OPM

Tackling exclusion, isolation and inequalities are all central to building sustainable communities that are cohesive, integrated and resilient to violent extremism. We have worked extensively in this area, for example with the Home Office, Communities and Local Government, DCSF, Government Offices, the Homes and Communities Agency and many local authorities, helping them find ways to create more cohesive communities.

OPM has been placed 66th in the top 100 best small companies to work for in the UK in 2010. The company was also short-listed for a Giving Something Back special award and attained Best Company accreditation with two stars.

A report short article by Annie Hedges which discusses exploring research led by young people conducted by OPM last year. Following the research, a report, Creative Influence: Research led by young people, was lauched at a national conference in London. The conference brought together over 80 professionals working in the public and voluntary sector to promote the role of young people in research.

How can public services help people lead healthier lives? OPM is working with public services in Manchester to evaluate a groundbreaking health improvement loyalty programme called points4life. Manchester City Council and NHS Manchester created points4life to encourage people to choose healthier options, including how they eat and exercise, stopping smoking and by taking advantage of health screening opportunities offered through the health service. Membership is free and people throughout Manchester can earn points for healthy behaviours such as walking, exercising or eating healthily (for example, buying whole-meal bread instead of white). These loyalty points are counted up and can then be exchanged for incentives in the form of products and services such as swimming sessions or fruit and vegetable vouchers.

The quality of cancer care environments can greatly affect the experience of cancer patients. OPM recently helped Macmillan Cancer Support to design a quality mark to improve cancer care environments. Macmillan Cancer Support has helped create healing cancer environments since 1976. They are experts in understanding how the settings used by people affected by cancer can have a significant impact on their support experience and on their ultimate health. To recognise the importance of built environments in cancer care, Macmillan Cancer Support launched the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark (MQEM). Responding in part to the Cancer Reform Strategy’s commitment to raising standards in cancer care environments, the award identifies excellence in these physical environments and aims to raise standards across the UK.