Partnerships for Wellbeing aims to identify opportunities for improvements and synergies between policies on health and social care and the needs of the community and, by working closely with the communities at grass roots level, aims to develop initiatives to help address some of their issues.

Rationale

We believe that community-based activity can have a marked impact on reducing health inequalities, tackling social inclusion and improving health. The role of, and support for, individuals and groups within a community is crucial to the delivery and success of most community-based work, and this grass-roots approach can equip the people involved to take part in resolving wider issues.

Community health work is not about setting up projects, but rather enabling the groups that exist in communities to do more.

Crucial to the success of our community development initiatives, are the skills within our organization, to fully engage with people to help them find their own solutions, based on identifying their own needs.

Our overall approach in adopting a co-ordinated community development approach to health and wellbeing, involves

• ‘First step’ consultation to see why people do not participate in health, learning or training activities

• Focusing on prevention and early intervention, encouraging a strong social support network within each community.

• Developing learning opportunities , and provide skills training to fill gaps in the community and encourage Community Enterprise and build closer communities

• Influencing the strategies, policies and services of public agencies.