CHANGING LIVES: How can you change your life today?

Local people are being encouraged to find out how their life could be changed by visiting a new Bath & North East Somerset Council webpage – www.bathnes.gov.uk/changinglives

Eight local people tell their stories to video camera about how the Council has helped to change their life. Viewers in a similar situation, like being a victim of domestic violence or being unemployed and keen to start their own business, are then encouraged to get in contact with the Council to find out how they can also can access help to change their life.  

Councillor Francine Haeberling, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said, “The videos on the webpage are very different stories about how Bath & North East Somerset Council is helping to change people’s lives in line with our key priorities, like building communities where people feel safe and secure.

“We want people to take inspiration from these stories and get in contact if they are in a similar position or if they want to know more about how to access the broader range of services the Council provides on a daily basis to tens of thousands of people.”

As well as the eight personal stories, there are over fifty statistics about how the Council is helping change the lives of individuals and the community with web-links to find out even more information about that service. The web page is brought in partnership with NHS Bath & North East Somerset, Somer Community Housing Trust, and Avon & Somerset Police who all work closely with the Council.

Janet Rowse, Acting Chief Executive at NHS Bath & North East Somerset, said, “The NHS and local Council are working very positively together as a Health and Wellbeing Partnership to change lives, like through the Home Care Re-Enablement Service which promotes the independence of older people.”

Julie Evans, Director of Customer Services (Housing & Support) at Somer Community Housing Trust, said, “We work very closely with the Council to change lives through the provision of affordable housing. We aim to offer choice to our residents so that they can live and make a positive contribution in the community where they want to live. We’re also very proud of the homes and services offered to older people that helps them to maintain their independence, including the Extra Care schemes we operate in partnership with the Council.”

Who are the eight case studies?

·     Richard Sheridan, Radstock; he had an accident, became very ill, and lost his home. When he came to see us he was homeless and in priority need. We helped him find his own home, claim his benefit entitlement and help him out of fuel poverty;

·     Mavis Godsell, Farmborough; she suffered a fall at home which required a long stay in hospital. Her recovery was going to make it even longer. The Home Care Re-Enablement Team helped her regain her independence by assisting with daily living tasks until she was fit and able;

·     Lisa Brown; she was a victim of domestic violence. She felt lonely and scared. Through Southside, a local support organisation, we helped her turn her life around;

·     Georgina, Fosse Way pupil; her life was changed by attending Fosse Way School, which was recently equipped with new modern facilities designed specifically for pupils with Special Education Needs;

·     Malcolm Ricks, Bath; he was unemployed and in financial difficulty. Alongside our business partners, we helped him get back into employment and become his own boss;

·     Sally, Oldfield Secondary School pupil; she was hit by a car when crossing the road during her first year at secondary school. This put her off crossing the road unless she had friends with her until the Council installed a signal controlled crossing;

·     The Meredith family, Saltford; they help to change the lives of children every year as one of the Council’s foster care families;

·     Lin Patterson; she feels strongly about cutting the amount of carbon emitted by local communities so that the effects of climate change on the planet are reduced for future generations – the Council helps her do this by providing a wide range of recycling services.