The Access Wellbeing programme is expanding to provide more drop-in services across Dorset. These are based in existing community settings and will operate on different days of the week, giving people more options to access wellbeing and mental health support. These new drop-in services are in addition to the Access Wellbeing Hubs already open in Poole, Boscombe and Weymouth.
New community drop-in services are now being trialled in Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorchester and Weymouth, with additional spaces opening in Wimborne and Ferndown in early February. Further venues in West Dorset, North Dorset and Purbeck will open over the coming months.
Get up-to-date information on community drop-in spaces, including venues and opening times.
The new venues are currently operating as pilot sites, to help understand more about local communities and ensure the right support is provided. Locations and times may change in the future, depending on the needs of each community.
What support is available in Access Wellbeing drop-in spaces?
Access Wellbeing drop-in spaces are open to anyone over the age of 18. They are staffed by trained wellbeing coordinators who can take the time to listen, and then help people access the right support and advice. No appointment is needed.
Wellbeing coordinators can help people to find support on topics including:
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Social connections and activities
• Grief and loss
• Work, money, housing, benefits support
• Support for carers and family members
Alongside the new community drop-in spaces, Access Wellbeing Hubs are also open in Boscombe, Poole and Weymouth. The Boscombe and Poole hubs are open five days a week for drop-in visits. The Weymouth hub, located at Hope House, currently supports individuals who have been referred to the Access Wellbeing service and is used to see people on a 1:1 basis, as well as hosting different groups and activities such as yoga and art-based groups.
What is Access Wellbeing?
Access Wellbeing provides different types of support depending on each person’s needs, including easy access to early help with the issues that can impact our mental health and wellbeing. Access Wellbeing connects the system. That means the NHS, councils, and voluntary and community sector (VCS) are working in partnership to provide support and link with organisations across the area to connect people to the right help.
The Access Wellbeing programme includes different layers of support, but these work in tandem to create one system. Teams within NHS mental health services, the voluntary sector, and other organisations will provide different help at different times. Access Wellbeing is a new way of working that will develop over the coming years. We will listen to communities to understand the best way to provide support and develop services that meet the right local needs.
