RESIDENTS across North East Hampshire and Farnham have come together to pitch their ideas for innovative projects to boost health and wellbeing to local NHS commissioners.

The 2018 Innovation Conference, organised by the NHS North East Hampshire and Farnham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), patient champions and the voluntary sector, brought together around 80 people from across the area.

The conference invited people to apply to the CCG for funding of up to £2,000 for a specific project that will improve the physical and/or mental health of their community.

Local people and groups were invited to attend an event – this year at Oak Park Golf Club in Crondall – to hear bidders present their plans and then to vote on who they feel should receive the funding.

Dr Peter Bibawy, acting clinical chair of the CCG, said: “There is so much energy in our local communities directed at improving health and well-being and this has been shown once again, not only by how passionate people were at the event but also the breadth of the projects being put forward.

“I’m delighted to say that the CCG is committed to this being held annually, to continue to explore the wonderful ideas that local people have and to provide support to those projects we and other local people feel have the greatest potential.”

The projects shortlisted for this year’s event were:

• A community cycling club,

• Yoga and meditation sessions for children and teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities and social, emotional, mental health issues,

• Writing courses for carers,

• A life skills course for children aged 11 to 13 with autism,

• Mental health awareness training for a young person’s homeless shelter,

• Cookery course for people with disabilities,

• A community women’s group to support deprived families,

• A town-centre garden and ‘shed’ used for a range of therapies, and

• A support group for women experiencing problems going through the menopause.

The project began as a suggestion by Farnham resident Valerie Fabry, who said of the latest event: “The Innovation Conference exceeded all my hopes and expectations. I was struck by the amazing energy in the room as we listened to some truly inspirational ideas.”

In 2017 the Innovation Fund supported eight local projects, ranging from cultural activities for people with mental illness and fun health and wellbeing sessions for the Nepali community.