Introducing Danny: Health and Wellbeing Trainer

For those of you who didn’t know, Talk Community is not just a website! We thought it was time we introduced some of the work being done by the Talk Community team.

In light of World Homeless Day earlier this month it felt like a good moment to shine a spotlight on the work being done by Danny Jones who works with individuals at risk of rough sleeping, those living in temporary accommodation and who access the substance misuse service, Turning Point.

Introducing Danny Jones: Health and Wellbeing Trainer

Danny Jones is a Health and Wellbeing Trainer for Talk Community’s Healthy Lifestyles team. The Healthy Lifestyle Service offer free and confidential support to help Herefordshire residents’ to live healthier lives.

Danny plays a crucial role in supporting individuals at risk of rough sleeping or those living in temporary accommodation. His focus is on facilitating small, manageable changes that can lead to healthier lifestyles.  Through a client-centred approach, time is taken to understand each client's unique needs, motivations, and readiness for change. This personalised support allows clients to evaluate their current habits related to diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Through this collaborative process, Danny helps clients identify achievable steps that they can take to enhance their well-being and foster sustainable lifestyle changes.

Danny works closely with both the Rough Sleeping team and the Substance Misuse service to enhance the support provided to clients. By offering advice and guidance to staff members, he ensures that a holistic approach to health and well-being is maintained.

Q&A with Danny 

Can you tell us a little bit about your work and the intersection of homelessness and mental health?

Working in the community offering healthy lifestyle support to rough sleepers, drug / alcohol users and the supported accommodations around the county, I encounter poor mental health on an almost daily basis. Often times it’s believed that people become homeless because they’re addicted to drugs / alcohol. In my experience people have turned to substances as a form of self-medication for an underlying mental illness or childhood trauma. In the past people actively using substances would have been signposted to a drug and alcohol service before being able to access mental health support. This is now being addressed locally with a new position within Vennture designed to work with dual diagnosed mental illness and addiction.

What are you most proud of achieving in the past year in your role? 

The proudest moment this year has been supporting a client with a long history of alcohol use and homelessness to access the gym and quit smoking. I was able to sign this particular client up via a scheme set up for rough sleepers, and buddied them for their first few work-outs to build confidence. The client is now visiting the gym 3 to 4 times a week and is smoke free.

Do you have any recommendations for films or books which could help deepen someone’s understanding of issues around homelessness?

 “The book of homelessness” is a collection of art created by those affected by homelessness.

What are your goals for the year ahead?

I have found the multi-agency working to be really beneficial in my role, so I’d like to prioritise that in the upcoming year. Building on working relationships to help identify clients that are perhaps ending their structured treatments in substance use and would like to make further change in their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking or exercising.