“The most important things about our rides, other than getting women on bikes, is bringing communities together. We had women from all communities, Muslim, Sikh, LGBTQ+, Roma, Black, Christian on our rides, who formed connections and friendships across the communities they belong to.”
Waltham Forest Joy Riders project
Community Chest in North East London
We have piloted a community chest approach for social prescribing across each of the 7 boroughs of North East London. Each borough used a slightly different approach to implementing their community chest, ensuring that the funding priorities were aligned with the local population’s needs.
Over £500K has been allocated to 82 VCFSE organisations and the projects have ranged from delivering weekly basketball sessions for women, to funding community fridges to supporting the immediate pressure from the cost-of-living crisis.
Through the development of the community chest approaches within each borough, we have seen collaborative working between local authorities, the NHS and VCFSE organisations to help tackle health inequalities at a hyper-local level.
In Barking and Dagenham there was an ambition to devolve the fund to the VCFSE sector. As a result, the steering group for the community chest was entirely made up of VCFSE representatives with the Local Authority providing administrative support.
The steering group made a collective decision to undertake a participatory budgeting approach for allocating funding. Applicants were expected to submit an initial application form and then presented a 5-minute pitch to a consortium of other applicants at a participatory budgeting event. To decide on funding, all applicants took part in voting on the quality of the project.
The groups funded ranged from small charitable organisations and community interest companies to extremely small community groups that deliver activity on a part-time basis. Every funded group was a grassroots organisation with strong community connections. Some of these groups were previously unaware of social prescribing and had never received funding.
There were no specific funding priorities however applicants were expected to set out how their projects address unmet need. Some of the types of projects that were funded included creative and physical activities for young children and families, social activities for the elderly, community gardening, cooking activities and language activities for women whose second language is English.
The community chest approach in Barking and Dagenham had a wide range of impacts, which includes increasing capacity and skills of VCFSE organisations, improving the health and wellbeing of local residents, as well as improving partnership working between statutory partners and the VCFSE sector.
“‘When I was referred to Harmony House I was at a very low ebb, I was losing my eyesight and I was becoming isolated. I live alone and lockdown had hit me very hard. I was assigned to my Companion Lynda and the service I receive is irreplaceable. I look forward to my visits. All the staff are kind and they truly listen to me. I would recommend this service to anyone.”
Barking and Dagenham have secured continuation funding for their approach. Find out more about the pilot in the Barking and Dagenham impact report.
Havering delivered a traditional grant model whereby applications would be reviewed by a steering group and decisions made collectively. Havering took a unique approach to the community chest, by agreeing, to allow the fund not only Social Prescribing activities, but also those that Local Area Coordinators, or Health and Wellbeing coaches may refer onto.
A 3-month co-production process was followed with workshops to develop tools for use in setting up the community chest. Grassroots VCSE organisations were involved in workshops to discuss their experience of applying for bids and potential issues. Priority areas for funding were: the cost of living crisis, learning difficulties and disabilities, mental health and isolation, and long term conditions.
Havering received 29 applications for the community chest of which 15 organisations were funded. Every funded group was a grassroots organisation with strong community connections. Some of these groups were previously unaware of social prescribing and had never received funding from the Council.
The projects covered a wide range of activities for all ages. These included men’s walking group, support for parents of those living with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, drama group working with children and young people with learning disabilities, musical productions work with older population, befriending, counselling, mother and baby groups. Also support available for those affected by cost of living and positive social activity for LGBTQ, Asian and Black Ethnic Minority community.
The community chest approach in Havering had a wide range of impacts, which includes increasing capacity and skills of VCFSE organisations, improving the health and wellbeing of local residents, as well as raising awareness and understanding of social prescribing.
“I have never been to a more welcoming baby and toddler group. The staff are fantastic as are all the activities provided. Having had a “covid baby” I really struggled to reintegrate into the baby club world but I am so lucky to have been welcomed into this group”
Havering have secured continuation funding for their approach. The Havering impact report will be published soon.
Waltham Forest wanted to ensure that the community chest was co-produced, this was reflected in the make up of the steering group which had to have a minimum of 50% representation from VCSE members.
Once the steering group was formed, the group began working towards a traditional grant model whereby applications would be reviewed by the steering group and decisions made collectively. The steering group identified five priorities: cost of living, digital exclusion, mental health and loneliness, learning disabilities, and health access and health literacy.
Waltham Forest received 39 applications for the community chest of which twelve organisations were funded. The groups funded ranged from small charitable organisations and community interest companies to small voluntary groups.
Over 980 residents accessed the funded activities – some of the activities included: community support for people who had recovered from cancer, creative workshops for people suffering from mental health challenges, and a cycling club for women.
The community chest approach in Waltham Forest had a wide range of impacts, which includes increasing capacity and skills of VCFSE organisations, improving the health and wellbeing of local residents, as well as improving partnership working between statutory partners and the VCFSE sector.
“We have engaged with representatives from NHS Social Prescribing across the borough and attended a Social Prescribing team meeting. We are actively working with the team to explore opportunities for shared projects to benefit service users in the future. The project has helped to connect NHS Social Prescribing with homeless people in our borough.”
Waltham Forest have secured continuation funding for their approach. Find out more about the pilot in the Waltham Forest impact report.
City and Hackney delivered a traditional grant model whereby applications would be reviewed by a steering group and decisions made collectively.
More information on the City and Hackney community chest is coming soon
More information on the Newham community chest is coming soon.
Redbridge delivered a traditional grant model whereby applications would be reviewed by a steering group and decisions made collectively.
More information on the Redbridge community chest is coming soon.
Tower Hamlets delivered a traditional grant model whereby applications would be reviewed by a steering group and decisions made collectively.
More information on the Tower Hamlets community chest is coming soon.