The Head of Adult Social Care gave a brief introduction on the report, before passing onto the Group Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing, to expand upon this further.

The Group Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing, advised that the purpose of the report, was to provide information on the programmes of work of the prevention and wellbeing service and the related contribution to the BCBC strategic equalities plan.

He explained that the The Prevention and Wellbeing service had conducted an internal review of progress made during 2019-20 and collated the information in a format that can increase awareness of what is being achieved within the Directorate and broader Council, with a number of areas of this work being cross cutting.

A series of extracts from the larger report were included as appendices to the covering report, in order to further illustrate some of the work that has taken place during the year. There were 6 appendices providing examples of the work taking place within the service included as supporting information.

The Group Manager - Prevention and Wellbeing referred firstly, to the ‘Our Voice’ programme, which had been developed to capture the views of young people on wellbeing and to work in partnership with schools and communities to develop action plans.

He then referred to the “Girls Network.”

This was an initiative operating in partnership with six secondary schools with a focus on improving health and wellbeing.  The groups conduct research and analyse needs prior to developing supportive opportunities, he explained. Further information with regard to this programme, could be found at Appendix 1 to the report. This service worked in partnership with primary and secondary schools to use extra-curricular activity, to develop active and healthy lifestyles.

The Group Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing confirmed that there were other programmes that indicated a growing focus on looked after children and young carers also within the annual report. During the year, 19 school delegates were supported to attend a Teacher Disability Inclusive Training (DIT) course. The service supported schools, in order to develop their wellbeing plans. Further information on this, could be located at Appendix 2 to the report.

He then went on to refer to the Ageing Well Plan for Bridgend and the development of ‘age friendly’ communities and where there were appropriate intergenerational opportunities.

The Group Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing advised, that there is a growing focus on digital exclusion and those impacted.  Work has commenced with Wales Cooperative Centre on developing a ‘care to cooperate’ programme that targets support for 200 vulnerable people and carers to build skills and connections. Aligned to this, the service was developing a “community information champions” programme with organisations and volunteers to support information sharing with those who are not digitally connected.

He then referred to developing dementia supportive communities, a strategic objective of the Ageing Well Plan for Wales and the ‘Feel Good for Life’ programme, that had been developed with certain key partners. Further details on this programme were outlined in Appendix 3 to the report.

The Group Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing stated that there has been a growth in social prescribing work using cultural activities with Awen that have supported older adults, young people with disabilities and carers.  Examples would include the ‘Same As’ advocacy project with parent carers, the ‘Off Duty’ carers choir programme, ‘Cultural Olympage’ programmes focused on reminiscence and the ‘creative at home’ resources and digital communication platform ‘Stronger Together Bridgend’.  Further information on this, was provided at Appendix 4 of the report.

The Olympage programme was launched in Bridgend in 2017 to support older adults to have more socialisation opportunities and to live active and healthy lives. In 2019 the Prevention and Wellbeing service was successful in securing 400k of investment via the Healthy and Active Fund to develop a regional approach across the Healthy Board footprint, he added.

The subsequent ‘Super Agers’ programme had also been established across Bridgend, RCT and Merthyr.  The programme has been identified as a Bevan exemplar.  A review of the programme and approach will be required based on regulations during 2020/21.  Further information regarding this, was detailed at Appendix 5 to the report.

The Group Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing then highlighted, that the approach of working with community owned networks goes beyond the Girls Network identified earlier in the report.  During 2019-20 an additional network,  Bridgend Inclusive Network Group (BING), had been co-produced and also ‘Together for Young People in Bridgend’ as a network for youth organisations.

The service leads on the play sufficiency duty for BCBC, including assessment and action planning for the range of statutory matters. An example of the play and activity pods project, was shown at Appendix 6 to the report.

A total of 7,670 visits were recorded to Active for Life programmes in Summer 2019, with inclusive opportunities and 309 children were engaged on what was important to them in their communities.

The Group Manager – Prevention and Wellbeing, concluded his submission by referring to the report’s financial implications. He confirmed that, a large number of the programmes referenced in the report, were supported by external funding, including Welsh Government, Sport Wales, and Disability Sport Wales grants. The list of external funding during the period 2019/20 could be found at Appendix 7 of the report.

The Chairperson commended the report and the expansiveness of this, in terms of the health and wellbeing initiatives that were in place for a broad spectrum of people that was also broad ranging in terms of what was available for varying age groups, between both the young and the old. She also noted from the report, that the Council were learning from previous projects that had been put in place and using these as ‘best practice’ for new projects ongoing/proposed.

The Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help, advised that she was Consort to the Mayor, Councillor Baldwin, when she had the pleasure of attending last year’s Olympage and Super Ages events and this had been a moving experience that reflected that individuals continue to have significant and life changing events, no matter how old (or young) you may be. The previous Mayor echoed these sentiments, adding that he too had thoroughly enjoyed the experience that the above events had given him, whilst he held the mayoral position.

As Chairperson of the Evergreen Hall, she received funding for leaflets that were forwarded to the older generation of the County Borough advising them of activities such as those mentioned in the report. She commended the intergenerational aspect of the work that was ongoing, as referenced to in the report, in order to forge closer connections between age generations.

A Member was pleased to see the diverse activities referred to in the report, where support avenues had been put in place for contrasting age groups, ranging from people with dementia to support for younger girls. He commended the support also that came from Community Co-ordinators and this was echoed by the Chairperson.

The Leader concluded debate on this item by also commending the varied amount of support that had been highlighted by other Committee Members, which he hoped could also be scaled up, particularly given the challenging times people in communities were facing, due to the ongoing pandemic.

RESOLVED:                            That the Cabinet Committee received, considered and noted the report.