Holistic Health Evaluation

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Holistic Health was designed to enable local community-based organisations, such as community centres, charities and youth work centres, to more effectively address the health and wellbeing needs of their members/participants. This was achieved through the facilitated delivery of a codesigned 12-week physical activity, mental health and nutrition program.

The intervention was a pilot project which tested a new participatory method of community sports and health delivery and took place in the first half of 2022.

Project beneficiaries were primarily from groups who experienced health inequalities and/or socioeconomic barriers, including disabled and older people, individuals from the BAME community, carers and unemployed persons.

Holistic Health has been found to have resulted in several positive outcomes both in relation to the health/wellbeing of project participants and to the capability and capacity of host organisation.

The Holistic Health project has been a successful trial of a new methodology to expand participation in health and wellbeing related activities, to work in partnership with local organisations, improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

There has been a successful experience with co-production and the objectives identified by participants at the outset were found to be achieved. Holistic Health presents a novel and more participatory approach to health and wellbeing than standard offers.

It is also recognised by national policy that it is only with meaningful service user participation that the necessary shifts can happen in terms of addressing health inequalities and social mobility. This is particularly relevant as Government, DCMS and Sport England look to improve how they work with partner organisations through ‘Levelling Up’ and ‘Social Prescribing’ agendas.

There is the potential that Holistic Health can provide such a model and one that can be packaged and delivered outside of the North East region.