Wellbeing Coach & Social Cafe Case Study

Our Wellbeing Coaches can offer local people support with a whole range of health and wellbeing needs, from managing long-term conditions to wanting to be healthier overall. Read on to hear how our Janine has worked with Carol to support her with her COPD and other similar health conditions, as well as her social isolation and grief:

Carol came along to one of our Wellbeing Coach clinics at her GP surgery, as she felt that her COPD and linked heart conditions were best addressed through specialist appointments. Janine & Carol looked holistically at her life and struggles in general. Having chatted through all the things Janine can help with, they identified a need to address Carol's social isolation and the grief she had never fully addressed from a recent bereavement, alongside her specialist health appointments.

Janine made a referral to Talking Therapies, as well as to SOAR's Grief Circle and Social Cafe, checking in via texts and phone calls as well until she could go with Carol to groups. So far, Janine has attended one social café with her, and plans are afoot to attend the social café again together for the next couple of weeks until Carol is established in the group, and also attend SOAR's Grief Circle at the next available date.

We are about 4 weeks in to Carol’s journey currently, with plans for future sessions. Already just seeing Carol smile and enjoy the social café we attended this week, has been progress!

Carol immediately recognised how much better she felt from attending SOAR's Social Café this week. She felt welcomed in to the group and loved the activities, food, and warm space on offer. It made her feel uplifted emotionally and she wished she had known about it sooner.

Carol says:

“I love it already, I’m now looking forward to next week and future Wednesdays, just hope I can win the bingo next time!”

Janine says:

“I’m so glad I have been able to help Carol recognise the need for social activities to improve her health alongside medical interventions.”