Grant boosts SPACE Pilot project in Newcastle

A North East charity has been awarded £200,000 to expand a pioneering project supporting families of young patients in hospital.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity, in partnership with Ways to Wellness, will use the NHS Charities Together Innovation Challenge Fund grant to develop the SPACE (Social Prescribing And Community rEsources) Pilot project at the Great North Children’s Hospital, in Newcastle.

The initiative, the brainchild of Dr Anna Basu, a clinical senior lecturer at Newcastle University and an honorary consultant paediatric neurologist, places social prescribing link workers alongside clinicians to provide non-medical support to families navigating chronic childhood conditions.

Officials say the funding will help “further expand” services such as housing support, benefits advice and community resources, ensuring families are provided with the emotional and practical tools needed to manage their child’s healthcare journey. 

The project, just one of six to be awarded a grant from more than 200 applicants, has already shown significant impact, with research from Newcastle University on the 18 families who used the SPACE Pilot service finding it generates £2.75 in benefits for every £1 spent. 

Dr Basu said: “Our study shows the real benefits of supporting children with neurodisabilities and their families through social prescribing – both emotionally and financially. 

“Having link workers come into the hospital is a vital part of the scheme, as it makes the service more accessible for some families and allows support to start early.”  

Teri Bayliss, charity director at Newcastle Hospitals Charity, added: “We’re pleased to have been awarded this funding with Ways to Wellness to support Anna and the team to further expand SPACE Pilot. 

“It is our mission to go further for our hospitals, and the funding will help us continue to support young patients and their families at the Great North Children’s Hospital.” 

The £200,000 investment is part of £923,100 being distributed by NHS Charities Together’s Innovation Challenge Fund into projects tackling health and healthcare inequalities for children and young people aged up to 18 over the next three years.

Jon Goodwin, head of grants at NHS Charities Together, added: “We’re delighted that SPACE Pilot is one of six projects that has been awarded grants.

“We know that, sadly, where someone is born can affect their long-term health, and this and other projects across the UK are aimed at tackling unfair health inequalities and giving every young person the support they need.” 

To find out more about the SPACE Pilot project, see this video on the Ways to Wellness YouTube channel.

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