Connection is one of the key ingredients to the Growing Health Together ethos. As demonstrated in this diagram it all begins with a ‘seed’ and the seed that is sown is of
- connecting,
- listening,
- action
This represents how communities and health creation adapts and is not necessarily a linear process.
This ‘ingredient’ of connection is built through dedicating time and resources to build relationships, cultivating a culture of listening, recognising community members strengths and a commitment to shifting power and resources to enable communities to create health at a local level.
These connections come through:
- Community members & leaders
- Local authorities
- Voluntary sector
- Faith groups
- And many more!
Contributing to the active ingredients are forming a community of practice of NHS professionals who are passionate about bringing initiatives which look at prevention and health creation at a local level. Also, using their local knowledge to identify learning needs within their community of practice, building relationships and pursuing experiential learning.
As can be seen is this diagram the seed growth model is adaptive and generates community-led improvements to health and wellbeing which is supported by collaborating with statutory and non-statutory partners. This model repeats itself within the NHS community, at neighbourhood level between those who live and/or work in the area and the model gets shred across multiple neighbourhoods.