Case studies

The London Borough of Waltham Forest set up a social prescribing service five years ago. The team works with primary care in the NHS and community groups across the area to link people in with activities and support. Loneliness is one of the most common reasons for a referral. But thanks to the support being provided residents are being helped to learn new skills and take part in a variety of activities, reducing isolation in the process.

In the past two years, Sefton Council, the two CCGs and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust have been working collaboratively to develop early intervention services across Sefton that young people have access to before reaching a ‘breaking point’ in their mental health.

The Children and Young People Alliance is taking a holistic view in reconfiguring service delivery, providing support to children almost from the moment they are born and as young people up to the age of 25.

To get their estate to net zero by 2030 and prepare the borough for the impact of the climate crisis, Lambeth council have created a ‘future fit’ package for schools. This package consists of several projects, which reduce the schools’ carbon footprints, prepare them to be climate resilient, and protect school children from air pollution.

Rotherham Council challenges the traditional model of community support for people with learning disabilities through working with social enterprise Community Catalysts on a project that supports local people to set up innovative new activities for people with learning disabilities, as well as supporting them to develop their own projects.

Nottingham City Council published a BAME Inequalities Framework in the summer of 2020 which set out a place-based approach to trying to make progress. A taskforce, including representatives from the council and other public sector partners and community groups, was set up to help drive forward the work, including around COVID-19 vaccinations. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Brighton & Hove City Council made a commitment to do more to actively challenge racial inequality and become an anti-racist city. It includes a promise to draw up an anti-racism strategy and the creation of a dedicated community fund for BME community groups. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Gloucestershire was chosen as one of six programmes to receive funding as part of the King’s Fund and National Lottery Community Fund scheme to explore new ways of working with local communities and the voluntary sector during 2021. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Lewisham Council and Lewisham Learning plan took a new approach to education to investigate why Black students were underachieving. Following the findings a number of pledges were created, including a commitment to increase black representation among the school leadership team and governors, reducing exclusions for black pupils and targeting ambitious outcomes for black pupils. This case study forms part of the health inequalities hub.

Cherwell District Council has a strong belief in working with its communities to reduce health and income inequalities and improve community cohesion.