Case studies

Frustrated at the rising numbers of vulnerable people struggling to access homes and support that met their needs, the Somerset Strategic Housing Group (SSHG) decided we needed to crack the problem. But where to start?

Leicester City Council and its partners have used community involvement in regenerating housing and the neighbourhood on the Braunstone Estate

Background The Marmot Review ‘Fair society, healthy lives' states that: "targeting [20 mph] zones in deprived residential areas would help lead to reductions in health inequalities".

Summary Planners at Darlington Borough Council have produced an Open Spaces strategy. It prioritises improving the quality of open spaces close to areas of multiple deprivation to help reduce health inequalities.

Manchester has some of the most challenging health problems in the country. Life expectancy is amongst the lowest in England, and compared with national averages people are more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease and accidents. There is a wide health gap between the city and the country as a whole.

This project, developed by Prism Youth Project, based at Prism City Farm, aims to provide 12 to 21-year-olds with opportunities to engage in horticultural and other farm and animal-based activities. By facilitating these types of activities (or what is known as ‘ecotherapy' - green exercise and other learning activities) improvements are made around the young people's wellbeing and mental health.

Workcrafts Community-based Volunteering Project, Northallerton, North Yorkshire www.mind.org.uk/help/ecominds/ecominds/funded_projects/yorkshire_and_the_humber#workcrafts

Halton Walk Safe, Halton, Merseyside www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk/walkfinder/north-west/walk-safe Delivery organisation Groundwork Merseyside Funding Big Lottery Fund (BIG), programme value £47,924.00

The Breathing Spaces Project, Bradford www.prismyouthproject.org/ Delivery organisation Prism Youth Project Breathing Spaces at Prism City farm Funding Big Lottery Fund (BIG) programme (Ecominds), programme value £147,790

Good Gym, Tower Hamlets, London www.thegoodgym.org/ Delivery organisation The Good Gym Funding Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust (PCT), less than £10,000