A Local Involvement Network (LINk) Transition group has been set up in Gloucestershire

  

The government has stated that every local authority in England that has a responsibility for health and social care services must have a Local Involvement Network (LINk). A LINk is made up of individuals, community groups, and organisations who will help to shape, develop and improve health and social care services in Gloucestershire.

Anyone can join the LINk and using the powers available, can help to ensure agencies listen to the needs of communities so that they purchase and deliver services that meet those needs.  Using the “enter and view” powers members can also ensure that these changes are actually happening.  

A transition group, looking at how the Gloucestershire Local Involvement Network will work has now been set up. The Transition group is presently looking at three areas:

  • How the LINk will best communicate and publicise its work to all the communities of Gloucestershire
  • How the LINk will encourage and recruit members to join
  • How will the LINk will link operate and what structures it will need to have in place in order to be fully effective. 

Between now and the end of September 2008 the  transition group  will be working hard to get  the necessary building blocks in place in order to have a fully functioning Gloucestershire LINk up and running by October 2008. 

If you would like to receive more information on Gloucestershire LINk, would like to join or have any thoughts around how we should be developing it, then please contact Barbara Piranty at Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (host organisation for LINk), Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LZ, tel: 01452 528491 or email glosLINk@grcc.org.uk

You can access more information on the LINk by visiting the following websites

Gloucestershire County Council at   www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=17438  

The National Centre for Involvement at

www.nhscentreforinvolvement.nhs.uk/index.cfm?content=153&menu=36

GRCC at www.grcc.org.uk 

 

                      Gloucestershire Rural Services Support Group

Business Support and Enhancement Grant

SUPPORTING THOSE COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES FACING CHALLENGES FOLLOWING POST OFFICE CLOSURES

37 rural post offices in Gloucestershire have closed or will be closing in the near future as part of the Post Office Network Change Programme.  The Gloucestershire Rural Services Support Group (RSSG) realises that there is a need for supporting businesses and communities in the transition period following a closure and also helping them to investigate and identify ways of providing future postal or alternative services for the community.

Gloucestershire's rural shops and communities affected by recent post office closures are being urged to bid now for funds from a £40,000 capital fund and business support grant made available by Gloucestershire County Council.  Grants of up to £5,000 are available and the deadline date for completed applications is Thursday 11th September 2008.

Click here for more details: http://www.grcc.org.uk/our_work/post_offices

DRAFT MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION STRATEGY

CONSULTATION

Gloucestershire’s Social Inclusion Executive has developed a draft mental health and social inclusion strategy. The Executive is made up of representatives of 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire PCT, Gloucestershire County Council, District Council Housing representative, Job Centre Plus, Learning and Skills Council, Gloucestershire First and Carers Gloucestershire.

Feedback is being sought from 14th July – 10th October from a broad range of perspectives to shape the strategy and ensure it has local ownership.

For more information and to express your views visit  http://www.partnershiptrust.org.uk/ 

or contact ian.gregory@glos.nhs.uk , telephone 01452 891091.