Case studies

At the start of the pandemic the council set up a homelessness cell - which led to many rough sleepers being encouraged off the streets and into accommodation.

The council and local NHS have identified social prescribing as a key priority in terms of encouraging self care. They are working with the Richmond Group of Charities and local partners to spread social prescribing equitably and sustainably across the county. This forms part of our resource on self care.

In developing a healthy new town, South Cambridgeshire has re-considered its approach to developing play schemes and encouraging activity. A more adventurous approach is leading to what is being dubbed “playable landscapes”. This case study shows how district councils have improved the health of their local areas.

South Norfolk Council has worked with its partners to establish a hospital-based team that helps people when they are discharged. The service is reducing stays in hospital and is now being extended elsewhere in the county. This case study shows how district councils have improved the health of their local areas.

Planning guidance which restricts the number of hot food takeaways in areas with high childhood obesity is part of South Tyneside Council’s whole systems approach to the problem of excess weight.

Councils across the South West have pooled budgets to carry out research into why certain groups are not coming forward for the HIV-preventative treatment PrEP. The findings of the exercise are now being used to run a social marketing campaign which will be tailored towards those groups and individuals who are least likely to come forward to access PrEP. PrEP is a pill which prevents infection with HIV by stopping the virus from replicating.

In Southampton the substance misuse provider Change Grow Live has worked hard to tailor its services to women. This includes setting up women-only groups and offering support and treatment in different locations around the city.

Residents in Southampton who want to quit smoking and need help can access national NHS materials and an eight-week package of help via many pharmacies or their GP practice if they need it.

A drop-in clinic has been established for street-based sex workers in Southend, providing them with access to mental health and sexual health workers and a nurse prescriber. It is part of a wider strategy that has been developed to provide better support to this community of women.

Councils in the south west started looking at ways of increasing equity of access of PrEP in other groups to address this in late 2021.