Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities – University College London

Report on the Mobilising Cultural and Natural Assets Programme and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Programme Overview and Objectives

University College London (UCL) is leading the AHRC/BBSRC/ESRC/MRC/NERC Mobilising Cultural and Natural Assets to Combat Health Inequalities programme. This initiative, hosted by the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH), is structured to systematically address health disparities through a multi-phase research and implementation framework. The programme’s core objective is to leverage cultural, natural, and community resources to foster better health outcomes, directly contributing to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The programme is executed in collaboration with key strategic partners, including:

• The National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH)
• The National Academy for Social Prescribing
• NHS England’s Personalised Care Group

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The programme’s primary focus is to advance SDG 3 by promoting well-being and tackling health inequalities. This is achieved through a structured, evidence-based approach across three distinct phases:

1. Phase 1: Funded 12 smaller-scale projects to investigate how cultural, natural, and community assets could be utilized to improve mental and physical health outcomes.
2. Phase 2: Established 16 cross-sectoral consortia and community hubs to explore mechanisms for more effective collaboration within local health systems.
3. Phase 3: Provides large-scale, three-year funding for 12 projects that build upon the evidence from previous phases. The explicit goal is to improve health through enhanced access to culture, nature, and community resources, thereby promoting well-being for all at all ages.

Alignment with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

A central tenet of the programme is its direct contribution to SDG 10 by targeting entrenched and long-standing health inequalities within Britain’s most disadvantaged communities. Phase 3 projects are specifically designed to reduce inequalities by focusing on systems change to support marginalized and vulnerable groups. This targeted approach ensures that interventions reach those most affected by health disparities.

Targeted Interventions for Vulnerable Communities

The initiative actively works to reduce inequalities by focusing on specific demographic and geographic groups, including:

• Place-based initiatives in rural and coastal communities.
• Roma communities.
• Refugee and migrant communities.
• People experiencing homelessness.
• D/deaf British Sign Language-using communities.
• Children and young people experiencing mental health challenges.

Alignment with SDG 11 and SDG 17: Sustainable Communities and Partnerships

The programme model strongly supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by mobilizing local cultural and natural assets to create inclusive and resilient communities. By focusing on place-based solutions, it strengthens the fabric of local communities and enhances their capacity to support resident well-being.

Furthermore, the initiative is a prime example of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). It is founded on a multi-stakeholder partnership involving academia (UCL), national research councils (AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC), health bodies (NCCH, NHS England), and community-level organizations. The establishment of cross-sectoral consortia in Phase 2 institutionalizes this collaborative approach, demonstrating a robust model for achieving sustainable development through collective action.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s central theme is health. The research programme it describes is explicitly designed to “Combat Health Inequalities” and “improve mental and physical health outcomes.” The entire initiative focuses on finding new ways to address health challenges, particularly mental health, within communities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The programme directly targets inequality. It aims to “tackle entrenched and long-standing health inequalities in Britain’s poorest communities.” Furthermore, it specifies a focus on vulnerable and marginalized groups, including “Roma communities,” “refugees and migrant communities,” “people experiencing homelessness,” and “D/deaf British Sign Language-using communities,” which is a core component of reducing inequalities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The approach described in the article involves leveraging local resources, referred to as “cultural, natural and community assets.” The projects explore health solutions through “place, including in rural and coastal communities” and the establishment of “community hubs.” This aligns with making communities more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable by utilizing their inherent cultural and natural heritage for the well-being of residents.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights a large-scale collaboration as the foundation of the programme. It mentions a partnership between multiple research councils (“AHRC/BBSRC/ESRC/MRC/NERC”), a university (UCL), and key national health bodies like the “National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH),” “National Academy for Social Prescribing,” and “NHS England’s Personalised Care Group.” The establishment of “16 cross-sectoral consortia” further emphasizes the multi-stakeholder partnership model being used to achieve the programme’s goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health

   The programme’s focus on improving “mental and physical health outcomes” and addressing “children and young people experiencing mental health challenges” directly contributes to the promotion of mental health and well-being as outlined in this target.

2. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social inclusion of all

   By specifically designing projects to support marginalized groups such as “Roma communities, refugees and migrant communities, people experiencing homelessness, [and] D/deaf British Sign Language-using communities,” the programme works towards the social inclusion of these populations, aiming to reduce the health inequalities they face.

3. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces

   The programme’s method of mobilizing “cultural, natural and community assets” and improving health through “access to culture, nature and community” aligns with this target. It seeks to leverage public and community spaces (both cultural and natural) to enhance well-being for all community members.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

   The entire initiative is an example of this target in action. The article describes a complex partnership involving academic institutions (UCL), government funding bodies (UKRI research councils), and health organizations (NCCH, NHS England). The creation of “cross-sectoral consortia and community hubs” is a direct implementation of this multi-stakeholder partnership approach.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 3.4:

  The article implies that a key measure of success will be the “improve[ment of] mental and physical health outcomes.” Therefore, an implied indicator is the measurement of changes in mental and physical health status within the communities targeted by the projects.

• Indicator for Target 10.2:

  The programme aims to “combat health inequalities” for specific groups. Progress would be measured by the reduction of health disparities between the targeted vulnerable groups (e.g., refugees, homeless individuals) and the general population.

• Indicator for Target 11.7:

  The article states that projects investigate “how cultural, natural and community assets could be used.” An implied indicator is the number and scale of community-based programmes established that successfully utilize these local assets to improve health outcomes.

• Indicator for Target 17.17:

  The article explicitly mentions the formation of partnerships. A direct indicator of progress is the number of cross-sectoral consortia and community hubs established and functioning. The article states that for Phase 2, “16 cross-sectoral consortia and community hubs were set up,” serving as a concrete indicator of this partnership-building activity.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ucl.ac.uk