The Worcestershire Neighbourhood Network (WiNN)

WiNN was a 2 year funded initiative which aimed to :

• establish a comprehensive network of neighbourhood-based prevention, healthy living, early intervention and support services for older people and their carers
• harness the capacity of the wider community to improve the lives of older people and carers at a local level
• replace traditional day services with opportunities to access mainstream community activities.

WiNN used a ‘Sure Start’ approach, and focused on three sites where there was evidence of deprivation – two urban and one rural. A particular focus was the services for people from black and minority ethnic communities.

The WiNN project was characterised by:

• older people taking a leadership role at the heart of this integrated approach
• the voluntary sector leading service provision.
• a multi-agency approach
• whole community engagement including business and media.

WiNN was designed to deliver a comprehensive range of preventative services to individuals in their own homes and their own localities to improve their quality of life and to reduce or delay more costly interventions.

It tested the impact made by significant intensive investment in preventative services, including whether funding could be levered into preventative, community services in a sustainable way.

The proposal was supported by, and involved Worcestershire County Council (Adult and Community Services), PCTs, voluntary organisations, the police, the fire service, district councils, as well as older people and their carers.

The project is being evaluated by Worcester University. A final evaluation report has been published and is available using the link below:

• Final Evaluation Report  (260.49 KB)

The Future

The work developed in the WiNN project is being carried on by a new Health and Wellbeing team bringing together staff and funding from Social Care and the Health Service.

WiNN Newsletter

• June 2008  (320.63 KB)

Project Areas

For further information and to see the WiNN material, please click on the map below.

Project Pages