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Easilink’s Rural Links To Health and Wellbeing Project key stakeholder case study!

Rowan Villas

Rowan Villas is a Western Health and Social Care Trust adult mental health day care unit based in Omagh. The Rural Links to Health and Wellbeing Project provides transport for Rowan Villas service users to and from their day care sessions. A representative of Rowan Villas shared with us why they entered this partnership and their experience to date:

“Rowan Villas provides mental health support to clients with mental health challenges who are living in the community and connected to the Recovery Team. The service at Rowan Villas provides structure to our service users’ day; they come along either for the morning session or the afternoon session. These service users come from all over. Some come from local areas such as Omagh or down in Fermanagh; some are further away and living in more rural areas such as Plumbridge, Newtownstewart or Carrickmore.

The support provided by Easilink’s Rural Links to Health and Wellbeing Project is totally invaluable. For many of our service users, Easilink is their only transport option. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Rowan Villas had a minibus, and we had more staff. We’re now down to three staff members. It wasn’t feasible to continue providing transport, so we had to stop. This created a gap for our service users. The pandemic saw the close of a partner mental health day care unit in our area; clients from that centre transferred over to us. Some of those clients have previously used Easilink to access support and so that continued when they came to Rowan Villas; that’s where our partnership stems from.

Easilink’s Rural Links to Health and Wellbeing Project addresses the transport needs of our service users. They can book their transport based around their sessions with Easilink directly or we can liaise with Easilink on their behalf if they are anxious about using the phone or making those arrangements themselves. In many rural areas there is no public transport and taxis are expensive. A lot of our service users would have low incomes and finances would be an issue for them. Easilink is convenient and affordable. Otherwise, they’d be spending £20-30 on a taxi each way which in turn would have further knock-on effects for them, both financially and from a place of stress. 

There is one woman who attends Rowan Villas who lives rurally. Without Easilink she has to try and get a taxi for three miles into her village, then a bus into Omagh, then a bus out to Rowan Villa, and then walk a quarter mile to us. That’s very stressful and she couldn’t afford it anyway. She isn’t comfortable with the big buses with lots of people, but with Easilink, there is a small group on the bus, and they know each other. It just works.

Addressing our service users’ transport needs also has knock-on positive impacts. For example, the access created by Easilink enables our service users to collect their weekly prescriptions. Rowan Villas is near to the hospital, and we have links with the Community Mental Health team who know when Easilink will be bringing in a service user from Greencastle for example. They arrange that they can meet a nurse while here and get their weekly supply. The Rural Links to Health and Wellbeing Project also creates positive social impacts for our service users. For many of our services users, attending Rowan Villas and using Easilink is the only time they’re meeting people week to week. Many are isolated out in the community. They tell us that Rural Villas gives them a reason to get up in the morning and because they know Easilink is coming at a certain time, they’re up and dressed; Easilink helps to motivate them. The service users are all on first name terms with the Easilink drivers too, and the drivers know our service users and have a great relationship with them. There’s one driver, Sean, who I would highlight as a gentleman. He’s fantastic with the service users and we often say he must have come down from heaven. 

From our perspective as a service provider, it’s a weight off our shoulders knowing that Easilink is there to provide transport for our service users. If our service users can get here, they can share their problems and get the support they need. Without Easilink, that wouldn’t happen, and the knock-on effects would be severe. 

Over the week of the July 12th bank holiday, Easilink was closed. The attendance at our support dropped from about 100 expected to 40. That highlights the level of support Easilink is providing to us here and the number of people who would not be able to access critical mental health support without Easilink. The woman who records our attendance rang me to ask whether we were having a problem with our computer system that week because she couldn’t believe how low the attendance was. It was simply that there was no transport. It was drastic. It also had a knock-on effect for our service users’ mental health. Some of our service users said it was the longest week ever. They simply couldn’t access our service.

It would be ideal if the Easilink Rural Links to Health and Wellbeing Project could be offered year-round with no gaps. In Easilink’s absence there would be a lot of isolated people who can’t afford taxis and have no friends or family to provide other means of getting here. Without Easilink, our clients are lost, and we are lost too. Easilink is an excellent service all around, including in their promptness and timekeeping. The service is invaluable, and our partnership is operating with great success. We will definitely continue working with Easilink and the Rural Links to Health and Wellbeing Project in future.”

Rowan Villas – Western Health and Social Care Trust adult mental health day care unit based in Omagh.
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Jobs News

Volunteer Car Drivers Needed in Omagh and surrounding areas

Help Easilink Community Transport deliver services in your local community.

