Health and wellbeing
New Walsall Connected centre opens at Walsall Manor Hospital
Published on
Walsall Manor Hospital is the latest local organisation to partner with Walsall Connected to provide face-to-face support to residents who need help to access council services online.
The new Walsall Connected centre was officially launched at 2pm on Wednesday 12 July 2023 by the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Chris Towe, and Professor David Loughton CBE, Chief Executive of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
Walsall Connected is a partnership between Walsall Council and local community associations, libraries and partner organisations. In total, there are now 28 Walsall Connected sites across the borough, conveniently located in the heart of local communities.
Trained staff and volunteers are on hand to assist people and teach valuable digital skills. As well as offering support to residents to access online council services, our Walsall Connected Centres give residents the opportunity to learn transferable digital skills such as using email and web browsing.
“ It’s a pleasure to be here today to announce our partnership with the Manor Hospital. I can’t quite believe that is has been a year since we originally launched Walsall Connected at our first centre – Lichfield Street Hub in Walsall.
Walsall Council has a great working relationship with the Manor Hospital and today we make that relationship even stronger with the launch of our 28th Walsall Connected centre in the heart of our borough
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“ I am delighted that a Walsall connected centre is opening here at the hospital because it is vital for our residents to have access to healthcare services in the digital world.
“It’s a great initiative and I am confident that it will be accessible to all our residents. It further seals the work we are doing to improve social care and connect our residents to healthcare services across the Borough. It implies that more people can benefit from the possibilities provided by digital technology and get to know how to use the Walsall connected online services. Since more services resources are available online, it's critical that those who require support have access to it
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“ The launch symbolised our joint efforts to further strengthen the relationships between healthcare, the council and our communities and we are delighted to see the new centre up and running.
“We believe the hospital is going to be a prime location for a Walsall Connected centre because of the large numbers of people who come through our doors and we are looking forward to welcoming its volunteers into our Trust to be part of our teams.”
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For more information about Walsall Connected, please visit: www.walsall.gov.uk/people_and_communities/walsall_connected
Notes to editors
Feedback from the council’s residents’ survey in 2021 showed that vulnerable and elderly residents would prefer to access advice and digital support in locations closer to their own homes, to keep travelling time and transport costs down. The Walsall Connected initiative has been developed by Walsall Council in response to feedback from residents, providing locations where people can access services at their convenience.
Walsall Connected is available at the following libraries and community partners in the borough:
Libraries
Aldridge Community Library
Bloxwich Community library
Brownhills Community Library
Darlaston Community library
Lichfield Street Hub (Walsall Central Library)
Streetly Community Library
Willenhall Community Library
Community partners
Aaina Community Hub
Birchills Neighbourhood Community Hub
Bloxwich Community Partnership - Stan Ball Centre
Bloxwich Community Partnership - Palace Play, Shop, Eat
Brownhills Community Association
The Collingwood Centre
Frank F. Harrison - Beechdale Lifelong Learning Centre
Frank F. Harrison - The Hive Community Hub
Manor Farm Community Association
Moxley People's Centre
Nash Dom Community Hub
Old Hall People's Partnership
Pelsall Community Centre
RMC The Refugee and Migrant Centre
Ryecroft Community Hub
Streetly Sports and Community Association
The MindKind Wellbeing Centre
Walsall Black Sisters Collective
Walsall Manor Hospital
Willenhall Chart Community Hub
YMCA Walsall
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