Well UK - Partners-and-Projects - Upstream

Well UK

Well UK is a social enterprise consortium bidding for contracts in health and care that can be delivered by front-line organisations. The aim is to ensure that the best possible use is made of local knowledge and expertise, bringing together local providers to match the future demands of strategic commissioning nationally and locally. This challenges the environment in which large contracts are going increasingly to large organisations that are often outside local communities.

Upstream founded Well UK with a successful bid to the Department of Health, Social Enterprise Unit, for Pathfinder status in 2007. The bid was in partnership with Devon Primary Care Trust, Devon County Council and the Devon Association of Councils for Voluntary Services (DACVS). Upstream’s managing partners are now the DACVS, Upstream and Westbank. For more information, see: www.welluk.org

Well UK is one of ten managing partners in the Third Sector Consortium (3SC) which was formed to bid for major government contracts on a national basis in order to increase front-line delivery through the Third Sector. Other managing partners include the Eden Project, National Youth Agency, National Housing Association, and the Social Investment Business. For more information, see: www.3SC.org.

On behalf of 3SC’s ‘Future Jobs Fund’ contract, to find job placements for young people out of work for more 6 months, Well UK has engaged with more than 40 delivery partners across the South West, created 126 new posts with a high percentage continuing with their employer after the 26-week placement or going on to find employment elsewhere. In evaluation, 92% of placements felt more confident and 88% felt their career prospects had improved. 

Well UK is also a managing partner in HealthTec Plymouth, a venue for practical hands-on experience for young people and schools in health and care, and training provision for health and care professionals. Courses include ‘First Aid at Work’, ‘Boys into Health’, ‘Forensic Science Scenario’. Other partners include Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Hospitals Trust, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, University of Plymouth, and more. For more information, see: www.healthtecsw.org.uk  email: admin@healthtecsw.org.uk  tel. 01752 695300

Well UK has delivered projects for the Department of Health Transformation Fund, Devon Primary Care (‘Chrysalis’) project, and Department of Health (‘Foot Sure, Fall Free’). Through the Transformation Fund, Well UK worked with 26 frontline partners who provided more than 150 sessions of community education activities involving 1900 attendees across Devon. Well UK’s approach enabled activities to reach disadvantaged communities (31%), people with disabilities (23%) and people not in employment (48%). The Chrysalis project, in co-operation with the NHS, worked with families to encourage practical lifestyle changes to help with weight and exercise issues, particularly with primary school ages, and including choosing and cooking healthy meals. 80% of Chrysalis families showed improvement over the eight-week period. The Foot Sure, Fall Free project, in co-operation with local GP practices, aimed at reducing the risk of falls among older people, achieved an 80% statistically significant increase in balance and strength on the Berg scale in one of its pilots. See more about Foot Sure Fall Free.