A recent Health and Wellbeing Community Event in Glastonbury saw local and Somerset wide organisations come together to support people across West Mendip.

Held on Monday 18th May at St Dunstan's House Community Health and Wellbeing Centre, the event welcomed members of the public to explore the support available closer to home, through an open Community Village.

The event was organised collaboratively by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), West Mendip Primary Care Network and Glastonbury Town Council.

It provided an opportunity for people to connect with a wide range of organisations offering health checks and wellbeing advice, guidance on how to stay active and independent, and information on mental health, housing and local community groups and activities.

Reflecting on the day, Rachel Cheetham, PCN Manager at West Mendip Primary Care Network, said:

"It was really positive to see people speaking to different services and finding out what's available locally. With everything in the same space, people found it easier to ask questions and start making connections.

"It also helped teams build a better understanding of how we can support people across our communities."

Alongside the Community Village, invited patients attended pre arranged, appointment only sessions with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's musculoskeletal (MSK) and physiotherapy services as part of their ongoing care.

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Community appointment days like this are a well established part of the Trust's approach across the county, supporting people with assessment, rehabilitation and self management. This event built on that approach, with partners working together to incorporate a wider public facing element, making use of the community space at St Dunstan's House to offer health and wellbeing guidance.

Amie Johnstone, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's Lead MSK Physiotherapist for the Mendip area, emphasised that the event marked a significant step in delivering more joined-up, local care.

"Bringing the appointment day to West Mendip meant we could support people in a way that felt much more local, accessible and connected," she said.

"We know that many people are living with ongoing pain or mobility issues, and traditional appointments don't always give them everything they need to manage their condition day-to-day.

"What's different about this approach is that we brought everything together in one place – clinical expertise, rehabilitation support and community services – so people could leave with a plan that really worked for them."

Jacq Cross, Clinical Director at West Mendip Primary Care Network, spoke about the benefits of using community spaces for initiatives such as this:

"It highlights what can be achieved when we create opportunities for people to connect with support locally and work more closely across services. This kind of collaboration is key to helping people access the right help and stay well within their own community.

"The development of St Dunstan's House itself reflects that same partnership approach, with Glastonbury Town Council and partners working together to create a space that can be used in ways that support the whole community."

Conor Ogilvie-Davidson, Town Clerk of Glastonbury Town Council, shared his thoughts on the role of the health and wellbeing centre in supporting community events:

"Glastonbury Town Council was delighted to host this event at St Dunstan's House Community Health & Wellbeing Centre, which aligns perfectly with our vision to provide a space for health and wellbeing support for the local community.

"Hearing feedback from attendees has reinforced our belief that this approach to delivering community-based health and wellbeing support, has strong potential to flourish here. We will continue to work closely with our partners to help make this a reality."

Steph Moreland, Senior Project Officer for Health at Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), highlighted the scale of the event and the strength of partnership working:

"The event demonstrated the value of strong neighbourhood working. The positive feedback from organisations in attendance reflects the collective commitment of partners to supporting local people, improving access to services, and promoting health and wellbeing within our communities.

"SASP is committed to building on this success, ensuring that future events across the county continue to connect residents with the right support, encourage people to move more, and empower communities to take a proactive approach to their health and wellbeing."

Learning from the day will help inform how community-based events like this can continue to develop, ensuring support is accessible, visible and responsive to local needs.