Community Development

Communities Defining their Priorities
The work of Lothian Community Health Initiatives' Forum and of member organisations is grounded in a community development approach to health. This means involving communities in defining their own health needs and encouraging people to act together to address these, both through developing resources within the community, and influencing mainstream services and policies to be more appropriate to local need.

The Social Model of Health
Underpinning this approach is a commitment to a holistic definition of health, which takes into account the social, environmental, and economic context of people's lives and the subsequent impact on their health.

The Strength of Communities
Community Health Initiatives have a wealth of experience of working with people in communities to enable them to express their concerns and work for change. The projects recognise the strength of communities and value the expert knowledge people in communities have developed through years of experience.

The projects play a significant role in tackling health inequalities. By focussing on issues identified by communities and pioneering new approaches to health, they generate health benefits both at individual and community level. Research shows that involvement in Community Health Initiatives results in individual health gains such as eating healthier diets, stopping smoking, exercising more, maximising their income and becoming involved in social networks.*

Community Development is, in itself, a strategy to recognise, understand and reduce inequalities in health.

* Insights: Case Studies of Community Development Health Projects in Scotland, Kennedy & Grove, HEBS, CHEX , Glasgow Healthy Cities Partnership.