Older residents in Southampton are being given support to access local services while staying socially and physically active, thanks to a new partnership.
The local NHS in Southampton is working together with Saints Foundation, the community/voluntary sector, and Southampton City Council, to create 'Integrated Neighbourhood Hubs' in four locations across the city.
At the heart of the new neighbourhood hubs is the Senior Saints project, a well-established and successful initiative run by Saints Foundation and supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. Designed to promote physical activity and social engagement among older people, the programme has become a trusted and valued part of life for many in Southampton.
Senior Saints host sessions at Test Park Sports Ground, Thornhill Baptist Church, YMCA Newtown, and St Patricks Church alongside St Mary’s Stadium. Each one provides access to a range of services from a broad and growing range of partners that includes social prescribers and well-being coaches from local GP practices, local community organisations like Age UK Southampton, Unpaid Carers and many more. Importantly, the hubs are free to access, located in familiar and accessible community settings, and designed to be welcoming and inclusive.
Paul Hedges, Health Projects Manager at Saints Foundation, said: "Senior Saints supports people to get physically active and connected to their communities.We aim to provide a space for people to connect with others while benefitting from structured physical activity sessions with our amazing team. This is helping people to manage long term health conditions and remain healthy and independent as they get older.”
Southampton, like the rest of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and the UK, has an ageing population and rising levels of preventable illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and chronic kidney disease.
By focusing on early intervention, prevention, and community-based support, the neighbourhood hubs aim to improve quality of life for older residents whilst reducing pressure on health services.
James Roach, Director of Primary and Local Care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “The hub is a fantastic example of how we’re working with our local authority, voluntary sector partners, and local football club to expand the range of health services that will keep people well and out of hospital. Integrated neighbourhood initiatives like this are supporting older people to live longer and healthier lives by keeping socially and physically active in their own communities. This helps form part of our plan to focus on prevention and provide more care options, in one place, closer to people’s homes, as outlined in the new ten-year plan for the NHS.”
Andrew Smith, Primary Care Development Team Manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Strong partnerships are vital to the delivery of this project. There is huge appetite within the NHS and among our partners to work differently to deliver shifts towards prevention and community that we need to see as part of the new ten-year health plan. We’re determined to continue to build on the initial success of this work to expand the services available at the hubs and increase our reach into communities.”
Neighbourhood hubs will expand over time to include more services and activities, bringing care closer to home for residents. This project is part of wider plans to co-create health services with local communities, making sure they reflect the real needs of the people they serve.
Robin Poole, Consultant in Public Health at Southampton City Council, said: “Staying physically active and socially connected to the people around you are two of the fundamental pillars of healthy ageing. In Southampton we’re harnessing the strengths of partners across the voluntary sector, the NHS and the local authority to support people to live stronger, healthier lives and stay independent for longer.”
Find out more here: Building a strong foundation for prevention in Southampton :: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight