Special update from Voice It, Hear It – Join us and help shape the future of health and social care services
We are excited to bring you a special update from Voice It, Hear It about our ongoing engagement work and how you can be involved in shaping local health and social care services to make them better for people who need them in future.
About Voice It, Hear It
Voice It, Hear It, is a new project that unifies the collective strength of its partners to support the voice and engagement of people in Wiltshire. The project is delivered by Community First, Wessex Community Action, Wiltshire Service Users’ Network, Age UK Wiltshire, Alzheimer’s Support and Celebrating Age Wiltshire.
Working alongside Wiltshire Council and the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB), Voice It, Hear It will be engaging with people living and working in Wiltshire to co-produce, co-design and co-develop health and social care services in Wiltshire.
The team will work alongside people with physical disabilities, sensory needs, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, neurodiversity, long-term conditions, complex needs, older people and dementia. Empowering and facilitating them to have their say and get involved in shaping how health and social care services work for them now and in the future.
Why engagement matters
At Voice It, Hear It, we believe that people with lived experiences have a powerful role in influencing policies, shaping services, and designing contracts to better align with what people need and want. We all know the frustration of feeling unheard by government bodies, health services, and local authorities – but if we give up on our democratic right to influence these systems, are they truly democratic?
It can feel tiring to keep giving feedback without seeing results, but we aim to change that. When we work together, we create real change by ensuring that the voices of those with lived experiences are consistently and genuinely heard.
How you can be involved:
Register with us
Complete our registration form and let us know how you would like to be involved. This helps us reach the right people for consultations and ensures diverse representation from a range of audiences. When we engage and consult, we provide summarised insights that you can use to inform your own work, advocate for change, or shape the services you provide. Your voice really does matter! You can make a difference.
Stay up to date
Sign up to our email list to stay up to date with the latest engagement and consultation opportunities. You’ll receive updates on newly published reports, which could serve as helpful evidence for future funding applications or advocacy work. We’ll also keep you posted on what Wiltshire Council has achieved as a direct result of your feedback, options, and proposed actions – ensuring accountability and transparency.
Every voice matters and the more effectively we connect with the community, the greater the impact we can achieve together.
How you can help us:
- Spread the Word: Inform your clients and members when we are seeking input on their experiences.
- Stay Informed: You can always find the most up-to-date information on consultations through our Voice It Hear It page on Wiltshire Together or directly through your own organisations leadership team.
- Shape Sessions: Help us design consultations or share relevant information you have already gathered that could inform the engagement process.
- Encourage Registration: Invite other groups and organisations you work with to register with us, building a stronger network that reaches deeper into our communities.
- Share Information: Distribute engagement event details, flyers, postcards, and surveys that promote our engagement opportunities.
- Support Participation: Assist those you work with attending events and workshops, completing surveys, providing feedback, or signposting them to someone who can offer further support.
Contact us to learn more:
Voice It Hear It | Wiltshire Together
📞 01380 722475
✉️ voice@communityfirst.org.uk
Current and Ongoing Engagements
Homecare Services Consultation
Open until 18th December 2024
Thank you to organisations hosting their own sessions. Your trusted spaces are invaluable for encouraging open conversations. There is still time to support your service users/members/clients who receive homecare to have their say.
- 📋 Share our survey: Homecare Survey
- ☎️ Encourage your members to book a 1-to-1 telephone consultation: voice@communityfirst.org.uk
- Invite us to run a workshop or group chat in person or on-line via voice@communityfirst.org.uk
Please share this information in your newsletters and social media posts.
Learning Disability Strategy Aims Engagement
Do your clients wish to share their views on whether the aims are appropriate or if anything is missing from the strategy?
- ☎️ Encourage your members to book a 1-to-1 telephone consultation: voice@communityfirst.org.uk
- Invite us to run a workshop or group chat in person or on-line via voice@communityfirst.org.uk
Share this information in your newsletters and social media posts.
Young People 18-25yrs with Learning Disabilities and Autism on Technology Enabled Care
We’re exploring what tools young people might use or would like to use for maintaining and creating greater independence.
Can you help us engage with young people? Email us: voice@communityfirst.org.uk
Completed Engagements
We’ve already engaged with people around the Accommodation Strategy, Prevention Strategy, and the Life Expectancy Strategy for people with Learning Disabilities. We are keen to continue engaging on Oral Health and other public health issues, with plans to consult on Pharmacy Services in the new year.
Visit Wiltshire Together to access all current surveys. But remember—surveys are only part of our approach. Our main focus is on real conversations, one-to-one discussions, and engaging group sessions that leave participants feeling valued and uplifted. We are committed to sharing our reports with individuals and groups and ensuring Wiltshire Council takes meaningful action based on your feedback —
‘You Said, They Did.’
This work isn’t just a box-ticking exercise; it’s about democracy in action. Together, we can build a stronger, healthier, and more inclusive community. Thank you for joining us on this journey.
Recruiting Community Health Research Champions
Does Your Organisation Support Inclusion and Health Equity?
We’re seeking your help to identify potential Health Research Champions from among your members, staff, or volunteers. This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals to gain new skills, make a real difference in health research, and promote inclusion and diversity in the field.
What Do Health Research Champions Do?
- Raise Awareness: Help others learn about health and care research and encourage participation.
- Speak to Groups: Share information with community and patient groups.
- Promote Research Opportunities: Inform people about studies, like those on Be Part of Research and Join Dementia Research.
- Engage with the Public: Join events, media interviews, or school visits to promote health research.
Why Encourage Your Members to Get Involved?
Becoming a Health Research Champion provides:
- Skill Development: Champions receive full training, adding valuable skills to their personal and professional toolkit.
- Personal Growth: A chance to connect with others, learn, and grow while making a tangible impact.
- Increased Impact: Champions play a vital role in shaping more inclusive health research and improving treatments for all.
Our Motto: “No Research About Us, Without Us.”
Let’s ensure health research reflects everyone’s voice and needs. Together, we can promote equity in health and care research.
Encourage Participation Today!
Share this opportunity within your organization and help us identify individuals from the global majority or people with disabilities who would like to take part. For more information or to connect potential champions with us, please contact askyring@communityfirst.org.uk. We’re happy to share more details about the role, the available training, and how we’ll support champions every step of the way.
Let’s work together to inspire more voices to join this important cause!
Get in Touch
📞 01380 722475
✉️ voice@communityfirst.org.uk
🌐 Visit Wiltshire Together for more details.
📝 Register your organisation here to be invited to engage in future activities.
Together, we can build a stronger, healthier community
Let’s ensure services reflect the real needs and aspirations of our communities. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Funded by:
