As part of the extensive engagement activity taking place for the ‘Big Health and Wellbeing Conversation’, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has recently called on the skills and expertise of the voluntary sector to help bolster community engagement activity with targeted groups e.g. young people, rural areas, ethnic minority groups, those living in areas of deprivation.   

The project will be in support of the Big Health and Wellbeing Conversation, linking directly with the NHS Joint Forward Plan, and where all feedback gathered from communities will help the local NHS develop its future plans. 

The Marches Academy Trust has been awarded funding by the local NHS to begin activity on the project in May 2023 and has been tasked with speaking to diverse and hard to reach communities across all parts of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. 

Their experienced team of Community Engagement Officers will be actively engaging with citizens to capture their views and experiences of health and care services in the county, finding out what matters to people, and asking them to make pledges on what they can do to make a difference to their health and wellbeing. 

George Hounsell, Director of Sport, Health and Community at The Marches Academy Trust, said: “The Marches Academy Trust is delighted to be chosen to work closely with the NHS to collaborate with the local communities across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.  

“As an Academy Trust, we are always looking to help our families and community members become more active and have accessible programmes for them. In the upcoming weeks, our team will be out in communities completing surveys and community consultations, and we can’t wait to get started.”  

If you would like to find out more about the Big Health and Wellbeing Conversation, please click here. Or to get more information on the community programmes run by the Marches Academy Trust, please feel free to email: community@mmat.co.uk.