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Suffolk Information Partnership Celebrates 100 Partners

More than 100 organisations have now signed up to the Suffolk Information Partnership (SIP).
Published: 01 Feb 2023

The Suffolk Information Partnership is a network of organisations offering information and advice and delivering services to support people’s health and wellbeing in Suffolk.

The partnership was formed in 2010 with five key voluntary sector organisations in Suffolk - Age UK Suffolk, Optua (now Avenues East), Suffolk Family Carers, Suffolk Libraries and Suffolk Mind - alongside Suffolk County Council's Adult Social Care services. Now it has expanded to more than 100 statutory, voluntary and independent sector organisations delivering services to support young and older people, adults and families across Suffolk.

The 100th partner to join the network was Our Special Friends, a Suffolk based charity that works to help people to benefit from animal companionship by providing physical and emotional support during illness, bereavement or other crises.

We are delighted to be the 100th organisation to join the Suffolk Information Partnership and to closely collaborate with this important network, helping people in need of care and support. Integrated care in our communities is vital. We need to maximise using resources efficiently and ensure that every contact counts, so that people (and in our case animals too) can live well.
Dr Bin Johnston, Animal Companionship Practitioner at Our Special Friends
Our Special Friends, the 100th organisation to sign up to the Suffolk Information Partnership
Our Special Friends, the 100th organisation to sign up to the Suffolk Information Partnership

The partnership meets regularly to share updates on its services and discuss topics of interest as well as providing peer support and informal mentoring. Being in the partnership also gives organisations access to a toolkit of resources and the Warm Handover referral scheme.

The Warm Handover referral scheme allows organisations to refer clients directly to another organisation, where they identify that the client would benefit from other support that their organisation cannot provide.

The process supports vulnerable clients and those who may struggle to contact another organisation if they are signposted to that organisation.

The Suffolk Information Partnership helps thousands of Suffolk Residents access the services they need every year and we are proud of how the partnership has grown. “I want to say a huge thank you to all the partners that have joined the Suffolk Information Partnership over the years, for your invaluable support in making the partnership the success that it is today. We couldn't have done it without you!
Cllr Bobby Bennett
Cllr Bobby Bennett, Cabinet Member for Equality and Communities

Here is what some of the partners had to say:

It’s a brilliant, brilliant service and it’s great for us to be able to signpost into so many different routes because we have so many different families with so many different needs.
Homestart in Suffolk
Of all the multi-agency meetings I attend the SIP is the most helpful and really well run.
Realise Futures

For more information about the Suffolk Information Partnership and Warm Handover, visit: http://suffolkinformationpartnership.onesuffolk.net/

The Suffolk Information Partnership is open to statutory, voluntary and independent sector organisations operating across or within local communities in Suffolk. If your organisation would like to join send a short paragraph about what your organisation does, your logo and contact details to suffolkinformationpartnership@suffolk.gov.uk

The Suffolk Information Partnership and Warm Handover Referral Scheme are free to join.