Our Approach

We believe that empowerment is key to improving health and well-being as it is fundamentally about increasing individuals and communities control over lives and their health. The term empowerment is used in many ways and contexts, however the Altogether Better Programme understands empowerment as a process and an outcome; where individuals and context – environmental, organisational and the system are all changing. Individual empowerment is about people having a sense of control over their lives through building people's confidence, boosting their self esteem, developing their coping mechanisms or enhancing their personal skills.

Having a sense of control is important as it has a direct impact on mental and physical health.  Community empowerment is about allowing people to take control of the decisions that influence their lives and health. It involves communities becoming more organised and ultimately taking action for social change.

Altogether Better specifically articulates its empowerment approach through three key component parts. These are; building knowledge and awareness, increasing self esteem, confidence and social networks and finally challenging culture and opening up the system.

Altogether Better has built a Community Health Champion approach which has overarching broad principles and stages but which enables local activities to develop in a way that is tailored to the local context and community needs, opportunities and aspirations.

Within the approach four key steps have been identified:

  1. Engagement and recruitment of individuals from the target communities through a range of techniques including through existing community infrastructure, publicity and through word of mouth
  2. Training and support which is flexible according to the individual and community needs, context and aspirations
  3. Flexible support for the individual to carry out volunteer activities using their own skills and ability to relate to their communities influencing friends, families and wider communities.
  4. Supporting individuals to carry on along pathways to further education, employment and enterprise.

Our approach

Altogether Better Voices PublicationAt the heart of Altogether Betters’ Empowerment model is the concept that community health champions can be equipped with the knowledge, confidence and skills to make a difference in their communities. 

Community Health Champions, from a range of different communities and target groups, receive training and support from the local Altogether Better projects to enable them to carry out voluntary activities in workplaces and neighbourhoods.

From this, Community Health Champions are gaining personal benefits from involvement which lead them to inspire and support others. Please refer to our film and amazing story resources.

Download the Altogether Better Voices From Experience Publication from our Resource & Publications section.

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

forums

community forums

mailing list

Subscribe to the Altogether Better newsletter

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