Case studies

The district has an innovative wellbeing service that has used co-production to put their local community at the heart of developing new projects, from allotment groups to cycling schemes. They have recently been awarded Big Lottery funding to build on what has been achieved so far. 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.

Hertfordshire County Council has set up a public health funding pot to help district councils get projects off the ground. Over the past five years over £2 million has been transferred, creating a wide-range of schemes aimed at improving the health of residents. This case study shows how district councils have improved the health of their local areas.

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.

Forest of Dean runs a host of different exercise and rehabilitation classes. As well as running them from local leisure centres, the council is using 15 different community venues, from village halls to social housing common rooms, to reach remote residents. This case study shows how district councils have improved the health of their local areas.

Sevenoaks District Council has recognised the importance of housing to health, creating a new cabinet portfolio role to champion the agenda, which in turn has led to a series of projects that are changing lives. This case study shows how district councils have improved the health of their local areas.

Cherwell District Council are a lead organisation as part of Bicester’s Healthy New Town Programme (BHNT) which aims to use housing growth to develop communities that promote health and wellbeing, prevent illness and keep people independent. This case study shows how district councils have improved the health of their local areas.

Wealden District Council has set up a range of initiatives to combat loneliness. It has worked with pubs to run events, held dementia-friendly cinema screenings and adult education courses in community venues, such as village halls and libraries. This case study shows how district councils have improved the health of their local areas.

The council needed to save approximately £200,000 across its leisure service in the 2019/20 financial year and also generate approximately £50,000 of income to offset reduction in funding from the government which would have provided support to maintain service levels. This case study forms as part of our productivity experts resources.

For the last four years Calderdale Council has used the day its staff carry out the NCMP weighing and measuring to deliver important healthy lifestyle messages to the whole school community. This case study forms part of our resource on the National Child Measurement Programme