Aim and objectives of the report - CLES

(especially for older people) and improving diet, nutrition and patterns of consumption. It was feltthat a one to one approach followed by group activity would be the most appropriate approach.Project rationaleAcknowledging that some people are very unlikely to visit the centre and use their facilities,outreach work targets areas that are characterized by extreme social, cultural and economicdivisions; poor transport links and inadequate access to affordable food. Earlier outreach work hadshown a need for general mental health support for many people living in the target settlements. Itwas also clear that a number of potential beneficiaries had difficulties with transport, childcare orlogistics in terms of accessing the Centre and would be more able to engage with services offeredvery locally.Host organisationWincanton Community Venture (WCV), otherwise known as The Balsam Centre, in WincantonSomerset. The Balsam Centre achieved healthy living centre status in 2002 and received capital andrevenue funding to improve and extend the centre. This multifunctional base hosts WCV’s HealthyLiving Centre, a Children’s Centre for Wincanton and South East Somerset and a base for a healthvisitor team and a Yeovil College of Further Education outreach team. Private and third sectorpartners offer additional centre based activities including alternative therapy and pre‐schoolprovision and it has evolved into the principal local venue for community and interest groups hostinga social and therapeutic garden known as the Growing Space which started in October 2000. This hasreceived practical support from the probation service and provided young offenders with anopportunity to become involved in the life of the centre. The Centre also hosts a varied range ofactivities and weekly services including activities for children and family health services.Trilith’s Rural Media charity serves farming communities in Somerset.At a strategic level the Centre works in partnership with South Somerset District Council (SSDC),South Somerset Health & Well-being Partnership, South Somerset Primary Care Trust and SomersetCounty Council. It combines all three strands of the PCT’s Health and Well-being programme, meetsSomerset’s Local Area Agreement health outcomes (specifically priorities on healthy life expectancy,early deaths from circulatory disease, obesity, promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles anddeveloping healthier and stronger communities) and SSDC’s corporate plan and Health and Wellbeingstrategy.Project areaThe project is based at the Balsam Centre in Wincanton, which serves a rural population of around25,000 people. This is a rural area of about 70 square miles taking in five main settlements and manysmaller ones. Some wards in and around Wincanton are in the second least deprived quintile forEngland however there are pockets of deprivation and it is in these communities that the projectseeks to specifically address health inequalities.117 SWWB Final Evaluation Report