Coordinating and Mobilising Cultural and Natural Assets to Combat Health Inequalities: From Local to National.
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Arts and Sciences
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely and disproportionately impacted vulnerable members of society, and highlighted significant inequalities in the UK. These structural inequalities are not new; The Marmot Review (Fair Society, Healthy Lives; 2010) demonstrated that health inequalities result from social and economic inequalities. Furthermore it is widely acknowledged that there is a social gradient to health with people living in the poorest areas experiencing significantly poorer health. In the ten years since this initial review, circumstances have not improved with the most recent Marmot Review (10 years On; 2020) noting that increases in life expectancy have slowed over the past decade, with the slowdown greatest in more deprived areas of the country.
Research into health inequalities over the past two decades has shed light into the role of community assets, sense of place and community engagement in tackling the major social determinants of health. In this project we will work closely with the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH), NHS England's Personalised Care Group (NHSE) and other regional and national partners to coordinate a national programme of research, focused on creating a comprehensive evidence base for how cultural, natural and other community assets (such a legal and advice services) can be better integrated into health, social care and local (authority) systems, to tackle the root causes of societal inequalities. The research will focus on the implementation of Integrated Care Systems in England, and analogous systems in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Integrated care systems (ICSs) are new partnerships between organisations that meet health, social care and other services in an area, alongside other community-based organisations. The devolved nations have similar such systems, and the move towards integrated systems in the UK offers an opportunity to rethink how communities can be restructured to place inequalities at the heart of statutory provision and systems, strategic planning, and health promotion, prevention and intervention strategies, such as social prescribing. This is particularly important in areas which are very deprived, scoring low on socio-economic indices and which are asset poor. It can be argued that very deprived areas will benefit more from an integrated approach to health and social care, as a key feature of such areas is the significantly greater proportion of the population who have complex needs and are using multiple health, care and other services, who are often referred to as 'revolving door service users'; namely those people who are experiencing the worst health inequalities.
By working in partnership with local, regional and national bodies we will amass a comprehensive evidence base offering new insights into how community assets can be repositioned to support communities and individuals facing severe inequalities in terms of mental and physical health, and social deprivation. Evidence syntheses, policy briefings, lobbying and a range of knowledge exchange activities will translate key learning from a series of test and pilot sites across the UK into actionable outputs directed at decision makers, such as Directors of Integrated Care Systems, key leaders in the NHS, Public Health England and local authorities, through to governments departments and arm's length bodies. We will use a hub and spokes approach for coordinating within the between test and pilot sites, supporting evidence gathering, communications and marketing, knowledge exchange and collaboration with key partners (such as NHSE, National Academy for Social Prescribing, and Arts Council England) to ensure community assets are revalued and better integrated into health systems across the UK to support levelling up agendas.
Research into health inequalities over the past two decades has shed light into the role of community assets, sense of place and community engagement in tackling the major social determinants of health. In this project we will work closely with the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH), NHS England's Personalised Care Group (NHSE) and other regional and national partners to coordinate a national programme of research, focused on creating a comprehensive evidence base for how cultural, natural and other community assets (such a legal and advice services) can be better integrated into health, social care and local (authority) systems, to tackle the root causes of societal inequalities. The research will focus on the implementation of Integrated Care Systems in England, and analogous systems in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Integrated care systems (ICSs) are new partnerships between organisations that meet health, social care and other services in an area, alongside other community-based organisations. The devolved nations have similar such systems, and the move towards integrated systems in the UK offers an opportunity to rethink how communities can be restructured to place inequalities at the heart of statutory provision and systems, strategic planning, and health promotion, prevention and intervention strategies, such as social prescribing. This is particularly important in areas which are very deprived, scoring low on socio-economic indices and which are asset poor. It can be argued that very deprived areas will benefit more from an integrated approach to health and social care, as a key feature of such areas is the significantly greater proportion of the population who have complex needs and are using multiple health, care and other services, who are often referred to as 'revolving door service users'; namely those people who are experiencing the worst health inequalities.
By working in partnership with local, regional and national bodies we will amass a comprehensive evidence base offering new insights into how community assets can be repositioned to support communities and individuals facing severe inequalities in terms of mental and physical health, and social deprivation. Evidence syntheses, policy briefings, lobbying and a range of knowledge exchange activities will translate key learning from a series of test and pilot sites across the UK into actionable outputs directed at decision makers, such as Directors of Integrated Care Systems, key leaders in the NHS, Public Health England and local authorities, through to governments departments and arm's length bodies. We will use a hub and spokes approach for coordinating within the between test and pilot sites, supporting evidence gathering, communications and marketing, knowledge exchange and collaboration with key partners (such as NHSE, National Academy for Social Prescribing, and Arts Council England) to ensure community assets are revalued and better integrated into health systems across the UK to support levelling up agendas.
