Northwood Together Big Local

The neighbourhood

Northwood in Liverpool is a close-knit area with approximately 8,000 residents, a significant portion of whom live in housing association properties. The community faces significant socioeconomic diversity, with some parts more affluent and others facing severe economic challenges.

A key local asset is Northwood Community Centre, the main place for community activities, offering space for events, meetings, and various local group activities.

The context

Northwood is among the 10 per cent most deprived wards nationally according to the index of multiple deprivation, with 53.8 per cent of children and 46.4 per cent of older people experiencing poverty. Life expectancy is lower than national average, with women at 76.2 years and men at 72.4 years. Additionally, 34.8 per cent of residents have no qualifications, and there is a higher prevalence of cancers, heart disease, and respiratory diseases.

The area faces significant health inequalities, which are exacerbated by socioeconomic disparities in the community. The focus is on co-designing a delivery plan to improve health and wellbeing, addressing critical issues such as mental health, poverty and weight gain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, initiatives like hot meal deliveries, activity packs for different age groups, and a weight management programme called Shape Shifters were launched to tackle these needs effectively.

In June 2017, Northwood Together faced issues of underspending its Big Local budget by £600,000, leading to community disengagement. To combat this, the renewed aim was to understand and address the community's needs through active engagement and new initiatives.

The model

The work is driven by a comprehensive community engagement approach based on community development principles, practices, and values. This involves listening to the community's concerns and building trust through open communication and creative engagement methods, emphasising a community development approach to health and the wider determinants of health. The initiative is highly relational and led by people from the local community.

Engaging the community through fun activities, such as dressing up for events, and organising regular activities like coffee afternoons and trips. These activities are designed to be friendly, accessible, and feel 'by and for the community,' fostering a welcoming environment for all participants.

Initiatives like the Shape Shifters programme address specific needs such as weight management, providing gym memberships, nutritionist access, and personal training. These programmes are tailored to meet the community's health needs effectively.

Northwood Together plays a crucial role in connecting people with essential services, including signposting to GPs for health issues, referring to debt management services, and providing job training opportunities. This holistic approach ensures residents receive comprehensive support beyond the community initiatives. Northwood Together also provides an accessible entry point to these statutory services that residents might not otherwise engage with.

Collaborations with local organisations like Liverpool Football Club and Morrisons have been crucial. For example, Liverpool Football Club donates 75 meals weekly, which are delivered to local people, enhancing community support and engagement.

The participants include residents, volunteers, board members and partner organisations. Beneficiaries range from children to older people, reflecting the diverse needs of the community and ensuring that the programs are inclusive and beneficial for all ages.

What makes this effective and resilient

At the core of Northwood Together's success is its community development approach. This model is non-judgemental, meets people where they are, and is based on relationships and trust. The initiative supports individuals in taking positive steps in their lives with the help of peer support and fostering a sense of belonging and connection.

The governance structure includes a board of full-time members and volunteers, allowing for diverse input and shared responsibility. Membership of the Board is drawn from neighbourhood residents, which ensures that the programmes are neighbourhood-focused.

Examples of effective working have built confidence in the model for board members and the neighbourhood as a whole:

• Shape Shifters Programme: Significant health improvements among participants, such as a collective weight loss of 2,400 pounds and lowered diabetes and cholesterol levels.
• Mental health support: All participants reported improvements in mental health following the Northwood Together supported mental health support offer.
• Community activities: Activities like Fruity Friday provided nutritional support and a social outlet.
• Training and volunteering opportunities: Providing training and volunteering experiences to help individuals move back into education or employment.
• Sustainability: The grassroots involvement of volunteers and board members ensures that the work is deeply connected to the neighbourhood needs. Diverse funding sources, including grants and donations, support financial stability.

"People do trust us. We are all volunteers; we live down the corner, we live the same lives they do, we know their families."
Debi O'Shea, Chair, Northwood Together

What makes this challenging

• Funding and resources: Securing continuous funding and finding a permanent home for their operations remain significant challenges. 
• Sustaining engagement: Maintaining community engagement and trust requires ongoing effort and resources to keep programmes appealing, relevant and responsive to needs.
• Scale of need: Despite their efforts, there are still many individuals and families in need of support, the scale of work required can be overwhelming.
• Challenges with statutory services: There is a lack of trust and feelings of intimidation toward statutory services among residents, which limits their engagement with the local statutory hub. In response, statutory services are collaborating with Northwood Together to set up a community-led pop-up shop in a disused location.

Impact and outcomes

Quantitative and qualitative evidence

• Mental health assessments: Regular mental health assessments show improvements among participants.
• Community feedback: Direct feedback from the community and success stories highlight the programme’s impact.
• Surveys and feedback forms: Regular surveys and feedback forms collect data on participant experiences and outcomes.
• Health and wellbeing metrics: Specific health metrics, such as weight and cholesterol levels, are tracked for participants in health-related programmes.
• Qualitative insights: In-depth conversations with participants provide detailed insights into personal transformations and the broader impact on their lives.
• Community engagement: Monitoring the level of community engagement and participation in events and programmes assesses the reach and inclusiveness of the initiatives.

"People who were in the previous programme became team leaders and some had never worked before, some became volunteers, trained with us and moved on to jobs."
Lisa Cover, Community Development Manager