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Do you want to beat Type 2 diabetes? There’s an app for that!

Patients living with Type 2 diabetes in North West London have seen significant improvements to their health thanks to new smartphone health apps.

In partnership with Imperial College Health Partners, the North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) offered more than 400 patients from 18 GP practices across North West London the opportunity to trial the digital apps over four months last year.

The results

  • Patients saw a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and blood sugar (HbA1c) levels
  • patients lost on average two to three kilograms of weight
  • 118 patients participating provided details of their medication, of those 20 per cent were able to stop taking the diabetes medication metformin during the trial.

​The apps, welcomed by leading UK charity Diabetes UK, aim to support patients that are unable to or choose not to attend diabetes education classes to help control their diabetes. They encourage healthy eating and exercise and, educate people on how to manage and control their condition.

Dr Tony Willis, diabetes Clinical Lead for the North West London Collaboration of CCGs said: “The results have been beyond our expectations. Historically, the education classes on offer for patients with Type 2 diabetes have seen low attendance. There was an excellent uptake of patients completing the trial using the apps. This alongside the clinically significant improvements in HbA1c, blood pressure and weight; show just how well people respond when they can receive support at the click of a button.” 

Rachael Glover, Improving Care Manager at Diabetes UK, said: “Diabetes is the most devastating and fastest growing health crisis of our time, affecting more people than any other serious health condition in the UK, more than dementia and cancer combined. Everyone learns differently and it’s important that people with diabetes can access a range of tools to help them manage their condition.  Diabetes UK welcomes this new work, which shows how technology is being used to widen the options available for people with diabetes.”

What did patients say?

Patrick Hingston, from Hammersmith and Fulham, living with Type 2 diabetes said:
“I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2001, it has been a gruelling journey but now I am smiling. When my GP spoke to me about these new apps, I was desperate to try anything. I logged on, got some equipment sent to me, changed my diet and my physical activity. I started going on lots of walks which I have grown to love. I recommend this to anyone who is living with diabetes, having difficulty losing weight and getting their HbA1c down because mine has reduced dramatically. I am delighted to have made a turnaround and want to keep it that way. I want to thank my doctor for putting me on this trial; my results have given me so much joy.”

Patients that took part were from a mix of ages, ethnicities and social backgrounds who are often ‘hard to reach’ through traditional methods of care.

The three apps trialed were Changing Health, OurPath, and Oviva. Patients reported that the apps were easy to use, they felt more motivated, better informed about food and enjoyed the tips and advice on hand.

What’s next?

The North West London CCGs are currently working on an ‘information hub’ for both patients and clinicians to find information and training courses on diabetes. The apps will be one of the services on offer to ensure that every patient living with Type 2 diabetes in NW London will get access to personalised support and information to improve their diabetes and their overall health and wellbeing.

If you have Type 2 diabetes and need support talk your GP about the services available in your area. Stay updated with our work and watch videos on how other people, like Patrick are benefiting from these apps by visiting www.knowdiabetes.org.uk.

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Healthwatch Spring 2018 Newsletter

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You can now read our first newsletter of 2018, by going to our website by click our logo above.

Click Here to open the Newsletter via the Sobus Website

In this issue we talk about Dignity Champions, Charing Cross Hospital, social isolation in Kensington & Chelsea, and young people in Westminster.

 

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Advance Charity – Work for Us – Closing Date 15th April

We are a women-only organisation, providing emotional and practical support to women in London. All our services are free and confidential.
A large part of our work is crisis intervention – for women who require urgent help and face imminent danger.

You can become part of the Advance team and become part of a well respected and well established charity working to support women to cope and recover from experiences of domestic abuse and supporting women who are at risk of offending or with short term sentences to reduce offending.

Five years ago we diversified our services to start our successful Minerva project, working with women offenders, many of whom are also experiencing domestic abuse. Less than one year ago Advance became part of the Angelou Partnership who successfully won the contract for an exciting new range of services seeking to counteract Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the three borough area (Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham). This includes sexual violence, FGM, forced marriage, honour based violence and work with younger women.

Current Opportunity

Female* Community Keyworker – various roles – Click Here for the Job Advert

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Vacancy in the Community Investment Team at Shepherds Bush Housing Association

Shepherds Bush Housing Association Logo

Here at Shepherds Bush Housing Association we have a fantastic opportunity to lead our volunteer programme.  We are an accredited Investors in Volunteers organisation and want to continue to grow our programme.  We are looking for someone on a part time basis for 20hours per week.

For more information: Click Here

If you have any questions please do get in contact with the community investment team on 020 8996 8887 or email community.investment@sbhg.co.uk

Shepherds Bush Housing Group
Mulliner House Flanders Road Chiswick London W4 1NN
020 8996 4200 or 0800 9170839

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Heavily Subsidised Small Charity Training in London from £7.50

 

 

With support from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the FSI is delivering a heavily subsidised three day training event in London from May 15th – 17th offering small and local charities and community groups full & half day courses and workshops on key fundraising & governance skills. A sampling of training courses include GDPR Essentials, Telephone Skills to Maximise Corporate Relationships, Creating and Delivering a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign, Legacy Fundraising and Demonstrating your Impact.

