Communities can help health agencies deliver on health and wellbeing – and they already are in Big Local areas
08:00 Monday 19 December 2016
Research published today [1] shows that health agencies across England have much to gain from engaging residents in Big Local areas – where 150 communities are each delivering £1m-plans to meet local needs, including health and wellbeing, as part of the Big Local programme. [2]
The study, People, places and health agencies: Lessons from Big Local residents, was commissioned by Local Trust [3] and conducted by IVAR, the Institute for Voluntary Action Research [4], to explore how seven Big Local communities are working with health agencies. [5]
The research found that:
Jayne Humm, head of research and learning at Local Trust, commented: “Across Big Local, communities are using their £1m spend to address a wide range of local needs, and health is a priority for many. This research tells us that residents in Big Local areas make able and energetic partners for health agencies, and can help to deliver better and more tailored services. That is a real opportunity for any health agency that is looking to work collaboratively with local people.”
Karl Rooney, programme manager at Beechwood, Ballantyne & Bidston Village Big Local, commented: “Sharing health and wellbeing data with residents showed that a bespoke project, designed around the needs and strengths of this area, could enable people to become more active. By working in partnership with Wirral Community NHS Trust & Wirral Council we cut through bureaucracy and built a highly popular package to help people kick start a healthier lifestyle – regardless of their financial background.”
IVAR’s research found that residents in Big Local areas helped health agencies deliver common goals by:
Leila Baker, head of research at IVAR commented: “Health agencies want to reach out to residents beyond existing formal mechanisms and are looking for ways to do this. In these Big Local areas we have seen a huge range of joint initiatives. They have often started with small steps, or lucky encounters, and have taken time to evolve, but the relationships that follow can pave the way to bigger changes.”
Download the full report at http://bit.ly/2gKd7Vw
ENDS
Further information Jessica Wenban-Smith 020 3588 0577 mobile: 07751 836346
Jessica.wenban-smith@localtrust.org.uk
Twitter: @localtrust @jessws
NOTES
[1] People, places and health agencies: Lessons from Big Local residents is a report drawing on action research conducted by IVAR and written by Leila Baker, Helen Garforth, Marilyn Taylor and Katie Turner. It is based on research carried out by the authors together with
Charlotte Hennessy. It can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/2gKd7Vw.
[2] Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas around England to use at least £1m each over 10-15 years to make a massive and lasting positive difference to their communities. Big Local brings together all the local talent, ambitions, skills and energy from individuals, groups and organisations who want to make their area an even better place to live.
Big Local is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and managed by Local Trust. Nationally we work with a range of partners to deliver Big Local, building on the skills and experiences of others to provide expert advice and support for residents. https://localtrust.org.uk/big-local
[3] Local Trust’s mission is to enable residents to make their communities and their areas even better places in which to live. We do this by helping them develop and use their skills and confidence to identify what matters most to them, and to take action to change things for the better, now and in the future. We provide a mix of funding and finance to support people to make sustainable change, maximise impact and make the best use of scarce resources. https://localtrust.org.uk
[4] IVAR is an independent research charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. From the very small that directly support the most vulnerable in their local communities, to those that work nationally – across the voluntary, public and funding sectors.
[5] The seven Big Local areas taking part in the research were:
Beechwood, Ballantyne and Bidston Village, Wirral.
East Cleveland, Yorkshire.
East Coseley, Dudley.
Ewanrigg, Cumbria.
Hilltop and Caldwell, Nuneaton.
PEACH, Custom House, London Borough of Newham. http://peache16.wixsite.com/peach
Wargrave, Newton-le-Willows, St Helens.