Blog | Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency

Social Prescribing – What’s strong not wrong

22 June 2017 - 12:14pm

I don’t need convincing of the benefits of social prescribing. I spent 18 months researching it back in 2014 and produced a business case proposing a model for South Tees. My positive views however, were reinforced at a recent Kings Fund conference I attended ‘Social Prescribing – from Rhetoric to Reality’. Allthough it was somewhat preaching to the converted, the conference was attended by over 400 delegates some of which had to be accommodated via a viewing room which streamed the conference live, due to the demand for places.

A reflection on assessments

22 June 2017 - 12:09pm

I’ve recently decided to build ‘reflective’ time into my working week, to take stock of work ticked off the endless to do list, what I’ve learnt, the people I’ve met etc. It’s something that I hope will become a habit as it’s such a useful exercise to put things into perspective, identifying areas for improvement, good things, and the appreciation of others.

‘Human altruism which is not egoism is sterile’ – Marcel Proust

22 June 2017 - 12:05pm

We like to believe that people volunteer purely out of the goodness of their hearts. The reality is that people have a wide range of reasons to want to offer their time and skills to organisations. This can range from gaining experience in a specific role/ sector or utilising skills already obtained, making community connections, desire to feel valued and part of a team, getting involved in something enjoyable outside of work and family commitments, plus many more.

“I’m sorry but you don’t have enough experience”

5 June 2017 - 11:58am

Place yourself in the shoes of a young person within the NEET (not in education, employment or training) category living in Middlesbrough. You’ve been applying for lots of jobs but, if you do receive a response to your application, the answer is no. The reason you are given is that you do not have sufficient experience. This is the beginning of the vicious cycle of inexperience and unemployment which many young people in Middlesbrough, and across the country, find themselves trapped in.

And so it begins - the journey of Healthwatch part two

5 June 2017 - 11:28am

I will start by sharing my journey as a young single mother sat on the train travelling north from London Kings Cross, I knew the journey well having spent all my growing years doing the very same trip, backwards and forwards, going home was how I saw it, back to my grandmother. The difference this time was I knew I wouldn’t be returning to London, but that was the only thing I knew.