Places fill up fast, so book your place today to access this fantastic training opportunity: https://bit.ly/2DYF6cE

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Standing Together Against Domestic Violence – Job Opportunities

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What we do

Standing Together Against Domestic Violence is a UK charity bringing communities together to end domestic abuse.

A Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a regular local meeting to discuss how to help victims at high risk of murder or serious harm.

No single agency has a complete picture of the life of a domestic abuse survivor, but many will have insights that are crucial to their safety.

The MARAC is both a forum to share these insights with other local services and to develop a joined-up safety plan.

In 1999, Standing Together pioneered the first multi-agency group to implement safety measures for victims of domestic abuse in Hammersmith and Fulham. MARACs have since been recommended by successive governments and are now prioritised in every Local Authority area.

Today, Standing Together coordinates MARACs across five London boroughs:

  • Hammersmith & Fulham
  • Westminster
  • Kensington & Chelsea
  • Ealing
  • Haringey

Job Opportunities

MARAC Team Manager – http://www.standingtogether.org.uk/news/multi-agency-risk-assessment-conference-marac-team-manager

MARAC Coordinator – http://www.standingtogether.org.uk/news/multi-agency-risk-assessment-conference-marac-coordinator

Pathfinder Project Manager – http://www.standingtogether.org.uk/news/pathfinder-project-manager

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Civil society strategy: have your say

Have your say on how government can work with and for civil society to tackle challenges and unlock opportunities to build a stronger society now and in the future. This consultation closes at 9am on 22 May 2018.

Link to consultation page for more info and documents: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/civil-society-strategy-have-your-say

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Small Charity Week 18th – 23rd June 2018

Get your Charity Ready 
There are a range of opportunities available on the Small Charity Week website for your small charity to take advantage of, with many more opportunities and activities to come.

Today we have launched our I Love Small Charities Day Competition information and our Celebration Day toolkit to give you enough time to gear up and prepare your charity and your supporters in advance.

 

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Have you heard of Shared Lives – an innovative way to support someone with extra needs by becoming a paid, professional carer?

Shared Lives is a community based service for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, or older people that runs across Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.  The scheme is being delivered by Grace Eyre, a charity whose name is taken from Grace Eyre Woodhead, who not only founded the organisation in 1898 but also formed the first Shared Lives scheme in the UK.

Our carers are regular people who want to make a difference and can share their home with someone who needs extra support – in return, they are paid, receive training and ongoing support, and become part of an active, supportive network of carers across the UK.

There are over 150 Shared Lives Schemes across the UK.  The schemes are managed by experts in this field, funded by local authorities and regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

We are looking for more people to become carers.  As one of our current carers says, “It’s a highly rewarding job and I’ve really benefitted too – I’ve made a firm friend!” – so why not get in touch to find out more?

If you would like to know more about this extraordinary paid role, maybe as a career change or back to work idea, or if you know someone who would be interested, contact us on sharedliveslondon@grace-eyre.org or 020 7924 0631.

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Citizens Advice H & F – Recruitment – Open Afternoon

We recruiting for:

  • Adviser
  • Project Management
  • Training roles

Who are we – Citizens Advice Hammersmith & Fulham is an innovative service, delivering generalist and specialist advice services via our pioneering projects and through multiple channels both locally and nationally.

We are one of the first advice agencies to secure 10 years funding for our core service and its associated specialist projects. We are now looking to recruit to a variety of roles to support this service.

Opportunity – We are looking for individuals who are interested in working with a high achieving, innovative and award winning service and to be a part of its continued success.

If you think you have what it takes, a high level of motivation to achieve results, the ability to work efficiently and to high quality standards, why not come to our Open afternoon event to learn more about the opportunities to work in a supportive environment which will develop and enhance your advice and project management skills, delivering a service with 99% satisfaction rate and which 81% of our staff would recommend CAHF as a place to work or volunteer.

Come and MEET us – at our event to learn more about us, our impact in the community, and the roles on offer and meet the CEO and Senior Management Team who will be on hand to answer your questions. All of which will help you to complete your application more effectively.

Open Afternoon      Wednesday 14th March       Time: 16.00 – 18.00pm

Venue:                       Avonmore Library and Neighbourhood Centre, W14 8TG

To book your place at the Open Event, please contact  ivy.lewis@cahf.org.uk  by Tuesday  13  March 2018.  (please note spaces are limited and will be allocated on first come basis).

If you are unable to attend the Open Day, want more information about the roles please contact ivy.lewis@cahf.org.uk

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