We’ve had lots of interest recently in our community-engagement programme, which to date has had a significant impact and was shortlisted for the Food & Drink Federation’s Community Partner award last year. What makes our programme unique is CHESS™ (Community Health Engagement Survey Solutions)* – an innovative, evidence-based approach that shifts decision-making to local communities by engaging them as ‘citizen scientists’ in an investigation about their health and the built environment.

The strength of evidence collected by UK communities through CHESS has led to:

• Over £2 million awarded to communities from external funders to implement proposed solutions.

• 14,000 healthy meals for children provided by Morgan Stanley in east London, based on C3 and the community’s recommendations using CHESS.

• 2 playgrounds co-designed with local parents, including transforming a disused carpark.

• One-third of Halifax’s Ovenden population engaged (4,000 community members) and partnerships with 18 local organisations. Interventions included classes about cooking, gardening, and wellbeing; community clean-ups; dance sessions; breakfast and tea clubs; geocaching; sports/activity sessions.

• One-third of Girvan’s Glendoune population engaged (1,000 community members) resulting in the refurbishment and revitalisation of the community centre that was previously set to close. It has improved community resilience and community members feel more confident, with developed networks and partnerships.

Watch the video above for an overview about our community-engagement programme or download this leaflet. And contact us at info@c3health.org to learn more about how C3 can partner with your community to help make it easier to live healthy lives.

Related posts:

Community engagement in Tower Hamlets

Video: Engaging communities in designing healthy environments

Exploring our own backyard: CHESS in Southwark