Health and charities
Health charities and their funders make a vast contribution to the public’s wellness—from providing expert healthcare to conducting cutting-edge research. The public support for NHS charities during coronavirus, notably via the efforts of Captain Tom, raised awareness of health charities like never before.
At the same time, the wider charity sector’s work on social issues helps to tackle the causes of ill-health, such as by improving housing and alleviating loneliness isolation. This was a key argument of the Marmot review.
Through research, collaboration and convening, we’re helping this contribution become recognised and harnessed. We’re supporting health charities with shared measurement, advocating for a health data lab, and researching the role of non-health charities in improving health outcomes. Contact us to get involved in these projects.
Featured resources on health
Learning together as a sector: NHS charities using shared measurement
NPC has worked with Imperial HealthCharity to analyse the potential for shared measurement among NHS charities.
Tapping the potential: Lessons from the Richmond Group’s practical collaborative work in Somerset
A learning report, researched and authored by NPC for The Richmond Group of Charities. It captures learning from the initial stages of an approach to building meaningful collaboration between the voluntary sector and public bodies.
Keeping us well: How non-health charities address the social determinants of health
This report aims to support non-health charities to better understand and use the evidence about the social factors that impact on people’s health and well-being: from housing to relationships, good food to good work.
Good lives, good health: how the voluntary sector helps to keep people well
Stark and widespread health inequalities in the UK represent a striking social injustice. The impact that social factors have on our health mean that even charities that are not explicitly pursuing a health-focused mission are helping to keep people well. Leading expert on the social determinants of health Sir Michael Marmot introduces new research from NPC on the important role the voluntary sector plays in helping us live longer, healthier, lives.
How do non-health charities help reduce health inequalities?
The UK's life expectancy is falling behind other countries in Europe, according to new analysis. There are plenty of things that affect the nation's health, which means even the work of non-health charities may be helping keep people well. At NPC we're working on a guide to help voluntary sector organisations better understand the social determinants of health. Katie Boswell explains.
Freeing up health analysis: Using government data
In this paper we argue that relevant government departments should adopt a data labs model to enable charities to better understand the impact of their services on people's health.
Health Data Lab: An initiative whose time has come
NPC and 24 leading charities have written to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, asking for his backing and for a Health Data Lab. Read more about what this means and why it would help improve the impact of services on people’s health.
Untapped potential: Bringing the voluntary sector’s strengths to health and care transformation
Our research for the Richmond Group of Charities and partners to inform their Doing the Right Thing project—which aims to shape health and care system reform by showcasing the voluntary and community sector's value. We assessed the strength of evidence available and developed frameworks to provide a shared language.
Supporting good health: The role of the charity sector
In this discussion paper, we present seven key areas in which charities have the potential to improve the quality of UK health services.
Embracing place-based collaboration: Lessons from Somerset
What does cross-sector collaboration in health and care look like in a particular place? NPC has captured learning from the initial stages of the The Richmond Group of Charities' work in Somerset, which explored what new ways of working across sectors in a specific geographic area could look like. Here we share three lessons from the work.
Latest updates
Why health should be on all charities’ agenda
Following the publication of the Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry on 6 July, this event will ask what the long term impacts are on the nation's health, and how the charities can work together to address health inequalities.
Tips to help your remote project tackle loneliness
The pandemic has taught us that continuous learning is key to adapting services to prevent or reduce loneliness during times of change.
Mental health and the underfunded environmental determinants
For Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, our Liz Gadd highlights that the interlinkages between mental health and the environment run much deeper and are more complex than climate anxiety or a mood lifting walk in the park.
Digital mental health services
The impact of Covid-19 on young people's mental health
Trauma-informed approaches
This short guide is written for charity leaders to help you to understand what trauma-informed approaches are, and how to introduce them into your service.
How can the social sector support the further rollout of social prescribing?
The government has pledged £5m to increase the rollout of social prescribing. How can the social sector support the further rollout of social prescribing and what risks need to be managed to ensure that it delivers the right outcomes?
Charity care homes
What do we know about the charitable care sector and how it compares to other providers?
How philanthropists can support treatment and recovery charities
For anyone seeking help escaping drugs or alcohol, charities are a lifeline. But coronavirus has turned this network of support upside down. In this case study, Oliver Standing from Collective Voice talks to funders about what philanthropists can do to help.
How philanthropists can help maternity services adapt
In this case study, our Systems Change Principal, Seth Reynolds, interviews (virtually) Vicky Fobel, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager at NCT, to learn how they’re adapting and what philanthropists can do to help parenting charities.
How can the charity sector adapt to coronavirus?
If the unofficial motto of the charity sector is ‘we do what needs to be done’—then right now with coronavirus we face an unprecedented challenge of working out what does need to be done. We need to adapt and ask how those who support us can also help
Charities keep us healthy
With the publication of the Marmot Review 10 Years On, Dan Corry reflects on how the social determinants of health are deep and structural, how charities of all kinds can play a role in overcoming them and what NPC is doing in this area.
Social prescribing: working to get it right
Charlotte Augst, Chief Executive, National Voices discusses their plans to explore what’s happening in local communities, and identify the key issues and solutions for effective social prescribing.
Talk to us
Got a question, comment, or want to work with us on health? Get in touch with Sally Bagwell NPC’s Health Lead.
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