About Us

 

Our mission is to help people live happier, healthier lives. Empowering communities to live well by tackling the root cause of ill health, including isolation, loneliness, disadvantage and frailty.

Involve was established in 1975, known then as Maidstone Volunteer Bureau, to recruit volunteers and respond to local need in the community. Almost 50 years on, Involve are now leaders in social prescribing and other innovative approaches to improve wellbeing in communities.

We are ambitious about the impact we can have on health, seeking a shift in attitude around mental health and wellbeing between social and clinical interventions.

We believe age is not a barrier to good health, and we work to the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”   

Our Vision

Healthy, connected people and communities.

 

 

 

Our mission

To improve health, empowering communities to live well, and tackling the root cause of ill health including isolation, loneliness, disadvantage and frailty.

 

Our Values

  • Excellence, rigour and integrity
  • Innovation, learning and improving
  • ‘Can Do’ attitude
  • Valuing difference with a ‘whole person’ approach
  • People first

Our Objectives

Community

Develop resilient communities, increase volunteering, widening participation, developing, mapping, connecting and supporting local groups and communities

Health

To improve health, empowering communities to live well, and tackling the root cause of ill health including isolation, loneliness, disadvantage and frailty

 

Movement

Encourage, facilitate and support people with health problems to take part in enjoyable physical activity

Wellbeing

Connect for independence, coordinating support for the most frail/unwell including transport, gardening, shopping, social opportunities and help at home, maintaining quality of life and improving wellbeing

Integrated Care

Mainstream social prescribing, leading the movement to help health professionals recognise and address the social needs of their patients, as an integrated partner

Empowerment

Empower and connect people to improve health through quality social prescribing and community navigation services

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Our impact 2022-23

24,601

People supported from April 2022 to March 2023

5,546

Unpaid carers supported by our Navigators

£507,037

Funding secured by Involve for our voluntary & community sector partners

Our Impact

Through the support of our skilled staff team, our dedicated volunteers, and working in partnership with other services such as the NHS, social care, GPs and charities, we help people find hope, confidence and connection to live the life they choose.

“Involve Kent have an excellent knowledge of our client group and are professional and empathetic when it comes to meeting their needs. They understand the importance of a holistic approach and are able to signpost on to other services that may be beneficial to clients when appropriate this includes effectively understanding safeguarding and the importance of this within their work parameters.”

Partner Commissioner