community led health in action logo
We bring together useful knowledge from across our network and across sectors to help show what it looks like when we take action.
Tackling inequalities is at the heart of how we improve Scotland’s health and make a fairer, healthier future for everyone.
Community-led health takes action on health inequalities by supporting people and communities experiencing these inequalities to take collective action, challenge imbalances in power and influence, and work to build real, sustainable change.
There are articles and blogs outlining some of the key principles and context, case studies of community-led health in practice on the ground, and information on research and resources to support your practice and professional learning.
Get in touch with us if you’d like to share your work in a case study!
Universities as partners in progress on inclusion health
In this blog, Dr Sarah Anderson, Senior Community Engagement Manager at the University of Edinburgh, discusses the relationships between Edinburgh University and the city’s communities, focusing on their new Community Plan.
Reflecting on how NHS could gain more from public involvement
In this article for CHEX, retired citizen Ro Pengelly reflects on her public involvement with NHS, as a business representative on a UK taskforce in 1992, and since 2018 with two of Scotland’s non-territorial NHS boards.
The Scottish Community Link Worker Network – giving a voice to Scotland’s Community Link Workers
In this blog, Roisin Hurst, Scottish Community Link Worker Network Project Manager, explores the vital role community link workers play as essential connectors between primary care, patients, and communities.
Calling all community health organisations: how valued do you feel?
In this blog, Niall McShannon from Clydesdale Community Initiatives talks about a survey seeking to understand the relationship between community organisations and their public sector partners.
Listening, learning, and leading for change
In this article, Ruth Glassborow, Director of Place and Wellbeing, Public Health Scotland shares her reflections following the CHEX Conference in spring 2025. Ruth acted as a ‘keynote listener’ during the day, hearing from conference attendees about their work supporting community health and wellbeing across Scotland.
Why Does ‘Place’ Matter for Social Prescribing?
This blog by Emilie McSwiggan, PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, explores the relevance of understanding ‘places and communities’ for social prescribing, and how this has been reflected in social prescribing research so far.
The outrage of austerity
In this guest blog, David Walsh and Gerry McCartney discuss the disastrous effects that austerity policies have had on life expectancy - exacerbating health inequalities and causing many people in our most vulnerable communities to lead shorter, less healthy lives.
With evidence from their recent book, they call for us to use the power within our communities to demand that austerity policies are reversed and take action for a healthier future for everyone.
Where’s the outrage about Scotland’s worsening health inequalities?
SCDC Director Susan Paxton asks why reducing Scotland’s worsening health inequalities isn’t Scotland’s most urgent mission – and what needs to change to make this happen.
Together, we can rebuild it
Sarah Boath, Head of Programme for CHEX reflects on the challenging funding landscape, discussing the need to think of health and wellbeing services not as short-term projects to fund with money in a siloed budget, but as a long-term investment of resources, time, skill and commitment.
Putting the heart back into Maud: the work of the Maud Village Trust and the Old Mart Community Resource Centre
Having meaningful community leadership at a local level to drive community-led health is vital. Vicki Brown, General Manager, describes the health and wellbeing work of the Maud Village Trust and how they work in partnership with statutory services to run a community health and wellbeing hub in the area.
Integrating care: the importance of community support and links with health and social care services for health and wellbeing
Dr Lou Henderson discusses her research into the experiences of people within the community who were accessing and providing Health and Social Care (HSC) services at home, to find out what they thought about their care, or the care they were providing, and how it influenced wellbeing.
Sharing what is possible and supporting change: the Scottish Recovery Network’s Peer Recovery Hub
Peer support is an integral component of what makes community-led health such an effective approach. Christine Muir describes the strengths of peer support in the context of mental health and wellbeing and the work of the Scottish Recovery Network and highlights some of the fantastic resources on their Peer Recovery Hub.