Since its inception in 1985 as a three month pilot project Help and Care has evolved into a large voluntary organisation at the forefront of both delivering partnership services with the public sector whilst maintaining effective engagement with local communities. Help and Care is a people-centred organisation, setting the agenda for a holistic range of services and activities aimed at maintaining independence and quality of life. Help and Care has a national reputation for innovation in service development and raising the needs, rights and aspirations of older people and carers of all ages.
Help and Care’s work is underpinned by classic principles of Community Development – we have worked alongside people to develop and articulate their aspirations, views, needs and concerns, working in partnership with them to develop local solutions to local needs and to bring positive change to their lives: developing capacity together and utilising the resources of the community.
Throughout our history, we have worked in partnership with, and built good relationships with, commissioners and providers of health and/or social care services in the South of England and been involved in supporting and enabling patients and members of the public to be engaged in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of services.
We have experience of working on various groups to support Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and have sat on many partnership steering groups, most recently the National Service Framework for Older People Local Implementation Teams (NSF LITs), the Steering Group for the Strategic Review of Health and Social Care for Older People in Poole and the Dorset Partnerships for Older People (POPP) Board. Our Chief Executive, Mark Sharman , was also a member of the Department of Health Third Sector Commissioning advisory group and was involved in the development of the “world class commissioning” policy guidance.
Help and Care is a forward thinking organisation; taking into account the views of local people and building services around their needs we have developed over the last 25 years from a small forum of older people to the diverse and vibrant charity that we are today.
Help and Care Timeline
1985 - present
1985 – 1990
1985
- 22ndMarch, Bournemouth Helping Services Council convenes a forum to look into the needs of older people in Bournemouth. Help and Care is formed.
- Mark Sharmanstarts work on 18th November with a budget of 97p. The project is founded on the principles of community development and engagement.
1986
- The start of the ongoing development of neighbourhood groups in Bournemouth
- Dorset Social Services agree a one-off grant of £325
1987
- The “Way In” forum of older people and local workers look at the need for Information for Older People
- Charity Auction held in partnership with Age Concern
- Mark Sharmanstarts working full time
1988
- Launch of “the Van” mobile welfare benefits advice services run by volunteers
- Forum of older people and local workers held to look at issues relating to hospital discharge. Main themes “Bridging the Gap” are lack of information and need for a multi-disciplinary approach
- Evening concert and transport for 150 isolated older people provided by a fleet of social services minibuses.
1989
- Help and Care becomes an independent charity
- 120 people attend “Carers Voices and Choices” Forum to highlight the needs of carers
1990 – 1995
1990
- “Care and Repair” Forum examines the housing needs of older people
- Development worker Mark Sharman becomes the Director of Help and Care
1991
- Charity Projects (Comic Relief) agree two year funding to develop projects which empower older people
- Bournemouth Senior Citizens Forum established
1992
- Funding secured for Carerslink, Care and Repair and the Roots project
- 90 young people from five local schools meet with older people at a one-day “Age to Age” seminar
1993
- The first Help and Care Annual Event is held at the Pavilion Ballroom.
- The idea of moving into the Pokesdown centre is first mooted
- Development of a vision for a Carers Sitting Service following a meeting of the carers forum
1994
- Help and Care moves into the Pokesdown Centre
1995 – 2000
1995
- Handihelp Club (now called Handiworks) launched
- Carerslink extended to the whole of Dorset
- £158,000 received from National Lottery Charities Board for the refurbishment of the Pokesdown Centre
1996
- Advocacy Service Launched
- The new Charitable Company “Help and Care” is formed
- Help and Care purchases the Pokesdown Centre
- Campaign launched to highlight loneliness and isolation
1997
- Health and Living Conditions, a Department of Health pilot project, examines links between health and housing
- Annual event “On the Road” involves three events in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset
- Help and Care visits Romania to establish links with older people’s organisations
1998
- PaulBoateng, Under Secretary of State for Health, opens the refurbished Pokesdown Centre
- First Help and Care Event at the BIC attracts 1200 older people
1999
- Launch of service to support carers through Primary Care
- Rank Foundation agree 3-year funding of Help and Care
- Launch of Advocacy Service across Dorset
- Appointment of a GP-based Advocacy Worker in Poole
2000 – now
2000
- Launch of “Connect”, the one-stop information service for older people
- Help and Care report “ A Different Sort of Organisation” is published
2001
- Help and Care is commissioned to run Care Direct Bournemouth
2002
- Volunteer Support Service is launched
- The “Clearing the Hurdles” research project by older people is published
- Help and Care turnover tops £1million for the first time
2003
- Director Mark Sharman receives OBE and Honorary Doctorate from Bournemouth University
- Hospital Screening Service launched at Royal Bournemouth Hospital
- Help and Care awarded PPI contracts across Dorset and Hampshire
- Help and Care establishes Older People’s Strategy Groups and Older People’s Networks
2004
- The Older People’s Programme moves from King’s College, London to Help and Care
- Distress and Wellbeing project launched – part of a national pilot supporting older people with depression and anxiety
- Help and Care’s Gateway is launched
- Help and Care supports Poole PCT’s “Speak Up” event. Then launches its own “Speak Out” programme
2005
- Help and Care Awarded PPI Contracts for the Isle of Wight
- Hospital Screening Service at West Dorset General Hospital is launched
2006
- “Gay and Grey” research project is published
- Help and Care develops its new branding
- Help and Care begins to explore Health Provider possibilities
2007
- Help and Care’s Hospital Screening Service is featured in the Guardian
- Hospital Screening Service on the Isle of Wight is launched
- Help and Care is commissioned to undertake a review of their Engagement Strategy for the Isle of Wight Council and PCT
- Help and Care becomes a Carers’ Centre
2008
- Moving On. Help and Care launched the first charitable estate agency in the country.
- Handiworks Plus, an enhanced handiworks service was established as a social enterprise.
- Help and Care won contracts to host 13 Local Involvement Networks (LINks) across the South of England.
- 33 Community Leaders are appointed to create change in localities across Dorset
2009
- Help and Care’s Housing Advocacy service helps people maintain their independence in their own home.
- Help and Care create a social enterprise, Homeworks – a building design service.
- Involve Somerset merge with Help and Care to support mental health service user involvement in Somerset.
- New Wave Integrated Care is formed. As part of the Government’s programme to increase access to doctor’s services a consortium was formed to provide a GP led Health Centre in Boscombe.
2010 - Now
- Help and Care creates a strategic Partnership with the Elderly Accomodation Counsel
- ROOTs Gardening services expands following a grant from Ecominds
- Community Works is launched