BEING a Foundation Trust, Southend University Hospital’s community engagement programme is essential so that it can better understand their experience of hospital services.

Southend Hospital governor Hilary Seago and membership manager David Fairweather were invited along to the Trinity Family Centre in Southend to join in traditional Easter celebrations with the Polish and Roma communities. Hilary spent most of her time talking to them about hospital services and, of course, sampling the traditional foods on offer.

Southend Borough Council’s thriving Polish/Roma support group, called Reach, is run by the Council’s Early Help & Family Support Community Officer, Iwona Kalisz, and was the group’s busiest meeting yet.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor, Anne Jones, said: “We had 50 people including families, Capoeira teachers, volunteers and professionals from organisations such as Mind, Southend NHS University Hospital, Southend Adult Community College, and the Council’s Sport and Leisure Department attend the event.”