The Welfare Network Project
The Welfare Network Project started in March 2007 with the appointment of the Welfare Network Co-ordinator.
The aim of this three - year Big Lottery - funded project is to strengthen and expand the existing network of welfare volunteers in England, so we can meet the welfare needs of all people with polio.
We want to expand our network of volunteers
Building on our existing strong ethos of peer support, we aim to recruit more members with polio to the volunteer welfare work of the Fellowship. We will increase the level of support, training and guidance available to our volunteers. In tandem, we will also be recruiting and training volunteers from outside the Fellowship who can undertake work under the guidance of our existing volunteers.
We want to meet the needs of people with polio
The goals of the project are to:
- Conduct a survey of 1000 people with polio to find out about their needs and experiences in the areas of physical and psychological health as well as social and financial well-being
- Increase the amount of information, advice and signposting provided
- Increase the confidence of people with polio during consultations with health and social care professionals
- Reduce feelings of isolation
- Increase financial well-being and opportunities
- Increase the uptake of benefit entitlements. At the end of the project the survey will be repeated so we can measure the project’s impact and aid future planning.