START DATE AND DURATION: November 2022Actions on the social determinants of health are needed to tackle disparities including a focus on upstream interventions to improve population health. Interest in community-centred and asset-based approaches such as community development and, the more individual and patient focused social prescribing, has been growing - especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
We aim to build an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral Well Communities Research Consortium working collaboratively and inclusively to research and develop ways to scale-up, spread and embed community and asset-based approaches within new Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) within and outside of London.
The ambition for our Consortium is grounded in evidence which demonstrates that community assets such as strong community networks and groups, arts and cultural activities, parks and green spaces are associated with a wide range of health and social benefits. However, we also know that engagement in arts and cultural activities is inequitable and that given the health and wellbeing benefits - there is a need to promote equality of access to community assets such as arts and cultural activities in order to address health disparities.
This Research Consortium will explore how local health and care systems can better interface with, develop and mobilise community assets to improve health and reduce health disparities in two contrasting geographical contexts.
