Community Controlled Housing Associations: Supporting health & well-being in local

communities

Dr Colleen RowanMembership & Policy Officer

Glasgow & West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations

• GWSF – 69 members in the west of Scotland

• 50 in Glasgow with over 60,000 properties

• CCHAs are now the largest landlord grouping in Glasgow

Some illustrations: physical regeneration

Timeline•1970s to date: regeneration of inner city neighbourhoods•Late 1980s to date: regeneration of poor quality, low demand municipal housing•Late 1990s to date: large scale transfers to CCHAs, sometimes linked to area regeneration • 2009-11: Glasgow SST programme: 19,000 houses, biggest ever boost to local community ownership anywhere in the UK – with overwhelming tenant support in ballots

Community regeneration by CCHAsDrivers are the nature of our communities, community aspiration, our capacity to deliver change

Sports facilities

Job Creation

Social isolation among older peopleCommunity Facilities

Workspaces

Community-led solutionsPartnerships – community, public services, third sectorPhysical presence, resources, relationships of trust

Affordable child care

Community arts

Affordable furniture

Community cohesionAccess to learning

Communities health and well-being

“People create places, and places create people.” (McIntyre and Ellaway, 2000)

“Neighbourhood is not simply a ‘passive crucible’ where health happens.”(Davison et al, 2008)

Material pathways Social pathways Psychosocial pathwaysCATALYSTS HousingLayout/designGreen-spacePlay areasWalking/cycling pathsProvision of local servicesLocal economy 

CATALYSTS Social cohesionSocial capitalSocial networksCommunity participationCommunity engagementArea reputationCultural factors (unemployment,ASB, role-models)

CATALYSTS Perceptions of neighbourhood Perceptions of self Sense of belongingSocial connectionsInvolvement in the communityPerceptions of area reputationPerceptions of social status withinCommunity 

MECHANISMS Biological processesStress processSocial interactionHealth behaviours* 

MECHANISMS Biological processesStress processSocial interactionHealth behaviours

MECHANISMS Biological processesStress processSocial interactionHealth behaviours

POSITIVE OR NEGATIVEOUTCOMES Physical healthPsychosocial healthHealth behaviours

POSITIVE OR NEGATIVEOUTCOMES Physical healthPsychosocial healthHealth behaviours

POSITIVE OR NEGATIVEOUTCOMES Physical healthPsychosocial healthHealth behaviours

Health pathways in communities(Colleen Rowan, 2010)

CCHAs – supporting health and well-being

• Important role HAs play in residents’ day day-to-day lives

• ‘Reach’ in their communities

• Community anchors

• Wider role activities

• Innovation

• Flexibility

• Partnership working

Moving forward – opportunities & challenges

Opportunities• CCHAs situated at the nexus

of health & place• Already act as health & well-

being intermediaries through provision of diverse range of services/activities

• Potential for CCHAs to be an integral part of new preventative & community-based strategies

• Eager to embrace new ways of partnership working

Challenges• Providing evidence about what

we do

• Willingness to adapt

• Demonstrating flexibility

• Convincing others

• Support from government

Ardenglen – Volunteering Project

Volunteering Project• Regeneration strategy

• Community hall

• 20 volunteers/over the last 3 years

• Health & well-being impacts for volunteers

• Increased confidence & assertiveness

• 2 volunteers moved into jobs from long-term unemployment

• Number of volunteers have reduced (or stopped) smoking & are more physically active

What we’ve been involved in

• Re-shaping care for older people

• Joint Commissioning Strategy

• “Bite & a Blether consultation sessions with older people

• Building Relationships

• Integration of health & social care

• Events

Contact details

Colleen RowanE: colleen.rowan@gwsf.org.uk

T: 0141 271 2325