The new St Oswalds Health Development

Leaders of the new “St Oswalds” health development on Clifton Road are consulting the local community to make sure that the new facility becomes not just a new building, but the hub of a network of health-related services and groups.

The Community Involvement Network is inviting representatives of local voluntary groups and service providers – and those who might want to set up a new group or service – to share ideas with members of the Primary Care Trust, at their public consultation event in Ashbourne on Thursday October 8th 2009.

Gill Geddes, chair of the Network, sees the new building as having a lot of potential for local voluntary organisations: “For some groups and services, we might be able to offer meeting space in the building. Other groups might be more interested in making sure that they get better known by users – and that might involve anything from a poster to a formal referral system. We are also really keen to identify areas of support where there isn’t anything set up at the moment – but where the opening of the new Health Development might be the catalyst to help get something set up”.

The meeting, which takes place from 9.30am to 1pm at the Ashbourne Bowls Club, will include presentations explaining the scope of the new Development, and examples of what has been achieved by similar initiatives elsewhere.

There will be a light lunch at the end of the session, so those attending are asked to register in advance by contacting Sarah Hallam on 01335 348602 or by email, sarah@vcdd.org.uk. Ashbourne Community Transport will be providing transport from central Ashbourne for those who request it.

The even is being held at Ashbourne Bowls Club, Wyaston Road, Ashbourne DE6 1ND