Local champions lead fight against diabetes

A team of health champions are leading the fight against diabetes in Walsall, after supporting hundreds of local residents in the last six months.

The six- strong team were recruited by Midlands’ landlord whg in July 2022 to work with people diagnosed with, or at risk of developing, diabetes.

And in just six months they have already conducted 312 outreach visits to chat with those at risk of diabetes, engaged with 184 customers about the support available and provided intensive health coaching support to 45 of those.

Success stories include customer Elizabeth, who got her diabetes back under control after working with one of the champions. She said: “My health champion has been golden. She gave me advice and helped me and after just a few months I’ve got my diabetes back down again to borderline, which I am very pleased and thankful for.

“With the help from her I feel 15 years younger!”

The community health champions, who all have lived experience of diabetes, are working in areas of Walsall where levels of diabetes are high and general health and wellbeing is poor.They use their life experience of living with, or caring for someone with diabetes, to connect with people in the local area, encourage access to support services, including diabetes education sessions and support people to positively manage their condition.

The project, which has been funded by NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) and delivered in partnership with the NHS community diabetes service, aims to support  400 people over the next two years.

Fay Shanahan, Corporate Director of Operations, said: “It’s great to see our community health champions go from strength to strength as we celebrate their first six months in post.

“This project is really unique in its offer and has only been possible thanks to our collaborative approach with our health partners. With the majority of those supported from an ethnic minority background our community champions, who speak 15 community languages between them, are allowing us to engage with customers who have language barriers to understand their health needs.”

Taps Mtemachani, Director of Transformation and Partnership for NHS Black Country ICB, said: “This is a real example of how we build stronger and resilient communities that are empowered to champion health and wellbeing.

“Whilst we recognise there is a lot more to do to better serve our communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved, we are really pleased to see this community-centred project flourish in this way and providing meaningful support for people like Elizabeth.

“We are confident that through this project and working with our housing partners, we will be able to better support many more people across our communities.”