How we work
Every sector in our region shares a desire to make a difference to people’s lives, and to support the healthcare system in its aims. Many people also have innovative ideas that could contribute to this, but often lack the time, knowledge and experience to make their idea happen, or robustly test its potential. That’s where Ways to Wellness can help.
“I have learned so much from working with Ways to Wellness. Its staff are professional, enthusiastic and have a genuine ‘can do’ attitude. In addition to practical help with project planning and delivery, Ways to Wellness has coordinated project videos and managed an awareness-raising event and ‘family day’ for participants. This has been a major factor in the project’s success, opening doors for the next steps.”
Dr Anna Basu, Clinical Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University and Honorary Consultant Paediatric Neurologist
We believe the knowledge, skills and community connections of the voluntary sector can transform how health and care services benefit the people that need them most. Together we can transform how people access and use health and care services, to reduce need and narrow health inequalities.
We work primarily in the North East and North Cumbria, a region facing enormous health inequalities challenges. But we always consider the potential for wider application, and work with both regional and national partners to ensure the learning from our prototypes can have a positive impact further afield.
Project story: SPACE Pilot
Dr Anna Basu came up with the idea for a social prescribing project supporting her patients and their families at the Great North Children's Hospital (GNCH).
She'd evidenced the possible benefit with reports and academic papers, but needed support moving the idea forward so she approached Ways to Wellness.
Together we:
Mapped out a prototyping approach, which Ways to Wellness leads with Dr Basu as clinical and evaluation partner
Developed successful initial funding bids for the Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with match funding coming from Ways to Wellness and additional NIHR funding secured for a related evaluation project
Prepared a full business case for board approval
Ways to Wellness leads on pilot delivery, including recruiting and managing staff, developing partnership agreements and contracts, and promoting the work and its impact.
The first stage of the pilot was delivered in 2022-2024, with support provided to consider potential development and sustainability beyond this, and well as the sharing of learning. The second stage was delivered to 2025 and the pilot is now in phase three.
Project story: Long-term Conditions
The idea which led to the founding of Ways to Wellness was prompted by the work of Professor Sir Michael Marmot, who made the connection between disadvantage and long-term health conditions, and local work funded by the NHS North East Innovation Fund. Funding was secured from Nesta's More than Medicine' programme to pilot the approach.
Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East (VONNE) accessed funding to develop and test the use of a Social Impact Bond (SIB) and social prescribing was identified as a possible option. Discussions about an at-scale, outcomes based service then began in earnest.
A service model was developed and iterated, and the strength of the evidence base - particularly the level of unmet need - was tested.
Newcastle West Clinical Commissioning Group was engaged in the process and the financial model (including possible metrics) were refined.
Investment came from an SIB with Bridges Ventures, the Big Lottery Commissioning for Better Outcomes Fund, and the Cabinet Office Social Action Fund.
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners were commissioned to provide link workers for delivery, with systems - particularly a Management Information System (MIS) put in place, for the collection of patient journey data.
Ways to Wellness was established as a ‘special interest vehicle' to oversee the prototype and hold contracts in place of VONNE, with the first referrals taken in April 2015. The cumulative costs avoided in secondary care over the first five years were £4.6 million.
Ways to Wellness expanded into other parts of Newcastle from spring 2022, and has since gone on to form many varied prototypes in addition to this initial project.
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Left to right; Simon Bromhead, Ways to Wellness Head of Development, with Chief Executive Sandra Mitchell-Phillips, and Head of Digital Systems Sonia Townend