Building Healthy Communities together-the glass half full!

Our Life and North West Together We Can (NWTWC) are keen to ensure that the learning that NWTWC created over the past four years continues to expand. We recently held a successful autumn programme of Learning Exchange Seminars to explore how best to build Healthy Communities in the North West, with the support of our host partners.

The seminars which took place in Blackburn and Trafford included case studies from these areas on inspiring community empowerment initiatives that councils, the NHS and local people are taking forward in partnership. Both seminars were attended by over 40 participants from voluntary and community organisations, and interested professionals.

Supported by Blackburn with Darwen CVS and Blackburn with Darwen Council, the 'Healthy Communities: Taking action in Blackburn with Darwen' seminar on 18 November, involved a variety of lively presentations looking at successful health initiatives in Blackburn with Darwen and wider afield.

Andrew Taylor from Our Life gave a presentation on Talking Food: Taking Action, Our Life's regional award-winning initiative which has used the innovative citizens' jury process to determine what residents of several deprived areas from across the North West see as barriers to accessing a healthier food system and has seen participants working with local partners to take action for themselves.

Sharon Lucas from Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living Centre discussed the use of a community development approach to improving health and how the Centre has supported a Food Co-Op and trained up local residents to act as Cancer Awareness advocates

Danielle Dean from Blackburn with Darwen Council's Healthy Community Partnerships spoke about the enabling role of the borough's Refresh project giving examples of local people taking action targeted at the areas with the highest health needs.

Lynette Banister from Blackburn with Darwen Council spoke about the partnership between NHS Blackburn with Darwen and Sustainable Neighbourhood Service designing & delivering bespoke training packages on key health issues e.g. Bowel Cancer screening, stroke awareness.

The feedback from participants was very positive and included the following comments:

"Thank you very much. I am new in post and it was great to find out what is happening in other parts."

"Very well organised with many other services promoted in the room."

Supported by Trafford Council, the Trafford 'Healthy Communities: Meeting Needs and Aspirations in Trafford' seminar on 7 December looked at new structures and strategies for improving health and well being in local communities.

Ged Devereux, Transition Alliance Team Project Lead gave us a flavour of the function of Health and Wellbeing Boards on a national, regional and sub-regional level and the implications of the Health and Social Care Bill, conveying that it's up to us how good they'll be, public engagement will be critical and in order for them to work they must ensure that there are ways in for communities to engage with the Boards.

Dr Diana Forrest, Vice Chair of the Sale West and Ashton Partnership explained the case for Asset Based Community Development, using the individual strengths and skills of citizens to build stronger communities. Using motivating success stories from the community partnership which is trying to improve the lives of local residents around the Sale West Community Centre, she cited the 'glass half full' approach, which values the capacity, skills, knowledge, connections and potential in a community.

One of the success stories that's come out of the Trafford Asset Based Community Development work was the 'Healthy Places and Healthy Lives in Sale West' project. Debbie Nash, Strategic Manager for Health and Commissioning and Dale Ward Alcohol and Violent Crime Co-ordinator from Trafford Council spoke about how the Council aims aimed to identify, develop and spread joint public service which led to greater impacts on the social determinants of health in Sale West and empowered the local community to lead on projects. There were some fantastic examples from the community leads revealing how the residents have been empowered to get involved, gain new skills, and have their voices heard on issues that matter to them and their community.

Again there was some great feedback from attendees:

"I represent a small voluntary organisation and I'm grateful that I was invited and learnt a lot and take back to my community a lot."

"I found the presentations very useful and it was great that I am not the only person striving for these things in our community."

The seminars' take-home message was that the glass half full is the best approach for building partnerships and ensuring sustainable futures for our communities around health needs.

To view the presentations click here

Watch out for our new Seminar programme in the New Year, which will continue to spread the message of co-operation and empowerment as the best way forward in difficult times.