search

I want to Volunteer

Search for Opportunities View all Opportunities

My GVA

Login to your Account Register as a Volunteer Register your Organisation

Information and advice directory of local services for adults with care and support needs.

Connect to Support Hampshire Search for Support

Play the Gosport lottery or register as a good cause to raise funds

Gosport Community Lottery

Supporting voluntary and community organisations

Connect to Hampshire CVS Network

Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum

About 

The Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum is a meeting point for the health services and more than 200 community groups in Fareham and Gosport that support people with health conditions.

The Forum allows patients to influence how health services meet their needs and become more effective.

Purpose 

To engage, inform and support local health and disability groups in the area so that:

  1. They can collectively have their say and influence decision making
  2. Their work is known and valued by healthcare providers, including GPs
  3. They can put forward proposals to improve the health and wellbeing of patients with long-term conditions, and support their families
  4. They are informed about proposals for the development of health services by the Hampshire & IoW Integrated Care System (Hants & IoW ICS) and can respond individually or collectively.
  5. They can provide feedback or raise concerns about health services for the specific needs of patients with particular conditions.

The Hampshire & IoW Integrated Care System (Hants & IoW ICS) 

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System is responsible for purchasing healthcare for patients in Fareham and Gosport, and is required by law to consult with patients.  The Health Forum helps the Hants & IoW IC to do this more effectively.

Upcoming Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum:

  • Wednesday 1 May 2024, 1-2pm

Membership 

The Forum is open to all health and disability-related support groups, clubs and charities in Fareham and Gosport that aim to improve the health and well-being of their members. Representatives of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System will also attend.

Past meetings/webinars

Meetings are organised four times a year, and hosted alternately by Community First Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Action. Groups unable to send a representative can participate in advance by email or phone. The agenda goes out by email a week before meetings, and responses from groups are collated. Generally the meetings have a theme, and ideas and suggestions are always welcome.

The Forum is not a channel for individual cases or complaints to be raised.

Most recent forum:

Fareham & Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum (Support Services for Neurodivergent People)

Download the PowerPoint Presentation (PDF Format)

Videos from the presentation:

Slide 10: What Is Neurodiversity?

Slide 32: Why Autism is a Different, not a Deficit

Slide 33: How many questions can you answer?

Slide 34: Young people explain communication | Ambitious about Autism

Slide 35: Young people explain stimming | Ambitious about Autism

Slide 36: Young people explain meltdowns | Ambitious about Autism

The (virtual) Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum was held on Tuesday 6 February 2024 – with c44 attendees. Following on from attendees being welcomed, Community First’s Chief Executive, Tim Houghton, provided a Community & Voluntary Sector update. He began with an explanation of the HCC Future Services Consultation highlighting the potential impact of proposed cuts on key community services such as CVS, Community Transport, Homelessness services… Tim continued with an update on HIVCA (Hampshire & IoW VCSE Health & Care Alliance), the Healthier Together website, Hampshire Active Health Programme, Public Health Mental Wellbeing Programme, Bereavement by Suicide service and the Fareham & Gosport Voluntary Car Scheme.

Finally, Tim provided an update on behalf of Gosport Voluntary Action – re an impact research report into ‘social depravation, health inequalities and antisocial behaviours of young people in Gosport’, a Bereavement Support Monthly Drop-in, Local Historic Walks, a Meet the Funder event – 29 February, a Bringing Gosport Together event – 20 March. The update concluded with Gosport’s Ukrainian Hub’s – potential closure at the end of February 2024.

Next, Zoe Beasley, Autism Partner Coordinator, Adults’ Health & Care, Hampshire County Council began by playing a short explanatory YouTube video – ‘What is Neurodiversity?’. Zoe then explained about the Hampshire Autism Partnership Board and Strategy. She described Hampshire’s Autism Demography, Health & Care Inequalities, improving accessibility & inclusion, local support services and how to support? The presentation concluded by highlighting the range of resources and additional information available.

Tanya Egan, Chair of Trustees (& Autism Ambassador) ADHD & You – Information & Peer Support (18+) described Gosport’s (& surrounding areas) ADHD monthly Peer Support Hub, established in 2023 – including a monthly Women’s Chat Group and virtual Peer to Peer Drop-ins. The group supports adults who are diagnosed and undiagnosed &/or those supporting someone living with ADHD. Group members share some coping strategies eg mindfulness and also, they can access a quiet, safe space where like-minded people are accepted. Tanya shared some of her lived experience of ADHD and Dyspraxia since being diagnosed aged 32. The group are growing and will be outreaching more in 2024 – including by providing digital support. They are looking for funding & for more volunteers.

Finally, Ashleigh Spice, Services Manager, Autism Hampshire began by illustrating how we all receive/understand requests differently eg when making a glass of squash… Ashleigh described her own experience pre and post diagnosis. She then explained about Autism Hampshire’s Information, Advice and Guidance services, Serendipity Community Groups, External Training and Consultancy, Specialist Mentoring Service. Ashleigh concluded by describing what help Autism Hampshire currently need eg volunteers, attending training, fundraising, by spreading the word and by encouraging people to ask questions…

The Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum ended by the contributors and attendees being thanked and by confirming the next Health Forum Webinar date and time as follows:-

o Wednesday 1 May, 1-2pm (Webinar)
o Thursday 12 September, 10.30-12.30pm (Networking & Showcase Event – Face to Face)
o Tuesday 12 November, 1-2pm (Webinar)

For more information, please contact Jane Bray:- healthforums@cfirst.org.uk

Past webinars and face-to-face events

Health Forum News Updates 

Key updates from the Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forums are shared with Members via email. If you are interested in receiving regular updates by email, please contact Jane Bray, Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum Wellbeing and Membership Officer, on: healthforums@cfirst.org.uk / Tel: 07917 718409

Contact Us

For more information contact us by phone: 01329 231899 (Fareham) or 02392 583836 (Gosport), or send an email to Jane Bray, Fareham and Gosport Voluntary Sector Health Forum Administrator, on: healthforums@cfirst.org.uk.

local_library

Keep notified of what’s going on

Register as a volunteer Register as an organisation