Altogether Better

 

An Introduction to Altogether Better

“Our ultimate aim and shared ambition is to develop an evidence-based model of community empowerment that will have a significant and sustainable impact, not only in Yorkshire and the Humber but on a national level”
Alyson McGregor and Roz Davies
Programme Directors
Executive Summary 2008/2009

Launched in 2008, Altogether Better is a five year regional-local programme designed to deliver innovative techniques to empower communities to improve their health and well-being. With £6.8m funding from the Big Lottery Well-Being Fund, the programme focuses on meeting an array of key principles designed to tackle health inequalities.

Altogether Better aims to:

  • Deliver in all our local areas with a focus on Community Health Champions and mental health and employment, targeting over 15,000 beneficiaries and 70,000 indirect beneficiaries
  • Facilitate a Learning Network aimed at sharing intelligence, experience and learning across our projects
  • Build partnerships consisting of local communities, third sector, local government, PCTs, universities and regional agencies and networks including NHS, Government Office Yorkshire and Humber (GOYH) and Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP)
  • Make a contribution to key regional and national policy developments including 'empowerment', reducing health inequalities, mental health and employment and social enterprise

Altogether Better Projects

The Altogether Better Programme is made up of a diverse portfolio of 16 projects. These projects are spread over 14 local strategic partnerships and aim to help individuals and communities across the Yorkshire and Humber region to:

  • Eat more healthily
  • Be more physically active
  • Improve their mental health

Further information about the:Altogether Better Projects

Altogether Better Learning Network

The 16 Altogether Better projects also make up the Altogether Better Learning Network which is facilitated by Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory. The Learning Network seeks to establish a regional network of shared intelligence, experience and learning on well-being.

Further information about the:Altogether Better Learning Network - Generating and Sharing Knowldege on Well-being

Community Health Champions

On a regional and national level, the Altogether Better Programme is championing the voice of the Community Health Champion. The role of a Community Health Champion is to support people in their community to make the health and lifestyle changes they want to make. This may mean supporting members to take more exercise, eat a healthy diet on a budget or simply to have more fun.

On 10th November 2009, the Altogether Better Programme worked in conjunction with the Department of Health on a national Community Health Champions event which focused on a range of aspects surrounding community participation and empowerment. To access the details of the day, including the contributions from the speakers, visit: http://www.cynergyevents.co.uk/chc/. An event report will available to download shortly.

We have a number of short films which focus on the work and impact of Workplace and Community Health Champions. Please click here to view the films.

Amazing Stories

Amazing Stories are a collection of 6 case studies from the Altogether Better Projects. Each case study focuses on one Community Health Champion and details their personal journey as well as the positive ways they have impacted on the health of their community and/or workplace. Amazing Stories

Altogether Better National News

In response to the Department of Health asking the Altogether Better Programme to take a lead on Connecting and showcasing Community Health Champions from around the UK, we have launched this first issue of our national newsletters. In a time of significant external change and challenge it will be essential that we work together to pool our knowledge, resources and voices so please send your contributions and ideas for the newsletter to altogether.better@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk

"I am very pleased to introduce the first issue of Altogether Better National News. It has been published to put a national spotlight on the great potential of community empowerment to bring about improved health and wellbeing across the UK, so please read it and get involved."
Martin Gibbs,
Local Government and Communities Manager,
Health Inequalities Unit,
Department of Health

Key Resources and Links

  1. Altogether Better Programme Background
  2. About our Projects
  3. Resources for projects
  4. Altogether Better Learning Network
  5. Events
  6. Alltogether Better - Evaluation and Research Resources
  7. Website Links
  8. Publications and Presentations

 

Contacts

For further information about the Altogether Better Programme, please contact a member of the team:

Sarah McCormack- Projects Officer
Tel: 0113 2952134
Email: sarah.mccormack@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk

Mandy Driver - Programme Manager
Tel: 0113 2952134
Email: mandy.driver@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk

Rhian Harding - Strategy & Partnerships Manager
Email: Rhian.harding@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk

Sarah Frost - Learning Network Development Manager
Tel: 01904 567963
Mob:
Email: sef503@york.ac.uk sef503@york.ac.uk

Programme Directors
Alyson McGregor - alyson.mcgregor@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk
Roz Davies (on maternity leave)

Last Updated: Tuesday, 27th July 2010

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