Wirral Neighbourhood Model Pilot
The Qualitative Insite Team in Public Health were asked to support the Wirral Neighbourhood Model Pilot, a community-led initiative to reduce health inequalities, by gathering resident voices across Birkenhead A and Wallasey C. In total, 156 people were asked about their current health and wellbeing, what is important to them where they live, what they would like to see improved, and how they would notice positive changes. The main method of insight gathering was through door knocking, supplemented by community engagements.
Insights gathered: October 2023 - December 2023
Insights gathered by
Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health Wirral Council.
Aim
Insights were gathered to help shape and develop the pilot of the Wirral Neighbourhood Model (WNM) – a community-led initiative to reduce health inequalities across Wirral, moving from focusing on ill health to promoting wellbeing. The research explored how residents in the trailblazer neighbourhood areas (Birkenhead A and Wallasey C) feel about their local community; what is important to them; and what residents would like to see improved.
People engaged with
The Wirral Neighbourhood Model Pilot focused on gathering resident voices from people of all demographics across two trailblazer neighbourhood areas:
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Birkenhead A, including areas of: Bidston Hill, Birkenhead Centre, Claughton North, Claughton South, Oxton North, Noctorum North and Upton East.
- Wallasey C, including areas of: Egremont, Liscard, Poulton and Seacombe.
In total, 156 people aged between 6 and 92 were engaged with between October and December 2023.
Methods
The main method of data collection, door-knocking, involved engaging with residents in Birkenhead A and Wallasey C neighbourhoods on their doorstep. Door knocks were supported by Community Connectors at Involve Northwest. This method was supplemented by discussions at community engagements, involving researchers setting up stands in public venues within the two neighbourhoods, attending community events, organisations, support and activity groups.
Researchers used a range of creative methods to engage with residents and encourage them to share and record their views. These included research grids (a set of predetermined questions), activity sheets, post-it note boards, focus groups, friendship interviews, informal conversations and ‘walk and talk’ sessions.
Key insights
What did people share about their health and wellbeing?
Across the two trailblazer neighbourhoods, residents told us they have varied ways of managing their health and wellbeing, including:
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Walking
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Visiting leisure centres to access swimming pools and gyms
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Socialising with others in group activities
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Dieting, eating in moderation
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Gardening
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Being a part of and maintaining good support networks with family and friends
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Keeping busy
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Working and having job roles that enable work/life balance and to socialise with others
What is important to residents where they live?
Residents value:
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A strong sense of community. Friends, neighbours and family relationships, community activities and venues.
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Adequate housing and landlords who respect residents and pay attention to their concerns.
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Feeling safe. Limiting anti-social behaviour, abandoned properties, drug use, gangs, and crime.
A clean environment. Seeing litter everywhere effects people’s health and wellbeing.
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Community stability. People told us they are concerned that shops and community centres closing down may leading to further community decline.
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Tailored activities. Residents perceived a decline of in-person interactions and want more quantity and variety of activities, particularly for young people.
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Being able to travel efficiently and affordably.
What can be done to help improve health and wellbeing where people live?
Key themes:
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Improved health services. Resident frustration with waiting times and booking online appointments.
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Tailored clubs and activities. Accessible for older people, parents with toddlers, men, veterans, and people living with disabilities. Keen focus on more activities for young people.
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Improved community safety, including road safety, more CCTV, police presence, monitoring alley ways, street lighting, and the establishment of a neighbourhood watch.
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A cleaner environment and improved housing conditions. Residents talked about damp in their houses, mice infestations and litter in the streets and alley ways.
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Action on abandoned buildings. Residents want these removed or re-purposed for the community good.
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Improved consultations. Residents want to feel consulted in advance, rather than informed of changes.
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Improved communication with community leaders, authorities and services.
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Support fledgling community organisations and creating more volunteering opportunities.
How would residents know if positive changes were happening in their area?
Key points:
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Birkenhead A residents would most notice an improved sense of community, connection, and safety.
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Wallasey C residents would most notice physical changes to the environment.
Residents would notice:
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Communication through a wide variety of mediums. From word of mouth to community groups and social media, methods must be tailored to the individual.
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A stronger sense of community. Seeing ‘people coming together’ and showing neighbourliness and acts of kindness.
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A cleaner environment. Less litter and abandoned houses.
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Behaviour change, including less crime, drug use, anti-social behaviour, worklessness, and social isolation.
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Positive communities. Highlighting and celebrating success. Communities being proactive rather than reactive.
Quotes
“We need more spaces where kids of different ages can come together, rather than being horrible to each other”
“More needs to be done to tackle safety so that communities can lead more active lives”.
How have the insights been used/shared?
The insights were shared with the Public Health team, key senior colleagues/commissioners, and the members of the Neighbourhood Model Pilot Steering Group, as well as being published in the public domain via the Knowledge Hub Website.
Online links
To read the full report of qualitative insights, visit: https://www.wirralhealthwellbeingknowledgehub.co.uk/media/uwofn2ht/wirral-neighbourhood-model-pilot-qualitative-report-accchkd-06092024.pdf