1. 1. Community development
  2. 2. Health creation and community development
  3. 3. Food clubs
  4. 4. Food banks

2. Health creation and community development

The work of the Community Development Team has become more closely aligned with our health colleagues as we come to recognise the impact social inequalities have on health outcomes. Since the COVID pandemic, we have supported public health initiatives as well as community based projects in East Surrey Place and Surrey Downs.

Growing Health Together

Through funding from East Surrey Place, the Community Development Team has been working closely with local GPs to support residents with creating projects, events and activities that focus on tackling health inequalities and improving long-term physical and mental wellbeing. Growing Health Together is a place-based approach to prevention and health creation in East Surrey.

Our community development workers have been focusing on the health inequalities we see in our most vulnerable neighbourhoods. They are embedded in these communities and have been able to support local GPs to engage with residents to develop projects that bring people together and create healthy places to live. From a community garden to a men’s shed, these projects are having a positive impact.

Watch the video to find out more:

Health and Wellbeing Impact Report

Download our Health and Wellbeing Impact Report 2024 (PDF)

Other projects

Hearing the Young People of Preston football project

Work to create healthy communities includes children and young people and this grassroots football project has had an impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of participants as well as reducing anti-social behaviour around the leisure centre.

Community Health Champions in Merstham

This initiative has led to 20 active community members being trained and supported to offer basic wellbeing information and signposting. The project is funded by the Mental Health Investment Fund and delivered by Merstham Community Facility Trust.

Making Every Contact Count

The Community Development team is helping to roll out this approach to behaviour change that uses the millions of day-to-day interactions that organisations and individuals have with other people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.  We're training other teams within the Council, as well as volunteers and staff working in the community to make every contact count.

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