We’re delighted to welcome Community People to the My Future Care community.
Based in Burgess Hill, the team have been sharing the My Future Care Handbook through their community activities. Following a local letter drop and door-knocking campaign reaching 350 households, visitors to their centre were encouraged to pick up a Handbook. They have also shared the Handbook with lunch club members, outreach workers supporting people in their homes, and participants in their Older Persons Forum.
It’s a great example of how the Handbook can be woven into existing community touchpoints to spark conversations about planning ahead and what matters most in later life.
We spoke to Dawn Langston, Centre Manager at Community People, to find out more.
What kind of support does Community People provide, and who do you provide it to?
We are a charity on a mission to help our communities thrive. We support over 500 local charities and community groups through our free membership, offering one-to-one support from our Community Development team, access to volunteers, free forums and networking events, training opportunities, and practical online tools and resources. For us, it’s all about people. People coming together to act on what matters to them, people having access to health, wellbeing, justice and opportunity, and people being given the tools and platforms to make a positive impact in their communities. We work closely with community organisations, businesses, the public sector and individuals to drive long-lasting social change.
What kind of challenges do the people you work with face when it comes to making plans for later life and beyond?
Many people struggle to find the right services or know where to turn for support. This can lead to loneliness, social isolation and emotional distress, particularly when people’s needs start to change.
How do you hope the My Future Care Handbooks and support will help you meet people’s needs better?
The My Future Care Handbook gives people practical tools to talk through their wishes with family or friends. It sets out the steps involved in planning for future care, at any stage, and explains legal requirements in a clear and accessible way. The My Care Matters profile also means people’s needs and preferences can be easily accessed by medical professionals if and when they are needed, which gives reassurance to individuals and those around them.
Thank you to Dawn for sharing how the Community People team are using the My Future Care Handbook to support thoughtful, person-centred planning in their community.
Feeling motivated by Dawn’s insights? Could you incorporate future care planning support into your group or service?
Take advantage of our free training and ongoing support programme. Our online training will equip your team to help the people you work with make an action plan and see it through, using the My Future Care Handbook as a source of information and structure for the conversation. Handbooks are available free in certain areas (thanks to area-specific funding), otherwise bulk prices are available.
