Fusion Partnership
Ways of Working
Through important partnership working, Active Essex, Fusion and local community groups, have pulled resources together to work towards achieving a shared vision. These partnerships have facilitated resource sharing, enhanced programme delivery and fostered a sense of collective responsibility towards residents’ wellbeing.
The community work undertaken by Fusion this year, with Active Essex support, has seen a number of new initiatives become embedded into the local Braintree district. This has included an innovative food programme with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, an additional Holiday Activity and Food programme for young people on free school meals, a male specific class to improve physical and mental health, and helped set up Halstead ParkPlay for community cohesion.
Each of the case studies below help provide substantial evidence of the importance of place-based working and community partnerships.
Family Food Education
Alongside a Fusion Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme, which engaged 70+ young people throughout the year, the Witham Leisure Centre offered a free Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food family cooking course. This provided families with the opportunity to improve their kitchen skills and knowledge, as they learnt to prepare healthy meals together. As a follow up, an additional food related course was hosted at Halstead and Witham Leisure Centres, utilising an air fryer, making it accessible for many.
Working together, alongside the Active Essex hub team, this initiative was instrumental in promoting healthy lifestyles and combating social isolation among young people and their families in the district.
Key learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Incentives
To be able to keep an air-fryer at the end of the cooking course, was an incentive for parents.
Environment
An accessible space, suitable for activities to take place is important, when running classes.
Sustainability
Future opportunities should tie in with already established HAF providers for further reach.
Partnerships
Crucial to have wider support in sharing comms and reaching new member of the community.
Volunteers
Support is vital for delivery of ongoing sessions, and should be factored in for next time.
Gentle Touch
Funded through the Find Your Active Small Grant fund, Gentle Touch ensured residents were able to be referred through the Fusion referral scheme getting discounted payment support initially, and outlining key classes and gym offers that would help encourage participation, especially for residents with long term health conditions.
As an initiative to reduce social isolation within the community, Fusion ensured they could foster local friendships in a relaxed environment whereby residents were able to dedicate time to themselves and their wellbeing.
This created a pathway for residents to explore opportunities within their local area, with some now attending groups such as the Community Garden project, and Holistic Champions.
Find out more about the Holistic Champions offer below.
Holistic Champions
Combating social isolation and supporting men’s physical and mental health.
