Case studies

Safe Soulmates is a friendship organisation for adults who have additional needs including autistic adults and adults with a learning disability.  It runs social events and can support individuals to form romantic relationships if there is a mutual connection. This case study forms part of the What Good Looks Like report on people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Whilst COVID-19 is having significant impacts on the lives of residents and the city region of Greater Manchester as a whole, we know that the nature and extent of these impacts are not being evenly experienced across the population. National research into these issues exists but lacks the level of detail authorities in Greater Manchester knew they needed to identify those affected most, the issues they face, the support they need, and do determine how best communications and support should be targeted.

The Integrated Community Response (ICR) service is one such example, where Salford Council is working closely with 42nd Street, CAMHS and Salford Mind.

Author Professor Bengt Lindstrom MD PhD DrPH is Professor of Salutogenesis and Health Promotion at the Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenberg, and Director of Health Promotion Research at the Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki. This case study is an example of the practical use of asset-based approaches in communities.

Sandwell has a network of community leaders to promote vaccination; follow-up calls are also being made to those who refuse a jab; early data suggests there is little difference in uptake between ethnic groups.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has worked with Alcohol Concern to support the most difficult, hard-to-reach drinkers.

Sandwell MBC has partnered with Alcohol Change UK to run a project aimed at the most change-resistant drinkers. It targets those who are alcohol dependent, a burden on public service and not engaging with treatment, by surrounding them with support.

Summary Sandwell Council and Sandwell Primary Care Trust (PCT) have created the Sandwell Healthy Urban Development Unit (SHUDU). This is a forum for officers and members to coordinate and integrate spatial planning and efforts to reduce health inequalities.

To ensure good uptake in black and ethnic minority communities, the council has worked closely with its communities, training local people to become vaccine advocates and running mobile pop-up clinics.

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.