Latest news with #communityservices
Al Bawaba
2 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Union Coop Supports ‘Bahjat Al Eid' Exhibition
As part of its vision to expand its community services and provide an integrated shopping experience, Union Coop has launched the 'Bahjat Al Eid' exhibition for Emirati productive families at Al Barsha Mall (Dubai), taking place from June 1 to 5, 2025. The exhibition features a selection of home-based projects and local entrepreneurial families showcasing their products. The initiative is aligned with Union Coop's commitment to empowering Emirati productive families by offering them dedicated spaces within its commercial centers to display and market their goods. This practical step aims to transform small-scale ventures into sustainable economic contributors. Through this initiative, Union Coop merges community impact with service innovation, offering high-quality local products in a modern and comfortable shopping environment — adding a new dimension to the customer experience in its shopping centers. Union Coop affirmed that the Bahjat Al Eid Exhibition is designed to add value for customers by introducing innovative and diverse products from Emirati families. This initiative not only enhances shopping options but also supports the local economy, reflecting the cooperative's ongoing commitment to addressing the needs of its diverse consumer base. The cooperative added that today's customers prefer quality, authenticity, and a shopping experience rooted in national identity. By supporting productive families, Union Coop helps meet these expectations while fostering direct engagement between local producers and consumers. Union Coop invites the public to visit the exhibition, which showcases a wide range of products including traditional foods, sweets, perfumes, heritage clothing, handicrafts, accessories, and gifts. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to explore a rich cultural and creative diversity that reflects the skills and expertise of Emirati families. It is worth noting that this exhibition is part of Union Coop's broader strategy to enhance corporate social responsibility initiatives, striking a balance between its commercial and community roles by introducing new, tangible services for customers while empowering local producers and stimulating the home-based economy.
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Somerset community hospital beds could close as trust reviews services
The number of inpatient beds at two community hospitals could be cut by a third if proposals go ahead. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed it is in the "very early" stages of a consultation to reduce beds at Frome Community Hospital from 24 to 16, with a similar number of beds under threat at West Mendip Hospital in trust said it was looking at the "mix and balance" of its community services after an "increase" in people being cared for at MP for Frome and East Somerset Anna Sabine has set up a petition to stop what she described as "short-sighted" proposals, which she claimed could also see a number of job cuts. Ms Sabine, who has launched the petition alongside councillor for Frome North Adam Boyden, claimed the closures were being proposed because too few patients were being discharged from Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH) to she said that when she toured the RUH - which is run by a different NHS authority to Frome - she was told their main problem is that they do not have suitable places to discharge patients into."We know the Royal United Hospitals struggle to discharge people and yet we're closing beds which would help this," she Sabine said she is concerned that there is "a lack of joined up discussion" between Somerset NHS and the RUH. 'Well thought out plan' However the MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, Sarah Dyke, whose constituency includes West Mendip Hospital, has given the proposals a cautious said while she understood residents might be "concerned" at the planned bed closures, after an urgent meeting with the hospital trust's chief executive last week she believed the "overall direction of movement" was "the right one"."He has reassured me that this isn't a cost cutting exercise, but part of a well thought out strategic plan to shift reliance on community beds, moving the balance of care back to the home. But only when people are well enough to leave acute care within the hospital setting."She added that she understands "the funds and staff previously used for community hospital beds will be redeployed to make sure there are enough services in the community to facilitate this shift". But Ms Sabine said while Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has promised more services at community hospitals across the county - this is not necessarily for Frome. "We suffer a little bit from being on the edge of Somerset and working with a hospital that is not in control by the same organisation and therefore we haven't had that guarantee," she said."It worries me that this is another example of Frome being short changed."She said the "short-sighted" approach to reduce beds in Frome did not take into account the difficulty people have getting to the RUH by public transport."Our hospitals don't need fewer beds, they need proper investment," she added. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust told the BBC the proposal aims to "ensure" community care is offered "in the most appropriate setting".A spokesperson said there has been an increase in people receiving care at home in recent years as well as "significant investment" in services to support patients at home following an acute hospital admission."We are therefore looking at the range, mix and balance of NHS services that are provided in people's own homes, community hospital services and community hospital beds," they said."As a result, we are adjusting the number of beds that we are providing in some community hospitals to better match the demand, which includes a proposed reduction of eight beds at Frome Community Hospital, from 24 to 16."Alongside this, we are also looking at what other services we could provide in our community hospital settings, that are currently provided in the two main acute hospitals as we look to provide services more locally where it makes sense and is feasible to do so."Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Guernsey's government to review alternative leisure centre uses
