Background

Local people have been at the heart of Dundee Healthy Living Initiative since its inception. The DHLI predecessor, the Community Development and Health Project supported 1,400 residents from disadvantaged areas to take part in community health needs investigations as far back as 1998, where residents were given the opportunity to identify their own health needs and solutions. The Big Lottery Fund application developed in 2000 – 2002 to increase the size and reach of the project in was a partnership effort to address the issues raised in these surveys. Community representatives sat on the bid development group, which was successful in attracting £1million of Lottery funding to Dundee.

Local people help direct the project formally and informally and volunteers are an integral part of the workforce. Mental, emotional and social wellbeing are recognised as being as important as lifestyle behaviours, and the root causes of poor health are understood and acted upon wherever possible. Evidence, research and evaluations carried out on the work of the DHLI internally and externally over the past 5 years have clearly shown that the community development approach is critical in achieving the health outcomes desired by all partners.

Being community led has huge advantages. Activities respond to local need so are well attended, assumptions are not made on what is best for individuals and communities, staff and project users have egalitarian, trust generating relationships, and utilising volunteers means that activities are more sustainable and owned by the community.

In addition, the project is involved at a local and national level to help influence health services and policies. The aim is that community led approaches will be funded in recognition of the significant part they play in achieving national targets and priorities. Involvement with national partners such as Chex, the Scottish Community Development Centre and the Healthy Living Centre Alliance has helped take the community led health agenda forward and paid dividends in the quest to sustain local projects.

The lessons are that community led health organisations have to work at every level – with their beneficiaries and communities, delivering the goods at a local level; with local partners and funders to promote their work and negotiate funding; and at a national level to ensure that the Government recognises and integrates community led approaches into national planning processes.

The Community Sub Group

The Community Sub Group was formed in 2004 and continues to go from strength to strength. The group is made up of a wide range of project users from across the city and their main aim is to:

Influence the work and priorities of the DHLI Raise awareness of the DHLI and its benefits Develop and links and dialogue with service providers and planners Ensure the community has a voice in decision-making processes

The reasons it is important to have local people involved are to:

• Make sure local people identify their own health needs and solutions
• Ensure local people take control of issues affecting their health and wellbeing
• Acknowledge that local people have the skills, enthusiasm and commitment to help tackle health inequalities issues
• Foster better partnership working and public involvement
• Support collective action for improved health

The Community Sub Group meets once a month for business meetings but is involved in lots of events, locally and nationally. Travel expenses and crèche costs are covered by the DHLI and a light lunch is provided before business meetings. The group participates in training and team building sessions, and is often used as a forum for discussion and consultation by partner organisations.

What you can gain…

Being a Community Sub Group member not only benefits the project, service providers and your community – it can also benefit you! Our members come from all walks of life and have found that by playing an important role in the committee they have gained confidence, independence, a purpose and a role in the community.

• “I have gained a lot of knowledge about what happens in the CSG. I have gained a lot more confidence and overcome my fears and barriers with mental, physical and emotional issues. I have gained new friends, a routine and a purpose…”
  
  
• “As I have given more back to the group, I have personally developed, grown and discovered new skills…”



• “I have met new people and I get to have a say about issues in my community…”

Health Network

Community Health Workers support general health issues groups across the city and members have participated in a wide range of training and awareness-raising sessions. These groups act as a springboard for new ideas and discussions and, although the group members do not attend formal Community Sub Group meetings, they are keen to be involved in decisions affecting the project. Project staff update members on project developments and seek advice and suggestions where appropriate. The Health Network is an important extension of the input of the Community Sub Group.

Open Events

Open events have take place in all communities to identify local health needs, bring information to local people and to consult on a number of identified areas. Topics have included NHS Tayside's Health Inequalities Strategy, sexual health services for young people, GP registration and mental well being.

The following table shows where events took place in Year 1 and how many people have attended:

Open events take place in localities on a regular basis to further assess and respond to local need. They allow the project to engage with the wider community on health issues and take place in each community around twice a year.

Partnership Agreement

This document, which was agreed by the BLF and all partners, demonstrated that local people would be involved as equal partners in the HLI decision-making process through local health forums and direct representation within the management structure The Partnership Agreement outlines the decision-making process, communication, reporting responsibilities and conflict resolution.

Training and Support Plan

This details the process that the HLI undertakes with local people who have been identified as having an interest in helping to direct and manage the work of the project. This includes training needs assessments, opportunities for formal and informal training and support from HLI staff, relevant officers and Management Group members. The plan recognises that people have different levels of ability and interest, and the way that community involvement develops will be shaped by local people themselves.

Plan to Address Needs of Particular Groups

This document outlines the project approach in terms of reaching out to people with particular needs, specifically those from ethnic minority communities and those with a disability. The project focuses on integration and makes every effort to ensure that everyone living within a community can access its activities. Its activities are low cost or no cost, crèche is provided when necessary and all activities are offered in local venues with disabled access if possible. The project links with specialist organisations such as the Interpretation Service to target materials and sessions at ethnic minority groups.