If you have a full clean driving license, access to your own car and free time to help your local community, then becoming an Easilink volunteer driver could be the opportunity for you!

Volunteer car drivers help us transport people who do not have access to public transport or their own private vehicle to hospital appointments and other essential trips across the Western Trust area.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to:

¨ Help others in your local community

¨ Be reimbursed expenses at 50p per mile

¨ Retain your benefits

¨ Meet new people and make friends

For further information on becoming a volunteer car driver and to download an application form, click the link – Volunteers. Alternatively contact Easilink’s Strabane Office on 028 7188 3282.

Please note: Additional vehicle insurance is not required; however, all volunteers are subject to an Access NI Check

 I find volunteering with Easilink extremely rewarding. I enjoy meeting new people and helping others; it is also good for my mental health. I mostly do hospital runs and shopping runs.”

Mona Rice, Volunteer Car Driver
Volunteer Car Driver, Mona Rice
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Jobs News

Project Co-ordinator

Job description

The postholder will be responsible for the management, implementation, and delivery of the partnership-based Motability funded Project. The aim of this project is to increase the quality of life (through improved transport options) for people living with disabilities and the elderly. This project consists of four key strands: delivery of passenger trips to individuals and groups, sourcing, and procurement of twenty-three accessible vehicles, and the setting up of a driver training and employment programme. Easilink CT is leading on this project and the postholder will be required to liaise closely with representatives from the following partner organisations; CDM CT, Fermanagh CT and North Coast CT. .

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for the management, implementation, and delivery of all four strands of the Motability Project in close liaison and co-ordination with the Easilink Chief Executive, the Project Management Group, and the Project Steering Group.
  • To establish, implement and maintain effective and ongoing monitoring and evaluation systems which will be used to measure ongoing performance and to report back to the project funder.
  • To develop and manage positive relationships and communication with key stakeholders including public, private, and community / voluntary organisations.
  • To organise various marketing and promotional campaigns, events, and workshops and materials to increase awareness of the project and to recruit programme volunteers, as well as assist the project partners in terms of participant recruitment.
  • To perform secretariat duties pertaining to the Motability Project Management Group and the wider Project Steering Group.
  • To work closely with the Easilink Chief Executive Officer, the Easilink financial officer and partner organisations to develop and maintain systems to manage the project budget in line with the Funding Letter of Offer.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

  • A Degree Level or equivalent in a Business, Management or Community Development related subject and 3 Years Paid Experience (in the last 5 Years) of Managing a Large-Scale Community and Voluntary Project (including Financial Management & Monitoring)
  • Or 5 Years Paid Experience (in the last 8 Years) of Managing a Large-Scale Community and Voluntary Project (to include Financial Management, Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting)
  • It is essential that applicants hold a full, current driving licence and access to a car or have access to a means of transport which would enable the applicant to perform the duties of the post.

Desirable Skills

  • Please see Application Pack for further information.

Further Information

This is a 3 Year Fixed Term Position. Easilink provide a transport option to rural dwellers (across the Omagh, Strabane and Foyle areas) who for many reasons have difficulty using or are unable to access public transport. Work Time: Office Hours – But must be flexible to work evenings and weekends on occasion when required.

Application Information

Please contact claire@easilink.org to request an Application Pack.

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Jobs News

Interview with BBC Radio Foyle regarding Dial-A-Lift Funding Uncertainty

Easilink Community Transport, along with the other Community Transport Partnerships will suffer as a result of the Department for Infrastructure decision that there will be no guaranteed funding for the Dial a Lift service after April 2023. There are also jobs at stake too – 22 members of staff at Easilink Community Transport.

Easilink service users, volunteers and staff are extremely concerned about how this will affect their lives.

Hear what Easilink Chief Executive, Claire Russell, service users, Helen Reany from Plumbridge and Evelyn O Hagan from Claudy, Volunteer Car Driver, Frank McCay and Charity Director, Paschal McKeown from Age NI had to say about the news on BBC Radio Foyle

https://fb.watch/jeHECiX8Ef/

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Jobs News

Dial-A-Lift Funding Uncertainty

The Department for Infrastructure, which funds the Rural Dial-a-Lift service, wrote to all Rural Community Transport providers on the 1st of March 2023, notifying us that there will be no guarantee of funding past the 30th of April 2023 due to the very challenging financial position which the Department finds itself in for 2023-24.

Today our Chief Executive, Claire Russell, spoke to BBC Radio Foyle to discuss the detrimental impact which any reduction in service would have to our members.

