#SpeakUp small grants 2018/19

Healthwatch Sheffield’s 2018-19 #SpeakUp Small Grants Programme funded 11 community organisations to gather views from groups whose voices are often underrepresented in health and social care discussions. Collectively, the projects engaged around 604 people, including refugees and asylum seekers, people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) communities, people with learning disabilities, LGBT+ young people, people with eating disorders, young people with mental health concerns and people affected by ME and fibromyalgia. The programme aimed to ensure decision-makers heard directly from diverse communities about their experiences of local services.

Across the projects, several common themes emerged. Participants highlighted difficulties accessing GP appointments, barriers caused by language differences, inconsistent use of interpreters and limited awareness of available health services. Many groups stressed the importance of culturally sensitive care, better communication and improved understanding of people’s individual needs. Refugee and asylum seeker groups reported a need for clearer information about how the NHS works, while people from BAMER communities highlighted challenges with online booking systems, interpretation services and trust in services. Access to mental health support was another recurring concern, particularly among young people and those with eating disorders, who described problems accessing support before reaching crisis point. 

The projects also identified examples of good practice. People praised caring and supportive healthcare staff, positive maternity services, helpful GP practices and hospitals, reminder systems and the availability of community-based support. Learning disability groups reported largely positive experiences of annual health checks, while transgender young people praised support received in colleges and universities. Community organisations found strong demand for health promotion activities, wellbeing workshops and opportunities for people to learn more about healthcare services and healthy lifestyles. 

The report concluded that community-led engagement can successfully reach people whose experiences may otherwise go unheard. Recommendations included improving access to GP and dental services, strengthening interpretation and translation provision, increasing cultural competency training, improving awareness of available services, expanding mental health support and ensuring services are more responsive to individual circumstances. The programme also helped participating organisations build confidence, strengthen partnerships and develop new initiatives, with several projects leading to ongoing work to improve local health and care services.