South Gloucestershire Prevention programme

Full project title: South Gloucestershire Prevention programme

Duration: 2023–October 2025

Project lead for CPHWB: Professor Jane Powell

Other CPHWB researchers:

• Dr Hamed Zandian
• Dr Emily Dodd

Research partner/collaborator: South Gloucestershire Council

Funder: Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board (ICB) (£2 million)

The programme supports the aims of South Gloucestershire’s Council Plan 2020 to 2024 including creating the best start in life for our children and young people, identifying and supporting those most in need and closing the inequality gap. It is made up of four core initiatives grouped by area of focus:

1. Start well

Start well projects help struggling families give their children the best start in life. They include a team of new family link workers to identify and support families at the earliest opportunity. The team will work with parents, carers and children and young people on improving school attendance and provide support for mental health issues.

2. Live well

Live well projects identify and help vulnerable residents as early as possible. Vulnerable residents include:

• people with complex needs
• those on lower incomes or who face financial challenges
• victims of discrimination, domestic or gender-based violence

3. Age well

Age well projects enable older people to stay healthy and independent for longer. They include a pilot project of village agents, where trusted community members make contact with elderly, isolated individuals in rural communities. The village agent’s role is to help gain access to services that will enhance such individuals’ wellbeing, safety or security. We have also partnered with Age UK to develop an Improving Homes and Wellbeing service. This service recognises the link between a safe, clean home environment and health, and the challenge that can become for people, as they age. It provides advice and practical assistance to help older people keep their home in good condition.

4. Community in action

The community in action project aims to strengthen community-based support networks across South Gloucestershire. It involves a new framework for how we work with town and parish councils, voluntary and community organisations based on the principles of asset-based community development. This framework helps to identify ways for communities to encourage a greater sense of pride and belonging, bringing local people together to care about their neighbours and look out for each other.

For further information about the project, please contact Dr Hamed Zandian (hamed.zandian@uwe.ac.uk).