What happens when communities lead on neighbourhood health improvement?

Case studies from three neighbourhoods across England

Where you are affects how you are

Those living in the wealthiest parts of England can expect to live on average around eight years longer than those in poorer areas. Where you are born and live also has a profound effect on the years you can expect to spend in good health.

Since 2024, we have worked in partnership with the NHS Alliance to advance neighbourhood working in health and care. We have focused on testing community-led approaches to health and wellbeing in some of England’s most deprived neighbourhoods and identifying the conditions required for this to work.

We’re working with six former Big Local areas to test approaches to neighbourhood health in their communities and help them build partnerships with statutory health services like the NHS.

Below you’ll find videos sharing the story of three of these community organisations.

The Centre, Ewanrigg

Ewanrigg in Maryport, Cumbria is home to around 12,000 residents. The community face mobility and transportation issues meaning residents are often unable to leave the local area. The Centre acts as a safe hub – offering health support groups, regular lunches, and opportunities for social connection, helping to combat isolation and loneliness. Staff and volunteers are able to build trust with attendees and gain an understanding of the issues they need support with.

Vysions, Brereton

In Brereton Village, Staffordshire, the community group Vysions are bridging the gap between residents and health services – through essential transportation to medical appointments as well as other local services such as craft activities, youth groups and holiday programmes. Together, the passionate people behind Vysions are working to ensure the health and wellbeing of this rural community is prioritised.

Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society, Podsmead

The Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society covers Podsmead, a ward with a population of around 3,500 residents. Whilst deprivation in the area is high, so is community spirit – so the organisation focuses on building on what’s strong, rather than what’s ‘wrong’ in the community, filling in the gaps that statutory bodies aren’t able to. This includes supporting: a community-focused Allied Pharmacy; a social space and activities within a retirement village; and a community and sports hub which aims to improve the health and wellness of local residents.