Preston's community wealth building programme points to health & wellbeing benefits
Public health article published by The Lancet, April 2023
Preston, an economically disadvantaged city in England, implemented a new approach to economic development, known as the Community Wealth Building programme. Public and non-profit organisations modified their procurement policies to support the development of local supply chains, improve employment conditions, and increase socially productive use of wealth and assets.
During the period in which the Community Wealth Building programme was introduced, there were fewer mental health problems than would have been expected compared with other similar areas, as life satisfaction and economic measures improved. This approach potentially provides an effective model for economic regeneration potentially leading to substantial health benefits.
Open access article - available on line: Rose, T.C., Daras, K., Manley, J., McKeown, M., Halliday, E., Goodwin, T.L., Hollingsworth, B., & Barr, B. (2023). The mental health and wellbeing impact of a community wealth building programme in England: A difference-in-differences study. The Lancet, 8(6), E403-E410. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00059-2