Tom Hayes MP cuts the ribbon to open Access Wellbeing Boscombe

BCHA's new wellbeing hub has been officially declared open by Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East.

Access Wellbeing Boscombe will play a pivotal role in the transformation of mental health services across BCP and the wider Dorset area.

The new wellbeing drop-in centre, at 3-5 Palmerston Road, will offer walk-in support and advice from Monday to Friday. Immediate access to free support will empower people to enhance their overall wellbeing, helping to improve their mental health.

Access Wellbeing Boscombe is managed in partnership with BCHA, Help & Care, The Lantern Trust, NHS Dorset and Dorset HealthCare – alongside other charities and voluntary sector organisations.

The Boscombe hub follows the successful roll-out of similar mental health and wellbeing support services: Access Wellbeing Poole and Access Wellbeing Weymouth and Portland.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tom Hayes MP praised the new service, stating:

Tom was joined at the ribbon cutting by BCHA CEO Lorraine Mealings, who thanked the Access Wellbeing Boscombe team - led by Interim Head of Access Wellbeing, Amy Maloney.

Lorraine also thanked partners who had transformed the vision for the hub into reality.
Lorraine said:

Access Wellbeing is a partnership between the NHS, councils, charities and community groups who work together to help people when and where they need it - with a strong focus on supporting people in their community.

Prior to the opening of Dorset support hubs, research revealed that people can find it confusing when they’re trying to find the right mental health support. Access Wellbeing is dedicated to transforming community health services by providing quick and easy access to local wellbeing support.

Rachel Small, Interim Chief Operating Officer at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We know that when people are worried or struggling with day-to-day challenges, it can impact their mental health and risk becoming overwhelming without the right support.

“Access Wellbeing Boscombe will provide earlier access to help, preventing problems from escalating, with person-centred support tailored to the needs of anyone aged 18 and over. This fantastic new drop-in service will empower people to support their wellbeing, overcoming barriers that can prevent people from accessing health services. We look forward to seeing Access Wellbeing Boscombe go from strength to strength."

The transformation of local mental health services with the opening of Access Wellbeing Boscombe captured the interest of local and regional media, too.

BCHA was delighted that journalists from print, digital and broadcast media called in to explore the hub on its opening day, bringing this important story to audiences across Dorset who will now be aware of the new wellbeing and mental health facility.

The Bournemouth Echo and BH Living magazine both snapped up the story, while Greatest Hits Radio and Bournemouth One broadcast on-air coverage on their news bulletins. We also welcomed a film crew from ITV News (Meridian region) which gave colleagues and partners an opportunity to tell their stories about the rapidly changing face of mental health support in Dorset.

Access Wellbeing Boscombe can be found at 3-5 Palmerston Road, Bournemouth BH1 4HN.
No appointment is needed – simply call into the hub from Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 4.30pm.

Visit www.dorsetaccesswellbeing.co.uk for more information.