Growing Health Together

Place-based approaches to health offer a way of addressing the underlying causes of inequalities in health status, access to care and wider determinants of health. Growing Health Together (‘GHT’) is a programme that promotes partnership with communities to co-create an environment where health is improved. The initiative prioritises focuses on the assets of the community – the challenges and opportunities – and on encouraging the collaboration and empowerment of people living and working in East Surrey to improve their own health and wellbeing. Visit Growing Health Together for further information.

There is limited robust evidence on the effectiveness of place-based approaches as well as a lack of understanding about the ‘active ingredients’ that contribute to successful schemes. This study therefore explores the implementation and impact of GHT to identify the facilitators and barriers to success.

The CHSS team are collaborating with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Primary and Community Health Services team on this study. The work is further supported and complemented by the NIHR ARC KSS Public Health theme.

This research is funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey, Sussex. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.