Guernsey's government will look at adding alternative uses for the island's States-owned leisure centre, after it lost nearly £900,000 in Sejour, in St Peter Port, already operates a theatre and cinema as well as hosting community and corporate events - on top of swimming and sports facilities.A recent review by Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) said there was "strong interest" in relocating a number of government, private and charity services to maximise efficiency and create a "holistic community" service Cocherane, from the Guernsey Basketball Association, said without Beau Sejour the island "probably wouldn't have a basketball league". Ms Cocherane said there was only one other regulation-sized basketball court on the said: "It's our home, it's where we play all of our games." Wayne Bullpitt, who was on the panel that created the report, warned people not to "jump to conclusions".He said there were a "number of areas to be further reviewed".Mr Bulpitt - a former chief commissioner of UK Scouting Association - said the swimming pool was full much of the time, so could be potentially while the sports hall was "vital to basketball", it was "unusually large" for the size of the island, he said. Law student Sammy Carre, 31, said: "I've been coming here since the old Beau Sejour was around. so it's always been a really big part of my Carre said she would "hang out" with friends as a teenager and now brings her nephews and nieces."This is a massive part of our life with the kids," she said, "It's just a really lovely area." Tim Eggimann, 43, said he "spent a lot of time" at the centre with his nephew, who liked scootering and had recently taken up Eggimann said his nephew also used the swimming pool and was hoping to take up basketball soon. Paige Hamon, 26, said: "We use it primarily for the park and the cafe - maybe for the soft play sometimes."When my son gets old enough we'll take him swimming."Miss Hamon said it was "a pretty important park" and part of her childhood.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
New team helps cut Wolverhampton adult social care waiting times
The creation of a new adult social care team has helped to reduce waiting times for people seeking support in Wolverhampton, the council has of Wolverhampton Council recently established the front door team as part of its programme to transform adult social care in the acts as a first point of contact for vulnerable adults who need directing to what support is available, and the authority said it had helped to simplify the process for to the council, it has helped to cut the time it takes for people to get support from months to fewer than five days in most cases. The number of people needing help from social workers has also reduced by half due to the front door team being able to resolve their issues. 'Top priority' The authority's transformation programme, which includes providing more community-based services outside of care homes, came amid rising demand for adult social care in the city, with an increase of 31% over the last five budget for care packages has also increased by £44.6m in that time, with a further £1m approved for 2025 to Paula Brookfield, the council's cabinet member for adults, said adult social care was a "top priority" for people in Wolverhampton."We are determined to ensure adult social care services are the best they can possibly be, but we must also be mindful that the increase in costs which we have seen in recent years is not sustainable in the long term," she said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Buyer plans to reboot abandoned Salvos crisis accommodation hub in Belmont
An abandoned former Salvation Army crisis accommodation hub will soon be helping Geelong's most vulnerable again after selling to a mental health service provider. The unnamed organisation has secured the 3810sq m site at 2A Settlement Rd, Belmont, from the State Government in a $2.08m deal. Whitford Troost, Newtown listing agent Frank Troost said the buyer was keen to start renovating existing buildings with a view to offering respite and other services. The Salvos previously offered emergency housing in 14 units at the property, which was once the Barwon Valley Manor Motel and Function Centre. But the units and a substantial two-storey office building have sat vacant since the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020 when the doors were closed due to concerns about occupants sharing communal kitchen facilities. Mr Troost said the existing infrastructure, though vandalised, appealed to a range of community and church groups, with seven parties submitting 11 different expressions of interest. 'We got a lot of inquiry as you would imagine and it was across a broad spectrum of community groups, charitable organisations, religious and even accommodation places to escape,' he said. 'Of course the challenge was what the cost of the renovation was going to be. 'We thought we would probably lean towards more a redevelopment site but part of site is subject to flooding and that seems to turn away developers so it came from these real community groups. 'The eventual purchaser was someone who provides mental health services through the NDIS so they will do essentially what was done previously. They'll do respite accommodation there and they will also run several other services from that space once they renovate.' He said the bones of the building were good, despite vandalism such as holes kicked in internal walls and wiring ripped out. He estimated it would take a good 12 months to get the facilities back up to scratch. The former function centre turned administration building is currently configured as 12 offices, both communal and commercial kitchens, two reception areas and a large reception hall/function area. There's also a double garage and double carport on the site, which is zone neighbourhood residential.
