Summary
Diabetes UK is the leading diabetes charity in Northern Ireland, where 112,000 people live with diabetes. Its Live Well Hubs are innovative, one-stop shops providing information, advice and peer support to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with diabetes in the community. The Hubs provide free support for individuals and their families covering general awareness and resources, mental health, physical activity, weight management and nutritional advice. By creating a warm and welcoming environment, people using the Live Well Hubs gain knowledge, confidence and empowerment to enable them to live well with their diabetes.
Innovation
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Diabetes UK NI (DUKNI) sought to complement its considerable digital support, realising its in-person reach was limited and stymied by the pandemic. While the pandemic strengthened DUKNI’s online presence, large numbers of individuals remained digitally excluded and unable to access support, including that provided by the health service. The idea was to move from a local support group structure to target areas of need, with emphasis on supporting people living with type 2 diabetes who had been underrepresented in receiving peer support under the previous structure and were more likely to be disengaged from clinical pathways. First, it held an awareness-raising session in a trusted community setting with a high level of local engagement. Next, it introduced the Live Well Hub, comprising a five-week education and peer support programme connecting people with diabetes to experts and HCPs providing free support on diabetes awareness and resources, mental health, physical activity, weight management, health MOTs and nutritional advice. The final stage was to invest in volunteers – ‘Live Well Champions’ – identified during the programme, and keep them motivated and engaged to maintain a local Diabetes UK-supported presence, freeing staff to scope other areas of need.
Equality, Diversity and Variation
Issues related to equality and diversity were identified in the scoping work, which was conducted within DUKNI. The whole team was involved in selecting the Live Well Hubs, choosing two sites: The North Down Community Network’s Wellbeing Centre, Bangor and the The Ballykeel Community Centre, Ballymena. Both areas had pockets of considerable deprivation and the highest diabetes prevalence rates in NI. DUK strives to be as inclusive and adaptive as possible. Its research shows that those living in poverty are 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes and twice as likely to develop complications, requiring specific support. So, while the selection of both venues was partly determined by the rates of deprivation and levels of engagement with the health service, the organisation is aware that both areas have suffered from the intergenerational legacy of the Northern Ireland conflict and are considered Protestant/Unionist. DUK will therefore scope Catholic/Nationalist areas as further Live Well Hub areas in NI, while maintaining a focus on health inequalities. In Ballykeel there was also a separation between the local/settled population and a relatively new minority ethnic population. As this ethnic community is more likely to be disengaged from the health service, the charity is driving the work of a recently appointed DUKNI Engaging Communities Officer.
Results
This project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund’s People and Communities Grant. The objective is to create two Live Well Hubs per year in not-forprofit, established community venues, plus identify a Live Well Champion volunteer to continue a Diabetes UK-supported presence in Hub areas. This, along with inviting HCPs and other charities and experts to deliver sessions to attendees, demonstrates cost efficiency to the charity. The Bangor Hub began in May 2022 with an initial awareness-raising session with 28 participants. This established interest to take forward the education and peer support programme for a further five weeks. Sessions included talks on nutrition, diabetes management, community pharmacy, eye care and foot care, with 20 people attending regularly. In February 2023, the Ballymena Hub began, with an awareness-raising session with 32 participants, then rollout of the programme, with 15 people attending regularly. All participants in both areas found the sessions helpful and informative, felt comfortable sharing diabetes concerns and said it met their expectations. A total of 91% in Bangor and 80% in Ballymena said it increased their confidence. During Diabetes Week, two participants delivered broadcast media interviews on the impact of the Hubs, with Gemma, from Bangor, becoming the first Live Well Champion. This initiative supported improved outcomes by building participants’ confidence in managing their diabetes and building connections for peer support.
User Feedback
Live Well Hub session attendees were encouraged to complete a pre-questionnaire and post evaluation form. Participants praised the usefulness of the sessions and friendliness of the groups and HCPs noted that attendees had proactively booked appointments. At each session attendees were asked what topics they would like to hear more about. Suggestions included diet, exercise and well-being and specific sessions were held as a result. One attendee delivered their own talk on nutrition and shared ideas and advice on portion control. Another gave a cookery demonstration and shared diabetesfriendly recipes. A local council representative talked about its Move More Programme and a mindfulness practitioner gave a session on self-care and self-compassion.
Dissemination and Sustainability
Equipped by Diabetes UK, and from their own lived experience with diabetes, the Live Well Champion maintains a Diabetes UK-supported presence in the area, providing peer support and assistance to people living with diabetes, including helping them access local community-based activities. Diabetes UK’s Engaging Communities and Volunteering team focuses on scoping and building further Live Well Hubs in other areas, while ensuring the peer support provided in established Live Well Hub areas is seamlessly transferred from staff member to volunteer. The Live Well Champion receives a package of support from Diabetes UK, including monthly catch-ups with a member of the team, quarterly reviews and training. Diabetes UK is also committed to supporting established community resources. This encourages signposting to existing and trusted support networks so, ultimately, the person living with diabetes can access the right local support at the right time.
