre, we've got Martin and Sophie from Everyone Health. We've got Shara from The Change Project, Brook Sexual Health are on their way and we have our very own Education Training and Employment (ETE) Coordinator Jade.” Said Front of House Coordinator Natalie who organised today’s event along with John our Rough Sleeper Coordinator.

Attendees have been able to get blood tests, diabetes testing, talk about healthy lifestyle choices such as giving up smoking and making healthier food choices and the chance to try out some drumming courtesy of Bear Walsh.

“Kirby and Lewis are a local family run wholesalers in Shoeburyness and they have been amazing!” says Natalie, “they have been donating amazing healthy food every week for us to use at the Bradbury Centre. When they heard about this event, they were extremely generous providing lots of fresh produce such as oranges, apples, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms.”

“There are definitely lots of healthy foods for people to try and the smoothies seem to be a big hit” said TDMA coordinator Damon, “the event was planned to take place at the Bradbury Centre but owing to some unexpected guests at the centre, the event had to find a new venue. Bluebird is almost purpose built for this kind of event with a lovely outside space, a really social kitchen and the connected space of The Hive”.

While Everyone Health were busy talking to guests about their new smoking cessation service which launches in September, HARP’s own Jade, along with her amazing array of pens, promoted ETE and talked to attendees about work, goals and training. Shara and The Change Project are new to Southend and found the event useful to raise awareness. The Change Project offer support and training to those affected by domestic abuse. “We’ve had a lot of interest and it seems as though people will be using the service” she said.