Our Approach

Altogether Better is working with others to articulate the rationale and build the evidence base for the Community Health Champion approach.  Through this we are able to demonstrate a significant impact on health and wellbeing and have the potential to reduce costs to the health system and beyond.

We have built a comprehensive evidence building framework for our Big Lottery Funded Programme.

The evaluation tools and resources we have produced so far include:

1. Community Health Champions   (summary version)
2. Empowerment in Health & Wellbeing (summary version)
3. Mental Health and Employment  (summary version)

  • Two independently conducted thematic evaluation reports and summaries on the themes of Community Health Champions and Empowerment  and Mental Health and Employment (by the centre for Health Promotion at Leeds Metropolitan University). 
  • A collection of Amazing Stories from our Community Workplace Health Champions highlighting their individual journeys.  These can be accessed here.
  • A summary of the findings of a qualitative analysis showing how Community Health Champions influence social capital in communities. An overview of the themes identified has also been produced by Sarah Frost, Altogether Better Learning Network Development Manager.  Sarah's blog on social capital and well-being contains further information.
  • A Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of a series of case studies of Altogether Better project beneficiaries has been conducted by YHEC (York Health Economics Consortium). SROI is a process that helps measure the social, environmental and economic value created by organisations and the SROI case studies help us to illustrate a measure of social impact created by our projects. A presentation on the initial findings from this work will be available shortly.            

 

resources

Quick links to some of our most recent resource collections:

achievements

Winner of the Prime Minister's Big Society Award 2011

Finalist in the National Lottery Awards 2011, Best Health Project

 

be inspired

“I am now more confident, my kids are healthier and as a family we are doing more cooking together ”
Community Health Champion

“I now have more knowledge about healthy eating. I can now help people to make a difference to their lifestyle and I feel quite privileged to be involved with something that is often a very personal issue to some people.”
                      Community Health Champion

“I find now that I’ve got something back into my life something that I find particularly rewarding for me. It’s given me fulfilment and made me feel more useful and valued. From a mental health point of view it’s made me feel happier, I’ve gained as I have also had interaction from other people.”
Community Health Champion

“It’s been really nice to feel much more involved with things that are happening in Bradford which is where I live. I’ve also met loads of interesting people.”
Community Health Champion

“In terms of my own health and well-being, I wouldn’t say much has changed other than the satisfaction of being able to continue helping others in ways that could help improve their quality of life e.g. learning new skills, meeting and making new friends and being considered as part of a community that cares.”
Community Health Champion

“My time is now being fulfilled in a constructive way instead of doing nothing. I have many skills that I can utilise to benefit myself and the living area where I belong”
Community Health Champion

“Since I was trained as a community health educator, I have found my life changed as I became empowered to face both family and work related issues.”
Community Health Educator

“I have gained the ability to be able to voice my opinions and feelings on difficult situations without constraints“
Community Health Champion

“I've learnt loads about healthy cookery ...I often test all the recipes on my friends so I'm teaching them too!”
Community Health Champion

“Being a Community Health Champion has been a great experience for my own personal and professional development”
Community Health Champion

“As a Community Health Champion, I get a big buzz by helping people. Sometimes it can’t be measured and the help and support is sometimes not even recognised, but I know I have helped make a difference to an individual and they feel better for it”
Community Health Champion

“No two sessions are ever the same - it's always really interesting and I learn something new every time!”
Community Health Champion

“Being a part of Altogether Better has given me a new perspective of the community I have learned to love and associate with”
Community Health Champion

“As a relatively new Community Health Champion, I have found the experience of meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and cultures very interesting and rewarding”
Community Health Champion

“I enjoyed the training and am pleased that I can pass on health information to family, friends and at work.”
Community Health Champion

“The training and involvement in the programme built my confidence; it allowed me to be able to speak and signpost people to access health improvement services available in their area.”
Community Health Champion

“I felt part of the network of champions which is reassuring and supported my ongoing development. I have moved on to become an ambassador within the local PCT and now play a full part in the health services within my area through the local patient group”
Community Health Champion

“I’m feeling much fitter than I previously was and it’s a real buzz getting other people to be active it’s a good way of getting people together.”
Community Health Champion

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facts & figures

Over 15,000 Community and Work Place Health Champions across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Reaching and supporting over 90,000 people to get more active, eat well, and feel better in their communities and work places