Someone’s health is not simply based on their physical health, but instead determined by many factors. These include, your employment or housing status, the food you eat, your mental health or whether you have support networks. Providing opportunities that improve the social, as well as physical factors, can have a profound impact on wellbeing. At Good Beans we have been lucky enough to work on many projects that approach ‘whole person’ health in creative ways.
Some of Good Beans’ health projects
- Health Equals is a coalition of 27 charities, think tanks and businesses urging action to address Britain’s declining health. Their #GetWellSoonBritain campaign was taken to the party conferences this year, calling for the government to enact a new ‘Bill of Health’ to reduce health inequalities in the UK. Good Beans was asked to drum up support on the ground, inviting as many local community organisations to come down and share the message. It was fantastic to learn about just some of the incredible programmes and groups happening in Liverpool, and we were glad to be able to encourage them to share the campaign.
- City and Hackney Neighbourhoods is an NHS programme that works in partnership with community groups across eight east London ‘Neighbourhoods’. Local people with complex health needs can be quickly referred to a mix of services tailored to them, thanks to direct communication between medical and social organisations. Good Beans recently created their new branding and web design, showcasing beautiful video and interviews by Yarrow films. Now Key workers are finally able to direct people to the Neighbourhoods website where they can find out more, learn about what’s going on in their area, and how to get involved.
- Nature’s Way is the culmination of years of research conducted by students at the Royal College of Art in partnership with Sheffield University and The Mindkind Projects. They found that connecting with nature is important for health, but that many don’t have the access to green spaces or activities to do so. We developed the Nature’s Way platform as a way to connect existing community groups, share knowledge and resources, and inspire people to learn the benefits of nature themselves.
- GP websites are a vital resource, yet often badly serve patients. St Paul’s Way Medical Centre wanted a new website that put their local community first, and could offer more than typical GP services. Our design is highly accessible, with ‘explainer text’ to help guide the user, and a simple way to toggle between languages. Patients can now register online, book appointments and learn about local activities and community organisations that might be of interest to them. The site was recently audited and scored in the top 30% of GP surgery websites in London.
- The Grace Network is a social enterprise incubator, supporting and funding incredible businesses in Gloucestershire. At the core of their work is Brimscombe Mill – a is a welcoming space for people to meet, eat and visit the different businesses. Not only does it provide affordable goods and services and employment opportunities, but the hub has also quickly become a thriving centre for the community, contributing to the health and wellbeing of local residents. We are proud to be working with them as they embark on an exciting period of growth – watch this space! And if you’re in Stroud, go grab a coffee and see for yourself.
Working in community health? Get in touch and see how we can support you.