Out and about: Dundee Health and Wellbeing Networks
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 8th January 2025
Keeping up to date with what community-led health organisations and practitioners are doing to improve people’s health and wellbeing is an important part of the job for the CHEX team – the Community Health Exchange.
Recently, CHEX were out and about in Dundee, which has three Health and Wellbeing Networks covering the west, east and central parts of the city.
The three networks are made up of a range of different members from community activists, community organisations, voluntary sector staff and volunteers and practitioners employed by the local authority and NHS. What they all have in common is that they work together in partnership at a community level to address health inequalities in Dundee.
Hearing about the work the organisations are carrying out provided some great examples of community-led health activities, including the organisation of family-friendly activities and trips, a new and increasingly successful men’s health initiative, and a green health project.
There was more inspiration in a powerful presentation from the Charleston Health Issues in the Community Group, who explored their individual journeys and highlighted the fundamental importance of community facilities as a vital place for people to access information, services and support.
These examples show the impact that community-led health work can have on the health and wellbeing of individuals, groups and the wider community, when resources are invested to support and develop local skills, knowledge and confidence.
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