Neighbourhood Support Services
As a neighbourhood-based charity, b inspired serves and supports residents of Braunstone (Leicester). Our Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) works with the community to support local people, providing practical help to improve their lives. The team organises and delivers local initiatives and projects to benefit residents.
The NST delivers a range of services, including a Food Hub, wellbeing programme, and one-to-one support with access to food, benefits and debt advice, employability services, health and wellbeing. The NST also offers the ‘Braunstone Alert’ community magazine, local networking group ‘Braunstone Community Network’, and volunteering opportunities.
The NST collaborates with other providers and partners to help residents access additional support, including LCALC (Leicester Community Advice & Law Centre), local councillors, social landlords and more. We also deliver a range of projects, funded by various providers.
Interested in finding out more? For more information, or to request support, please contact or visit: 0116 279 5020 | [email protected] Neighbourhood Support Base, Gallards Hill, LE3 1QR
Our services exist almost exclusively to support people living in the LE3 1 (Braunstone) area.
Braunstone Foodshare
Braunstone Foodshare is here to support local people through our community Food Hub, offering practical help to Braunstone residents who may be struggling with the cost of food.
The scheme is means-tested and membership-based and is open to people living in the LE3 1 area. When someone gets in touch for support, we can provide a one-off emergency food parcel straight away. If longer-term help is needed, they can then sign up for membership through a simple sign- up process. Once registered, members can access food regularly from the Neighbourhood Support Base.
Braunstone Foodshare is about more than just food. It is designed to promote choice, independence and affordability, helping local people make their money go further during difficult times. Alongside affordable food, we also offer extra support and activities such as Cooking on a Budget, helping residents build confidence, skills and connections.
Our Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) works closely with members, offering ongoing guidance and practical support to help people improve their circumstances. By making Braunstone Foodshare part of their weekly food budget, members can save money on essential items while feeling supported by a service rooted in the local community.
If you would like to refer yourself or someone else, please complete the Emergency Referral Form. A member of our team will be in touch shortly to talk through the support available.
Support Tailored to You
Our Neighbourhood Support Team offers one-to-one support funded by Utilita Giving, delivered via ‘One Call, That’s All’ (OCTA). It provides tailored support for Braunstone (LE3 1) residents, across b inspired’s services, with referrals and signposting to external agencies, through a single point of access.
Support can include help accessing food, benefits, utilities, debt advice, employability services and wellbeing guidance. Our specialist Support Worker helps Braunstone residents access the support they need, when they need it, based on individual circumstances.
Wellbeing
The Getting Help in Neighbourhoods (GHIN) fund enables b inspired to deliver activities and guidance to help residents take control of their wellbeing. The wellbeing programme, alongside our wider support, empowers individuals to improve health and resilience, building a stronger, more connected community.
Summary of Approach to Wellbeing
Wellbeing support is guided by the NHS 5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing, a trusted approach to promoting positive mental health through everyday actions. It encourages people to connect with others to build supportive relationships, be physically active to boost mood and energy, learn new skills to increase confidence and sense of achievement, give to others to create positive feelings and stronger communities, and pay attention to the present moment to reduce stress and improve self-awareness. Together, these simple habits help promote emotional resilience and overall wellbeing.
To help us understand how people are feeling and identify the right support, we use the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), a simple and widely used questionnaire developed by Warwick and Edinburgh Universities. The results are grouped into four levels: very low, below average, average, and above average. As part of our commitment to supporting wellbeing, our Wellbeing Coordinator reviews responses from residents in LE3 1 and volunteers. This helps us identify when someone may benefit from extra guidance or support, particularly if their wellbeing score is lower than expected or has decreased over time.
Wellbeing Check-in and Support
Our Wellbeing Check-in includes two supportive sessions designed to help you access the right support for your needs.
