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Somerset Health and Wellbeing Advisory Network

Helping you to help others

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Vaccination Clinics In Somerset

Sedgemoor

Bridgwater Town Hall, High St, TA6 3BL
Every Friday: 9am - 2pm
Walk in
Bridgwater Community Hospital, Bower Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6JE
Every Sunday: 9am - 7pm
Auction / Market at Junction 24 Market Way, North Petherton TA6 6DF
Sat 7th & 21st May: 9am - 3pm
Walk in
Sydenham Pantry, Community Hub, Fairfax Road, Bridgwater, TA6 4HX
Weds 11th & 25th May: 1pm - 6pm
Walk in
Hamp Pantry, Grenville House, Rhode Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 6JE
Thurs 12th & 26th May: 1pm - 6pm
Walk in

SWT

Minehead Community Hospital, Luttrell Way, Minehead, TA24 6DF
Every Tuesday: 8:30am - 7pm
Everyday Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Walk in
Wellington Community Hospital, Bulford Lane, Wellington, TA21 8QQ
Tuesday & Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Walk in
Wiveliscome Community Hall, West Street, Wiveliscombe, TA4 2JP
Weds 18th May & 1st June: 2pm - 6pm
Walk in
Exmoor Rural Health Hub, Moorland Hall, Wheddon Cross, Minehead, TA24 7DU
Wed 11th May: 12pm - 4pm
Wed 1st June: 9am -3pm
Walk in
Priorswood Community Centre, 13-14 Priorswood Place, Taunton, TA2 7JW
Sat 14th & 28th May: 12pm - 6pm
Walk in
'Grab a Jab' at Boots, Taunton (3)
New walk in clinics are regularly available across the county. Please encourage your networks to check the NHS walk in site for up to date information.
Below are digital assets which you can click on to download. You may have already seen them playing on tv screens in your doctors surgeries and Libraries. Please share with your networks.
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Mental Health Awareness Week 9 - 15 May

Loneliness is a normal human emotion we all feel at times but when it is chronic or long-term it can have serious effects on our mental health. Most of us will experience loneliness at some point in our lives, regardless of age, circumstance and background.
There are certain life events which can increase the likelihood of feeling lonely, such as; moving away from home, starting university or a new job, becoming a new parent, going through a divorce, suffering a bereavement to name just a few.
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Loneliness is not about the number of friends we have, the time we spend on our own or something that happens when we reach a certain age, it is the feeling we experience when there is a mismatch between the social connections we have and those that we need or want. That means it can be different for all of us.

Tips to combat loneliness – practical steps you can take to promote your wellbeing and tackle loneliness:
3 Step Approach to tackling loneliness - Marmalade Trust
  1. Acknowledge loneliness and don't feel embarrassed
  2. Reach out and tell someone how you are feeling
  3. Take action - build up your local community
Get involved in the largest collective sharing of loneliness experiences and together let’s shatter the stigma around loneliness. Share your experiences and send a powerful message to others, using the hashtag #IveBeenThere and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.
Lift Someone Out Of Loneliness
Below are links to great resources and support available, please share with your networks;
Marmalade Trust -Tips for using social media well
Mindline - 24/7 listening and support service 01823 276 892, 0800 138 1692
The Mix - Free confidential help for under-25s to get support online and via a helpline:
Call The Mix free on 0808 808 449 or text "THEMIX" to 85258
Silverline - Free 24-hour confidential telephone helpline offering information, friendship and advice to people over 55: call Silverline on 0800 4 70 80 90
Men's Shed - Community spaces for men to connect, converse and create.
Wellbeing Wanderers
Somerset Health Walks
Nature for wellbeing groups with Somerset Wildlife Trust

Catch Up Film

In this week's catch-up film, Clinton discusses loneliness ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week on 9-15 May.

Loneliness affects many of us at one time or another, and we know that loneliness can be both the driver for and a product of poor mental health.
In this video, Clinton visits the Men in Sheds project in Taunton. They offer a place where men can come together, build things, get involved in community projects, learn new skills or pass skills on to others. He also talks to our Health Promotion Manager, Amy about loneliness can affect your mental health, and the support available.

Talking Cafes During May

Talking Cafes are taking place in venues across Somerset throughout the week - we have 18 venues open, nearly back to pre-pandemic levels! Anyone over 18 years old can drop in to meet their local Village Agent for advice and support.

Facebook Live Sessions www.facebook.com/talkingcafesomerset/
11h May: Importance of Mental Health with the Watch Project
18th May: Re-engage UK: a charity preventing loneliness and isolation for older people
25th May: Somerset's Home Library Service
👁️‍🗨️Tune in at 1pm Wednesdays, or watch after anytime on catch up.

Please share with any of your contacts you think would benefit & if you would like to take part in a future Talking Cafe live please do get in touch with Chrissy Brewers (christineb@somersetrcc.org.uk) or (hannah@somersetrcc.org.uk)

Think Pharmacy

Think Pharmacy is a new service to help people to be seen more quickly via using their local pharmacist for treatment of minor conditions.

The NHS have introduced a new, same-day, GP community pharmacy consultation service to help the public receive quality care and support for minor health conditions, more quickly through accessing care via community pharmacist.
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Job Vacancies

CHARIS, a local VCSE charity refugee (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise), are recruiting for two new roles. This is part of a new phase of refugee resettlement support involving fixed and satellite community hubs for refugee and displaced communities across Somerset, including those sponsors and guests arriving under Homes for Ukraine.

The hubs will work closely with the Refugee Resettlement Team and other VCSE groups to provide a one-stop shop for displaced people. The support may include support English language provision, guidance and advice on local services, integration opportunities with the local community, and providing spaces for displaced people to meet and connect.

We want to hear from you

Your feedback is valuable to us and we'd like to receive more from you and your communities. Ideas on different ways to engage and issues you are spotting locally will help us to reduce barriers to adopting measures that protect us all from Covid.
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Helpline

If you require support please contact your local authority.
Mendip District council call 0300 303 8588
Sedgemoor District council call 0300 303 7800
South Somerset district council call 01935 462462
Somerset West and Taunton council call 0300 304 8000
Somerset County Council call 0300 123 22224
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Resources and Further Information:

For the latest local information as well as digital resources, posters and flyers please visit: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/

For information and resources on staying healthy happy and safe at the time please visit: https://www.healthysomerset.co.uk/covid-19/
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