Introduction
As demand for healthcare increases and healthcare needs change in the UK, there is a growing appetite for providing healthcare and services to people of all backgrounds and ages in the community rather than in traditional healthcare settings. Not only does this reduce the burden on healthcare services, but it also reduces health inequalities and empowers people to have more say regarding their health and lives.
Vulnerable people and those from marginalised backgrounds often have the worst health but often struggle to access and benefit from healthcare services due to their individual characteristics and societal factors, e.g. protected characteristics, geography, vulnerable or inclusion health groups and socio-economic status and deprivation (Office for Health Improvement & Disparities).
Community health initiatives play a crucial role in improving the health and well-being of people in communities by identifying how to engage people, addressing local health disparities and promoting healthy lifestyles. It ensures that people of all groups, regardless of age, health and background, can access services, leading to positive health outcomes.
The purpose of this blog post is to shed light on the importance of community health initiatives in fostering wellness at the local level. It will cover the significance of these initiatives, the various forms they can take, and their impact on individual and community health.
Understanding Community Health Initiatives
Before looking at community health initiatives, it is helpful to understand what is meant by ‘community’. It is a group of people with common characteristics, experiences or shared attitudes and interests living in the same place or a particular area. Communities may be defined by:
- Race.
- Ethnicity.
- Age.
- Sexuality.
- Geographical location.
- Occupation.
- Cultural, spiritual and religious interests.
- Social isolation.
- Health needs, e.g. diabetes, or disadvantages.
Community health initiatives differ from traditional services, as they are projects or programs that aim to improve the health and well-being of people living in communities, especially marginalised groups and vulnerable individuals, and address health inequalities and disparities in access to healthcare. They can also be known as community ways of working or community health services, which are delivered in community settings, such as:
- People’s homes.
- Care and nursing homes.
- Community hospitals.
- Intermediate care facilities.
- Clinics.
- Schools.
- Outdoor settings.
- Places of worship.
- Community halls and centres.
- Private facilities.
People’s physical and mental health are not just influenced by genetics, behaviours or medical care. Other factors also have a significant impact, such as environmental, economic and social, which are also known as wider determinants of health and can include:
- Education.
- Income and social protection
- Unemployment and job insecurity.
- Housing and amenities.
- Working life and environment.
- The built and natural environment.
- Food insecurity.
- Access to services.
- Power.
- Discrimination.
- Crime.
These factors can be interconnected and significantly impact health, hence why community health initiatives adopt a holistic approach. They consider how medical and non-medical factors influence the health and well-being of individuals and communities and the actions needed to address this.
The Importance of Local Health Initiatives
People residing in communities understand what health and healthcare issues their community faces, what they need, what is and is not working, and what improvements are needed. They have a voice in local decision-making, social connections and community life, which are invaluable in improving health and well-being and effectively addressing health disparities and wellness.
Local initiatives and community-centred practices incorporate participatory approaches and provide ways to engage vulnerable and marginalised people to be active and willing participants. They have a direct impact on residents’ quality of life as they:
- Give individuals and communities more control and a say on what matters to their health and well-being.
- Identify the wider determinants of health affecting individuals and groups within communities.
- Identify and remove barriers to involvement.
- Can influence how people behave regarding their health and manage their long-term conditions.
- Improve their health, well-being and overall quality of life.
- Reduce health and social services costs, which can benefit the economy and society.
Listening to communities and working with them can help design local health initiatives that are effective and sustainable and can make a positive difference in their lives.
Types of Community Health Initiatives
Community health initiatives cover various research, projects, strategies, activities and services, and there are many examples such as (this list is not exhaustive):
- Food access initiatives – aim to positively influence families’ eating habits in low-income communities and make it easier for them to make healthy food choices.
- Health education programs, i.e. health promotion – provide information or resources that individuals and communities require to improve their health and well-being, e.g. balanced diet, alcohol, smoking, sexual health, exercise, sleep, etc.
- Fitness programs – focus on increasing physical activity and making it safe and accessible for all people in the community, especially those in areas of deprivation or with health conditions.
- Wellness clinics – usually occur in community centres and mobile clinics. Residents can access various services, such as dietary and exercise information and advice, tests, e.g. blood pressure and help with appointment bookings.
- Social activities – can include initiatives to reduce loneliness, especially for older people, e.g. community coffee mornings, walking groups, knitting groups, book clubs, dancing, etc. Social isolation and prolonged loneliness are equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day (Age UK).
According to Public Health England, community-centred ways of working are important for all aspects of public health. Some initiatives involve place-based and whole-community approaches aiming to address the complex causes of health inequalities, e.g. the wider determinants of health, and not just consider medical factors and causes and treatments of disease.
Other initiatives, such as community-centred and asset-based approaches, allow community members to participate in project design, implementation and evaluation. It puts emphasis on community assets and capabilities, such as knowledge and skills, and gives people control over decisions affecting their health and well-being.
There are many successful community health initiatives, and here are some examples:
- Lunch Positive – is a voluntary community organisation that helps people living with HIV. They run various community initiatives, including a weekly lunch club where they provide advi