Working towards reducing isolation in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire
Building Bridges (BBiC) provides a safeguarded, socially connected environment. Promoting accessibility for all to services in the community.
Quick Links
Building Bridges meets every 2 weeks. By clicking the link you will be sent to our Facebook events page.
Building Bridges values members feedback. We will be very grateful if members can fill in the following questionnaire.
Members can make suggestions as an opportunity to assist Building Bridges in improving our service.
New members and healthcare professionals can learn how to access our group by clicking the button below…
Lean more about Building Bridges, our beginnings, aims and goals…
Case studies highlighting how reduced access can lead to isolation in the community and how Building Bridges in the Community (BBiC) supported them.
Here you will find our current flyer, group values and policies documents to download as a .pdf…
Derbyshire Community Mental Health Support Map
The map shows currently running health services, hubs and peer support groups. It specifically highlights mental health support and services in the Chesterfield and Derbyshire county.
> Accessing Our Service
New members can access our group by one of the following options below:
Building Bridges (BBiC) meets every 2 weeks.
> Join us in person:
> By attending our free to access group.
> Meeting every other Tuesday between 12:00pm and 1:30pm
Location:
Meeting Room 2 (lowerfloor)
Chesterfield Library
New Beetwell Street
CHESTERFIELD
Derbyshire
S40 1QN
> Easily accessible for mobility via the automatic door at the base of the outdoor stairs on New Beetwell Street or via the elevator through the main entrance of the library.
> Email the group directly on:
> By using the contact form below:
Karen Sheriff.
History
Building Bridges in the Community was started by a retired health care professional, Karen Sheriff in 2023. Because of her own personal experience of living with chronic illness and enduring isolation throughout and since the Covid 19 pandemic and her endless struggle with access to the best possible health, social and mental health care, Karen wanted to connect with others to be able to do something to help build a more accessible and socially connected community.
Our Aims
Our aim is to improve people’s wellbeing and to help reduce isolation in the community by providing assistance for individuals who require access to healthcare/government and voluntary service providers, while simultaneously offering a safe environment for individuals to thrive in a socially connected environment.We listen to the voices of the people in our local community and signpost individuals to the best possible support available for their needs.Building Bridges in the Community promotes a social connectedness by regularly bringing people together in a safe, warm environment, providing refreshments and chance to share experiences. At the same time, same place alternate Tuesdays, Building Bridges in the Community can be just ‘A Hug in a Mug’ or somewhere to share and learn new skills together, always ending with ‘a positive message to takeaway’.
Our Goals
) To support and champion people who are learning to overcome isolation in our community.
) To give People in isolation a voice to be heard. Ensuring everyone has a voice.
) To give People in isolation greater access to our community and raise awareness of community services.
) To give People in isolation an opportunity to develop friendships and improve social cohesion.
) To invite guest speakers, community coordinators and healthcare professionals to speak and support us in our space.
) To provide a space that is a safe, soothing and accessible environment to all. Promoting a constructive, person centred communication pathway.
Karen S.
Position: Founding Member and Chair.
Hi I’m Karen. I utilise my lived experience with reduced mobility, physical health and pain management to help empower me to support others.Building Bridges in the community(BBiC) was inspired by personal life in isolation and reduced access to local resources and care facilities.Through Building Bridges in the Community, I wish to enable people to access the services that are right for them.
Tim A.
Position: Treasurer.
Hi I’m Tim, I utilise my lived experience with both mental and physical health to help empower me to support others.Building Bridges in the community inspires me because it bring people together to support each other to make a better, more accessible community for all, making it a more equal society, giving a voice to everyone which lessens stigmas and discrimination.Through Building Bridges and Mindscapes I wish to continue to break barriers in supporting individuals in a way that’s right for them and me.
Clare S.
Position: Volunteer.
Hi I’m Clare. I utilise my lived experience with physical health to help empower me to support others.Building Bridges in the community inspires me to bring everyone together to support each other and to all work together to give us all the same rights and build a better accessible community for everyone.Through Building Bridges in the community, I hope to enable everyone to access the services that suit them.
#001
CASE STUDIES: Linking up with Support Services
A group member came to the BBiC Community Accessibility Hub feeling low and other members were able to reach out to them and share their experiences and ideas to help support and encourage them to engage in conversation.Volunteer support members were able to listen and share their advice, offer constructive and confidential support and provide assistance by making an immediate referral to specialist support services.Peer support with new friends and effective communication between the volunteer support and care services enabled continued safe and supportive care in the community.
#002
CASE STUDIES: Discussion during BBiC Community Accessibility Hub
Several group members are wheelchair users. Some rely on electronic wheelchair for their mobility and daily activities. Other members have a manual wheelchair for use on longer distances or days of reduced mobility for various reasons.During a ‘hug in a mug’ week, people began sharing and reflecting upon personal experiences of being the individual in the wheelchair while out in the community.● People talked about being ignored by others and how they experienced people talking to their caregivers and not directly addressing them- feeling invisible.● One person shared an experience of having had a debit card taken from them by a shop worker to make a purchase without having given consent- feeling angry that they had done this, they had no right to do this.● Another incident shared involved a person being wheeled away by strangers, who had good intentions to include them in their conversation, but were not listening to their protests that their partner would not be able to find them on their return!- Disbelief , but also left feeling extremely vulnerable.Sharing experiences and being able to talk about how being in a wheelchair can affect people’s perception of an individual, was an empowering moment for people.
#003
CASE STUDIES: Coping Strategies
Several BBiC members have been discussing different coping strategies and techniques. Members talked about how they tried to distract themselves when feeling overwhelmed and some people were connecting online to share their craft work.It was agreed that people who were participating would bring their work into the BBiC Community Accessibility Hub and share their creativity with the group.This enabled all members to engage with each other and share their ideas and experiences with each other.They could see the progress made by the individuals that were sharing their work and this prompted conversations about different skills around the group, encouraging others to share their own creativity and understanding of how they all developed their own coping mechanisms.The activity enabled individuals to share ideas and resulted in much laughter and shared reflection around the group.
#004
CASE STUDIES: Support for the community
BBiC are offering continued supported signposting with regular access to the Chesterfield Community Hub, offering a regular, warm, safe environment for the individual to feel enabled to participate in the community. The Community Accessibility Hub plans to host regular outside speakers and it is on the agenda to invite local councillors and local government officials to engage with group members directly as we continue to reach out to engage with communities and work towards improving their local environment.
Downloadable PDFs
Downloads are accessed via our google drive. All downloads are at users own risk.
Suggestions Box
Building Bridges is always welcoming to new ideas from members.Members are welcome to make suggestions on; future events, conversations, potential public speakers or general suggestions around improving our community service.
Note: If no publics speakers are available. Building bridges will work towards providing guidance and support within a group discussion or signposting.
We value your feedback and thanks for your suggestion.