First session: A safe, confidential and non-judgemental space to talk openly about what is affecting your wellbeing. We will listen, offer support, and signpost you to relevant organisations or activities that can provide the help that is right for you
Second session: A follow-up session to check how you are getting on, review any support or referrals, and talk about whether you need any further help
Wellbeing Questionnaire
Help Us Support You...
If you’re ready to take the first step and have referred yourself to one of our services, please complete our quick Wellbeing Questionnaire (link below).
This short check-in helps you reflect on how you’re feeling, so we can offer the most suitable support, tailored to your needs.
Referrals from professionals are also welcome (with your prior consent), helping ensure you receive the support you need at the right time.
If you would like more information about local mental health support, resources and advice, please click here.
Why Your Wellbeing Matters…
Having good wellbeing isn’t just about the absence of problems – it’s about feeling good in yourself, being able to cope with life’s challenges and building positive relationships. Our Neighbourhood Support Team see wellbeing as a positive, empowering state of mind – feeling confident, thinking clearly and managing the day-to-day with resilience. To support this, we use a simple, evidence-based tool called the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). It helps you reflect on how you’re doing and enables us to tailor support that works for you.
Completing the questionnaire is a small but powerful step towards taking control of your own wellbeing. Better wellbeing can boost your health, relationships, learning, and overall quality of life – which is why we care and why we want to get it right for you.
Peer-to-peer social groups
Men's Den
Men’s Den is a friendly weekly social group for male Braunstone residents aged 18+, offering a welcoming space to connect, try new activities and enjoy good company. Sessions may include sport, music, comedy and more, alongside general wellbeing support.
The group is open to people living in the LE3 1 postcode area. Most activities are free, although some may ask for a small contribution.
For the latest details, please visit our What’s On page or follow us on social media.
Brew & Banter
Brew & Banter is a friendly weekly social group for Braunstone residents, offering something a little bit different each week. From quizzes and comedy to relaxing wellbeing activities, it’s a welcoming space to enjoy good company, a warm drink and chat.
The group is open to anyone aged 18+ living in the LE3 1 postcode area. Most activities are free, although some may require a small contribution.
Telephone Befriending
Our telephone befriending service aims to help reduce isolation and loneliness by offering regular friendly contact for local residents. Through weekly calls, volunteers provide a listening ear, conversation and connection.
This support is available to people living in the LE3 1 postcode area.
To access telephone befriending, please get in touch using the contact details above. A member of our team will be in touch to talk through the next steps and whether this support is right for you.
Additional Wellbeing services and activities
Alongside our weekly groups, b inspired’s wellbeing programme offers one-off activities and events (e.g. afternoon teas) and one-to-one signposting to additional support. Details and how to get involved are on the ‘What’s On’ page, including Dance & Health, Walking Football and a Walking Group, delivered weekly at The Grove Community Hub.
Our wellbeing programme is more than support: it’s a welcoming space to feel safe, heard and encouraged to take steps towards a healthier, happier life.
Volunteering
Our Neighbourhood Support Service offers a range of volunteering opportunities to help you get involved in meaningful activities. Roles are available within Braunstone Foodshare, wellbeing and befriending, the Braunstone Alert and more. Some roles require a longer-term commitment, but you can also volunteer on short-term or ad-hoc projects.
You can find out more about volunteering with b inspired by clicking here.
Braunstone Alert
The Braunstone Alert is a bi-monthly community magazine produced by the Neighbourhood Support Team, with 2,500 copies distributed across Braunstone door-to-door, to community hubs and online.
Each edition features local updates, photos, positive stories, and information on b inspired’s support and local events. We also offer advertising space for businesses and organisations at competitive rates.
Braunstone Community Network (BCN)
IIn 2008, b inspired launched a Neighbourhood Management Board (NMB), made up of key local service providers who met every few months to discuss support for Braunstone residents and share information.
In 2025, this became the Braunstone Community Network (BCN), a local group for organisations and individuals to meet, share plans, explore partnerships, and provide updates.
If you are not a member and wish to join, contact [email protected] for details of the next meeting.