Haverhill LifeLink given grant boost
The Haverhill LifeLink project is to share a £663,000 funding boost – safeguarding the future of the scheme and paving the way for a third LifeLink Coordinator.
West Suffolk Councils led on securing the extra funding for the social prescribing scheme which has been run successfully as a pilot in Haverhill.
The six-figure sum will both strengthen the Haverhill LifeLink scheme – run in partnership with ONE Haverhill Partnership – and be used to work with local partners in Mildenhall and Brandon to develop a social prescribing model for the two towns.
The scheme helps address social and wellbeing needs of residents which can also impact on health and are sometimes traditionally hard for medical services to address.
This has led to people gaining confidence, reduced loneliness, getting back to employment, volunteering and helping physical and mental health as well as reducing debt.
Half a million pounds in funding was agreed by Suffolk Leaders as part of the West Suffolk Councils’ share of the 100% Business Rate pilot.
Just over £160,000 has also been provided by the NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group for the social prescribing scheme. While £500,000 was provided through the Business Rates Pilot money that was awarded to Suffolk by Government for placed based issues.
John Mayhew, chairman of ONE Haverhill Partnership, who launched LifeLink in partnership with West Suffolk Council, said: “We are delighted that the Haverhill LifeLink health project has been secured for another three years after making such a tremendous impact as a pilot project, exclusive for the residents of our town.
“Thanks to the hard work and commitment of many, Haverhill LifeLink has made a real difference to the lives of almost 200 people in Haverhill and I look forward to this continuing.
“It is testament to the success of the project that West Suffolk Councils are now looking at the Haverhill model when launching similar schemes in Brandon and Mildenhall.”
