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in North East Essex News
A roving support ‘bus which offers help to some of the most vulnerable people in Tendring has scooped a national award.
The SHELLS SOS ‘bus has been named as the national winner in the category of Health Equalities Award for the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2022, after being nominated by Giles Watling MP.
This win follows its recent triumph in the regional heats and entry into the national competition, with more than 700 other hopeful entrants from across the country.
The award ceremony was held in Westminster earlier this week.
SHELLS (Shelter and Health Enlisting Local Support) is a partnership of local organisations offering help to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, are street drinkers or drug users or in need of guidance and signposting with issues including housing, domestic abuse, debt and mental health.
Piloted at the end of 2020 in Clacton and successfully extended to Harwich, in its first year the SHELLS SOS ‘bus enabled more than 650 people to get help from on-board experts during once-weekly visits to the towns, with representatives from organisations including Open Road, Community Voluntary Services Tendring, Essex Partnership University NHS Trust (EPUT), SUMMIT Services, Mid and North East Essex Mind, Phoenix Horizons, Anglia Care Trust, Tendring District Council and Harwich Community Services.
Mark Shorter, the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board’s Alliance Transformation Lead, says: “We’re thrilled to win this national award, especially considering that there were 705 applications across all of the award categories this year and the quality of the other entrants was exceptional.
“What’s so positive about the SHELLS SOS ‘bus is that it really has made a big difference to people’s lives, helping them identify and work through their issues to get their lives back on track. It’s also an excellent example of how working in partnership with other organisations can really work and be a big success.
“There is such a big list of people who deserve recognition for this award because it truly has been a collaborative approach from multiple organisations and individuals. We’re looking forward to the SOS ‘bus continuing to have a positive impact on our community across north east Essex.”
The findings of a recent survey found that 100% of those accessing the ‘bus wouldn’t have got the support they needed without the ‘bus, as they didn’t know how to get the help they needed. The project has been so successful it has now been extended to work in multiple locations across north east Essex and will operate until at least 2025.
Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, said: “I am delighted that the SHELLS SOS bus won the national Health Equalities award. They undertake really crucial work in supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society, and I think it’s fair to say they have saved many, many lives in the process.
“They are a leading example of this kind of service and they are helping to showcase the excellent and committed volunteers we have here in Tendring. Each and every person involved can be proud of their achievements, and this award helps ratify what we all know about their tenacity to help people.”
Sharon Alexander, chief officer, CVS Tendring, says: “We are delighted that this important project which brings our vital services together locally in our community has been recognised. The amazing work that all the partners do in supporting people to easily access services enables them to have healthier lives.”
Cllr Lynda McWilliams, Tendring District Council Cabinet Member for Partnerships, said: “Working together in this way recognises that people who need support often have complex issues which no one organisation can help with. This project demonstrates the real, positive impact on people’s lives that working together can have, and I am delighted this has been recognised through winning this award.”
Chantal Williams, Project co-ordinator for Health Outreach and COVID Vaccination at EPUT, said: “I am really pleased that Open Road SOS Bus SHELLS project has been named as national winner in the Health Equalities for the NHS Parliamentary Awards.
“We worked collaboratively alongside Open Road and their highly decorated vehicles to offer vaccination clinics at various locations. It made sense to work alongside each other because we offer services to the same cohort of individuals within society so we were able to ensure we approached the same remit of people who are often marginalised and seeking support without bias or judgement.
“The team are fantastic, very supportive and they were very much able to advocate each clinic for us. Their presence was very noticeable and the support for our cohort was very much appreciated.”
Sarah Wright, CEO of Open Road, said: “I am delighted that the Open Road SOS Bus SHELLS project has won a national award in the Health Equalities for the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2022 and would like to thank our commissioners and Giles Watling MP for all the support this exciting project has received.
“The Open Road SOS Bus also works in Colchester and Chelmsford with the night-time economy reducing A & E admissions and Ambulance call outs. The success of the SHELLS partnership project has also attracted additional funding to deliver a similar service across other parts of Essex.”