Publications
Mughal R
(2022)
Rapid Evidence Review of Community Engagement and Resources in the UK during the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Can Community Assets Redress Health Inequities?
in International journal of environmental research and public health
Thomson L
(2023)
Volunteering for Wellbeing: Improving Access and Social Inclusion by Increasing the Diversity of Museum Volunteer Training for Public-facing Roles
in Museum and Society
Thomson L
(2023)
The Impact of Culture-, Health- and Nature-Based Engagement on Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Public Health Restrictions on Wellbeing, Social Connectedness and Loneliness during COVID-19: Quantitative Evidence from a Smaller- and Larger-Scale UK Survey
in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Thomson L
(2024)
Barriers and enablers of integrated care in the UK: a rapid evidence review of review articles and grey literature 2018-2022
in Frontiers in Public Health
Thomson LJ
(2021)
The role of cultural, community and natural assets in addressing societal and structural health inequalities in the UK: future research priorities.
in International journal for equity in health
Description | Partnership with the National Centre for Creative Health |
Organisation | National Centre for Creative Health |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The NNCH is the national partner in the Mobliling Community Asset to Tackle Health Inequalities Research programme |
Collaborator Contribution | The NCCH hosts 2 staff members employed as part of the partnership with a focus on research translation into health policy, and suporting the engagement of lived experience in the research programme |
Impact | The partnership is supporting the collation of research, policy and practice focused on producing a Review oi Creative Health |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Arts4Dementia Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Launch of Arts4Dementia's Arts4Brain Health SP report |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://arts4dementia.org.uk/our-presidents-blog/ |
Description | Chairing a Roundtable |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | National Centre for Creative Health: Creative Health Review - Roundtable on Cost and Value in Creative Health |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://ncch.org.uk/creative-health-review#:~:text=The%20National%20Centre%20for%20Creative,health%2... |
Description | Chairing a Roundtable |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | NCCH Creative Health Review: Health Inequalities Roundtable |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://ncch.org.uk/creative-health-review#:~:text=The%20National%20Centre%20for%20Creative,health%2... |
Description | Conference Organising Committee + Session Chair |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | International Social Prescribing Conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.socialprescribingnetwork.com/conference |
Description | Creative Lives Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Cross sector conference drawing together researchers, practitioners and people with lived experience - I was co-host and panelist |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/research/behavioural-science-and-health/resources/exp... |
Description | International Culture, Health and Wellbeing Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Largest international conference focusing on arts, creativity and health - invited panelist/chair |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/news/general-news/culture-health-and-wellbeing-internat... |
Description | Invited speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Dialogues for Democracy: Cultures and Ecologies in Crisis |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | National Academy for Social Prescirbing - Podcast on Prescription: What is the evidence for social prescribing? |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/resources/podcast-on-prescription-evidence/ |
Description | Invited speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | DEFRA/Natural England/NASP: Green SP Community of Practice Webinar |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance: Creative Health Quality Framework research workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/resources/creative-health-quality-framework |
Description | Invited speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | University of Cambridge: Equalities and Wellbeing Keynote Lecture |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/about-us/equality-inclusion-wellbeing/annual-equality-and-wellbeing-lectur... |
Description | Invited speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | University of London, School of Advanced Studies: Arts and Humanities: implications of the UK as a Science Superpower (Roundtable) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | NERC QUENCH Conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/engagement/quench-network/ |
Description | NHSE Personalised Care Social Prescirbing Link Worker Webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This talk described our social prescribing research and how SP tackles health inequalities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | National Academy for Social Prescribing; The Show |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | NASP Showcase event - I talked about the Academic Partners Collaborative and the evidence reviews we are conducting for NASP |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Podcast: Public Health Disrupted: How arts and creativity can tackle health inequalities? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A podcast for UCL Health of the Public's PH Distriupted series: How arts and creativity can tackle health inequalities? |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://soundcloud.com/uclsound/public-health-disrupted-how-can-arts-and-creativity-tackle-health-in... |
Description | Speaker and Chair for conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | DCMS/AHRC Valuing Culture and Heritage Capital Conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/culture-and-heritage-capital-portal#valuing-culture-and-heritage-capital... |
Description | UCL-National Trust Partnership Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Launch of UCL-NT Evidence Reviews: our talk focused on historic buildings and wellbeing |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Webinar speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | National Centre for Creative Health + Royal College of Occupational Therapists: Creative OT Webinar |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://ncch.org.uk/news/ncch-x-rcot-creative-ot-webinar |