1point is governed, managed and delivered by people who have worked, and volunteered with thousands of clients over many years, in a number of established Bolton-based VCSE organisations.
Despite increasing demand for our locally delivered mental and emotional wellbeing support, we were fully aware of decreasing funding sources which helped us help others. Trusted agencies began to cut back or close their services, when their continuing contribution to local communities was never greater.
Our solution was to create a community-led collective social enterprise. In 2012 1point was registered as Community Benefit Society, a co-operative based model, authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This innovative collaboration not only helped us maintain existing support, but also allowed us to equitably share income, resources, skills and knowledge to rapidly develop new services and fill local gaps in mental health provision.
Since its formation, 1point has been commissioned to provide NHS Talking Therapies (formerly known as IAPT. scheme in Bolton and develop a host of specialist talking therapy services, focusing on clients who may be unwilling or unable to access statutory mental health agencies. Our successful collaboration works with over 5,000 people per year, who can personally choose a therapeutic approach they feel is appropriate to their current needs.
Our Social Value
Positive mental health is more likely to be achieved when individuals feel a strong sense of connection, safety and support from the places they belong to and with organisation they value and respect. At 1point we believe that building social value into the way we design and deliver services, has a positive impact for ourselves, our clients and their friends, families, neighbours and colleagues, now and in the future. To date we have implemented, monitored and evaluated the social value of 1point on the wider community we all live and work in.