You can hear the interview on the link below which includes commentary from NICVA Chief Executive, Celine McStravick.

https://fb.watch/jeHx919bAv/

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Jobs News

Easilink Community Transport Volunteer Car Drivers are going that extra mile ….

Easilink Community Transport provide a door-to-door transport option for people in the Easilink Operational area (Omagh, Strabane and Rural L’Derry). The transport services are provided to promote independence and social inclusion, physical and mental wellbeing and to assist individuals who have no access to either public transport or private transport to access essential services such as health appointments, education, training, and employment.

Volunteer Car Drivers are playing a key role, alongside the paid Easilink minibus drivers to help ensure appointments are not missed because of transport issues. In the past year 2021/2022 alone, the volunteers have delivered an amazing 9000 passenger trips.

Claire Russell, Easilink CEO commented “Our volunteer car drivers are going that extra length to ensure that people in their local community get to health appointments and other essential trips. Without their support we would not be able to operate.

Easilink have just recently been re awarded the Investors in Volunteers UK quality standard. Passing this standard shows that we are committed and strive to ensure that volunteers have the best quality experience possible with us. The incredible contribution made by volunteers is not only appreciated, but valued in-line with this national standard, and beyond this measure. We are truly thankful and blessed by each individual volunteer and want them to know that they are integral to Easilink.”

Mona Rice, Easilink Volunteer Car Driver commented “I used to own my own business and when I retired, I needed something to get up for in the mornings. I wanted to give something back to the local community so started volunteering with Easilink. I have been volunteering with Easilink for over 20 years now. I find it extremely rewarding. I enjoy meeting new people and helping others; it is good for my mental health. I mostly do hospital runs and shopping runs.”

Easilink Community Transport are in the look out for more volunteers to be able to accommodate the massive increase in transport requests, mainly to local health appointments and hospital appointments throughout the Western Trust area.  If you have a full clean driving license, access to your own car and free time to help your local community, then becoming an Easilink volunteer driver could be the perfect opportunity for you!

For further information visit the Easilink website www.easilink.org or contact Kerrie on 07702852582.

I have been volunteering with Easilink for over 20 years now. I find it extremely rewarding. I enjoy meeting new people and helping others; it is good for my mental health.

Mona Rice, Volunteer Car Driver
Mona Rice
Volunteer Car Driver, John Murray with Service user, Rosemary Monaghan
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Jobs News

Volunteer Car Drivers Needed in Strabane/Foyle & Surrounding Areas!

Help Easilink Community Transport deliver services in your local community.

If you have a full clean driving license, access to your own car and free time to help your local community, then becoming an Easilink volunteer driver could be the opportunity for you!

Volunteer car drivers help us transport people who do not have access to public transport or their own private vehicle to hospital appointments and other essential trips across the Western Trust area.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to:

¨ Help others in your local community

¨ Be reimbursed expenses at 50p per mile

¨ Retain your benefits

¨ Meet new people and make friends

For further information on becoming a volunteer car driver and to download an application form, click the link – Volunteers. Alternatively contact Easilink’s Strabane Office on 028 7188 3282.

Please note: Additional vehicle insurance is not required; however, all volunteers are subject to an Access NI Check

I get a great level of satisfaction from volunteering with Easilink Community Transport. Everyone I lift is so appreciative of the service provided and there is certainly a feel-good factor with it all.

John Murray, Volunteer Car Driver
Volunteer Car Driver, John Murray with Service user, Rosemary Monaghan
Categories
Jobs News

Volunteer Car Drivers Needed in Strabane/Foyle & Surrounding Areas!

Help Easilink Community Transport deliver services in your local community.

If you have a full clean driving license, access to your own car and free time to help your local community, then becoming an Easilink volunteer driver could be the opportunity for you!

Volunteer car drivers help us transport people who do not have access to public transport or their own private vehicle to hospital appointments and other essential trips across the Western Trust area.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to:

¨ Help others in your local community

¨ Be reimbursed expenses at 45p per mile

¨ Retain your benefits

¨ Meet new people and make friends

For further information on becoming a volunteer car driver and to download an application form, click the link – Volunteers. Alternatively contact Easilink’s Strabane Office on 028 7188 3282.

Please note: Additional vehicle insurance is not required; however, all volunteers are subject to an Access NI Check

I get a great level of satisfaction from volunteering with Easilink Community Transport. Everyone I lift is so appreciative of the service provided and there is certainly a feel-good factor with it all.

John Murray, Volunteer Car Driver
Volunteer Car Driver, John Murray with Service user, Rosemary Monaghan
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