Across the country, Community Health Partnerships (CHP) buildings are helping people improve their wellbeing, build social connections and access support in new ways. From community gardens and social prescribing initiatives to restorative outdoor spaces for staff, these environments are supporting the shift towards prevention.
One example can be found at Princes Park Health Centre in Liverpool, where an outdoor area has been transformed into the Princes Park Health Garden. Developed in partnership between CHP and local health partners, the space offers regular sessions that help people build practical skills, form social connections and find a sense of purpose in a supportive environment. Clinicians also use the space to engage with patients who may find traditional healthcare settings difficult to access.
Meanwhile, at Fareham Community Hospital, a project between CHP and its partners has transformed outdoor areas into vibrant community gardens that now form part of local social prescribing pathways. Working with local volunteers, healthcare organisations, charities and community groups, the gardens provide opportunities for patients to engage in meaningful activity.
While many CHP sites are supporting social prescribing and community engagement, green spaces are also delivering benefits for NHS staff. At Gracefield Gardens in Lambeth, London, a courtyard garden originally designed for patients is now enjoyed by staff, offering colleagues a calm space away from busy clinical and office environments.
Together, these projects show how CHP’s NHS LIFT buildings are supporting neighbourhood health beyond traditional healthcare settings, creating spaces that promote wellbeing, reduce social isolation and help people access support earlier.
At CHP, our buildings play a much wider role than simply providing space for healthcare services. Projects like this show how our estate can support wellbeing, social prescribing and community connection in ways that help people stay healthier for longer. By creating welcoming spaces that people want to use, we're helping deliver prevention-focused support closer to home and contributing to the development of healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods.
Find out more Buildings at the Heart of the Community
CHP’s Buildings at the Heart of the Community initiative aims to encourage local community groups and charities to make the most of our buildings by enabling the use of space in our centres to host health and wellbeing related events. Our CHP staff also volunteer in their local communities.
