‘Well Westmeath’ Health Literacy programme

Description

‘Well Westmeath’ is a Free Health Literacy Programme delivered in safe community spaces to support health and wellbeing. The programme consists of 2 x 5x 1.5 hour sessions which includes my health and wellbeing, getting active to keep well, using our local health services, eating well, communicating in health settings, keeping our brain active, using technology to communicate and learn about health, local resources for health and wellbeing and keeping well.

The ‘Well Westmeath’ programme is delivered by health literacy trainers who are community champions and people working is community support agencies. These trainers have all completed up to QQI Level 6 specifically to deliver the ‘Well Westmeath’ programme in their own communities and to their peers.

Although the programme is intended to inform, support and encourage, it will also be fun and a social outlet, mental stimulus which we hope will keep people attending over the entire programme.

Why the ‘Well Westmeath’ programme was developed – Health literacy is an issue that challenges everyone to varying degrees. Many people who deal effectively with other aspects of their lives find health information difficult to obtain, understand, or use. People are often faced with complex information and treatment decisions. International research has shown that people who are better informed about their health have more effective consultations with their health care provider, are better informed about the medicines they are prescribed, are more likely to comply with their medication and as a result have improved health outcomes. NOTE this also applies to knowledge of why screening programmes are important.

Note the ‘Well Westmeath’ programme has achieved recognition at national and internationally level for its innovative way of training local community champions to deliver the programme, also the way the programme is tailored to the community it is being delivered to.

Aim of Initiative

The ‘Well Westmeath’ programme was developed (based on NALA) to support people to better Health literacy. Because many people who deal effectively with other aspects of their lives find health information difficult to obtain, understand, or use. The programme is intended to help people to be better informed about their health. Put simply people who are better informed, make better choices to have better health and wellbeing.

Delivery of Well Westmeath Programme (not calling it Health Literacy – as its off putting to participants) is about agility over rigidity, tailored and adapted to each group and be led by the group needs. The purpose of the Well Westmeath programme is to Improve knowledge & awareness, build confidence, increase an individual’s motivation and promote lifestyle Change.

Although the programme is intended to inform, support and encourage, it is also fun and a social outlet, mental stimulus which we hope will keep people attending over the entire programme.

We also delivered events around Health, Wellness and Wellbeing to include information, have a go etc. including Well Westmeath Expo, with over 2,600 in attendance in 2024.

Who is it aimed at

The ‘Well Westmeath’ initiative is aimed any person who wants to improve their knowledge of health and wellbeing.

3 Steps critical to success

1. The idea of Health Literacy and its importance in supporting people to better health and wellbeing outcomes. Also the renaming of the programme to ‘Well Westmeath’ to gain community support. Sourcing the right social enterprise to deliver the QQ1 Level 6 train the trainer in health literacy – as we knew that there the community volunteers would have differing levels of education attainment and some would need more support to graduate. We also needed a trainer who would combine the Train the Trainer with NALA Health Literacy course.
2. The recruitment of the ‘right’ 15 volunteers, including community champions and people working in agencies/services supporting communities. These volunteers had very varied backgrounds and education attainment; however their were willing to put in the time and effort to become trainers and to obtain their QQI Level 6 qualifications to deliver healthy literacy ‘Well Westmeath’ programme in their own communities and to their peers. Supporting and learning from each other along the way.
3. Delivering of the free ‘Well Westmeath’ health literacy programme in communities. Matching the trainers to the communities and their needs. delivering in safe community spaces which are easily accessible. Importantly although the programme is intended to inform, support and encourage, it is also fun and a social outlet, mental stimulus. It is about agility over rigidity and the programme is fitted to the needs of its participants.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Challenge in first instance was finding as social enterprise who was willing to combine the Health Literacy with Train the Trainer QQI/6. Also one that was willing to go the extra mile to support community champions with varied education attainment to complete the course. delighted to say that the trainer who took on this piece of work was himself retired, but willing to take on the challenge, which he did very successfully, with all participants graduating.
2. Finding the right people to take on the health literacy and train the training course, who were also willing then to deliver the ‘Well Westmeath’ health literacy programme in their own communities and to their peers. During the training a great comradery was formed, where participants supported and encouraged each other to succeed. Participants on the course included community champions and people working in communities including from
   Athlone Family Resource Centre, Youth Work Ireland Midlands, Westmeath Community Development, Active Retirement Ireland, Westmeath Sports Partnership, Westmeath Libraries, the Traveller community, Mental Health Ireland and Westmeath County Council. The common thread was wanting to support people and communities.
3. Delivering the ‘Well Westmeath’ Health Literacy course in communities, has been challenging to find time/days that suited community and trainer, along with the safe community spaces in which to deliver the training at times/dates that suited all. The importance of delivering the programme in the community cannot be overstated.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Health Literacy is an importance support for people to have better health and wellbeing outcomes. The ‘Well Westmeath’ (health Literacy based on NALA) programme was developed to support people and communities to better health and wellbeing outcomes. By in first instance finding 15 community champions/volunteers, then supporting and training them to QQI level 6 qualifications in health literacy. Important to this, was the sourcing and using of a community aware social enterprise who supported their needs to graduate. Note all those who started the train the trainer course (QQI/6) in Health Literacy, completed the course and graduated, this regardless of their previous education attainment.
2. The 15 health literacy trainers including community champions and people working in agencies/services supporting communities. These health literacy trainers have begun to deliver ‘Well Westmeath’ health literacy programme in their own communities and to their peers. Supporting and learning from each other along the way.
3. The free ‘Well Westmeath’ health literacy programme is about matching the trainers to the communities and their needs. Delivering the programme in safe community spaces which are easily accessible (community centers/libraries etc.). It is important that although the programme is intended to inform, support and encourage, it is also fun and a social outlet, mental stimulus. It is about agility over rigidity and the programme is fitted to the needs of its participants, tailored and adapted to each group and is led by the group needs. The purpose of the Well Westmeath programme was to Improve knowledge & awareness, build confidence, increase an individual’s motivation and promote lifestyle Change.

   The feedback from the Well Westmeath Participants was very positive and engaging with many hoping we would run it again. Below is directly quoted from evaluation forms:

   • Feeling energised and motivated – Looked forward to each session, – Opened my mind about change – Enjoyable & informative – Very visual & relatable – Very interesting & informative – I learned so much – Covered all aspects of health

   Changes in behaviour included setting up walking group and swimming group, with members supporting and encouraging each other.