01
Policy and influence
Learning from community insights, lived experience, and practitioners to inform policy and practice around health, prevention, and participation.
CHEX Impact Report 2025-2026
Support community-led health across Scotland
CHEX is Scotland’s cross‑sector network for community‑led health –contributing not only to delivery, but also to enabling prevention-focused systems, building community capacity, promoting and supporting community development approaches to tackling poverty and inequalities and building health equity.
This summary provides a snapshot of CHEX’s work - download our full impact summary here
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CHEX Functions
02
Networks and networking
Cross-sector learning, partnerships and creating the conditions for connecting up and peer support across the country.
03
Information and communications
Trusted updates, case studies and a national platform for community-led health stories to showcase community development approaches to health and wellbeing.
04
Practice development
Using Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) to build skills, knowledge and confidence around participation and community action at a local level.
Function 1
Policy influence and engagement
Together We Can: CHEX enables community‑led health insight and lived experience to shape national policy and practice, supporting a prevention‑focused public health system
Influencing policy, strategy and practice
Enabled practitioners and organisations to shape policy and practice, including input to the Population Health Framework and PHS strategy.
Prevention Statement partnership
A joint statement with Edinburgh Community Health Forum, The Alliance, and Voluntary Health Scotland outlining the role community organisations play in supporting prevention, policy implementation.
Common Health Assets
Shared research and learning on how community-led organisations support health, and their role in prevention and holding people well.
Mental health and wellbeing briefing
This briefing explored the contribution of community-led health organisations and approaches to growing positive mental health and wellbeing.
Function 2
Networks and effective networking
Together We Can: CHEX strengthens places and communities by building and sustaining inclusive, cross‑sector networks at local and national.
180+ CHEX Network Member Organisations
Community-led health organisations deliverin services, support, and advocacy with their communities across Scotland.
CHEX National Conference
More than 70 people came at the CHEX National Conference for cross-sector listening, peer learning and stronger understanding of community-led practice.
Cross-sector networking and learning
Providing a range of opportunities for cross sectoral networking and peer learning for HIIC tutors and CHEX Network organisations.
Regional health and wellbeing networks
Strengthened reciprocal links with regional wellbeing networks and related local structures.
National, UK and international links
Supported learning exchange and partnerships, including national alliances and attracting additional funding and investment for the Common Ground initiative.
Workshop and health equity engagement
Co-delivered partnership activity with SCDC, PHS and VHS while linking into collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland.
Function 3
Information and communications
Together We Can: CHEX communications amplifies community‑led health and makes practical information visible and usable for those working to reduce health inequalities.
CHEX-Point Snippets
Fortnightly newsletter with news, campaigns, consultations, events and more, achieving high engagement.
CHEX website
CHEX website offeres information about community-led health approahces, resources and briefings to support practitioners and communities deliver this approach.
Showcasing community-led health
Out and About case studies highlighted a broad range of practice in action, with stories from across Scotland showcasing the impact of community-led organisations and community development practice.
Strategic comms and connections
Closer links between communications and policy to extend reach and improve impact, with connections to a range of organisations and partners aligned with community-led approaches.
Function 4
Practice development: capacity building
Together We Can: CHEX builds community capacity and confidence, strengthening community‑led health practice and meaningful participation in decision‑making - with a focus on HIIC as a key tool for building community skills, knowledge, and confidence
Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) is an SCQF accredited course that helps people understand what affects their health and the health of their communities.
31 HIIC courses
Delivered across Scotland through local tutors and partner organisations, supported and managed by CHEX.
5 tutor training courses, 120+ tutors in network
This year these courses have resulted in 20 tutors gaining accreditation and strengthening delivery capacity, including stratgeic devleopments in Glasgow and Dundee.
Voices of HIIC participants
“HIIC has given me confidence to stand up for what I deserve.”
“I didn’t realise that it wasn’t all down to me… it's the environment where I grew up and live.”
Enabling community-led health and prevention
HIIC builds understanding, participation, confidence and trust. It creates the conditions for community insight and voice to engage as equitable partners while supporting action on wider determinants of health, including power and inequality.
The opportunities ahead
We are at a key moment for health policy in Scotland, with the focus on prevention and early intervention bringing the possibilities of real change that will make a difference to people's lives. Hearing from communities is essential to inform and shape these efforts, and CHEX acts as a bridge between communities, research, practice and policy – strengthening participation and enabling sustainable action to tackle health inequalities.
We look forward to working with colleagues, partners, and communities to support this work and will be focusing on the key areas below as our activity contiunes.
Next steps
Join our Network
Our network is open to every individual working in or interested in community-led health across all sectors, including voluntary and community organisations, NHS, local authority and beyond.