Research team bid to boost Bolton care aid
11:53am Thursday 17th April 2008 in News By Jane Lavender
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ORDINARY people are becoming market researchers to help improve some of Bolton's poorest neighbourhoods.
A team of 28 community researchers has been recruited to find out what improvements need to be made to health, social care and housing.
They will be talking to people at information days in Deane, Halliwell and Farnworth.
The project, called Connected Care, has been set up to prevent people being passed from person to person trying to get the care they need.
Research carried out by Turning Point, the social care organisation behind the scheme, has shown that having to speak to various agencies results in some people with serious health problems not receiving the care they need.
Community researcher Abeda Hanslod, from Deane, said: "I got involved because I went through the system of getting the right health and social care for my two elderly parents. I was shocked as to how many times I had to communicate the same message to various agencies, it took months as opposed to weeks.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with my local community and find out what the people of Derby and Deane want for the future of health and social care in the area."
John Rutherford, chairman of the Connected Care steering group and director of adults and community services at Bolton Council, said: "Now the community researchers have been trained, they will be finding out the stories and experiences of groups and individuals whose voices aren't usually heard. Therefore services can be designed to meet the needs that are identified in the research."
Information days, between 11am and 4pm, will be held on May 10at Brownlow Fold Community Learning Centre, Eskrick Street, Halliwell; on May 17 at Emmanuel Hall, Vicarage Street, Deane; and on May 18 at Farnworth Cricket Club, Lavender Road, Farnworth.
People can also fill out questionnaires at their local UCAN centre, by visiting www.turning-point.co.uk/bolton from April 21 or speaking to local researcher, Gavin Owen, by calling 0161 2385171.
