How We Work

Despite the challenges, every sector in our region shares a desire to make a difference to people’s lives. Many people in the region also have innovative ideas that could make a huge difference to the lives of people in our region, and beyond. But they often also lack the time, knowledge and experience to make their idea happen and/or to robustly test its potential.

Smiling woman with short dark hair

“I have learned so much from working with Ways to Wellness. Their staff are professional, enthusiastic and have a genuine ‘can do’ attitude. In addition to practical help with project planning and delivery, Ways to Wellness have coordinated project videos and managed an awareness-raising event and ‘family day’ for participants. Their support 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 benefit them, reduce need and narrow health inequalities.

We primarily innovate in the North East and North Cumbria, which faces enormous health inequalities challenges. But we always consider the potential for wider application and working with partners further afield, both regionally and nationally.

Project Story: SPACE Pilot

Young child with red glasses in a buggy with adults sat beside him

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.

A yellow arrow pointing downward
A young woman with long dark hair sits across from another woman with pink in her brown hair looking at a piece of paper

Together we:

  • Mapped out an approach to pilot delivery, which Ways to Wellness would lead and Dr Basu would act as clinical/evaluation lead.

  • Developed successful 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 the project which was shared to the experienced and well-networked Ways to Wellness Board.

2 women and a man sit round a conference table with laptops open in front of them
A yellow arrow pointing downward

Ways to Wellness organised the delivery of the pilot including:

  • Recruiting staff

  • Developing partnership agreements

  • Setting up honorary contracts

  • Creating promotional materials

The first stage of the pilot was delivered in 2022-2024, with support provided to consider potential development and sustainability of the project beyond this and the sharing of learning. The second stage is being delivered to 2025.

Project Story: Long Term Conditions

A woman with curly brown hair shows a leaflet to an older female client

The idea is prompted by the work of Michael Marmot, connecting disadvantage to long term health conditions, and local work funded by the NHS North East Innovation Fund. Funding is secured from Nesta's More than Medicine' programme, to pilot the approach.

Voluntary Organisations Network North East (VONNE) accesses funding to develop and test the use of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) and social prescribing is identified as a possible option and discussions about an at-scale, outcomes based service begin.

Two older women it in a consultation room having a discussion

A service model is developed and iterated and the strength of the evidence base - and particularly the level of unmet need - is tested.

Newcastle West CG is engaged in the process and the financial model (including possible metrics) are refined.

Investors are attracted (including a SIB with Bridges Ventures, Big Lottery Commissioning for Better Outcomes Fund, and the Cabinet Office Social Action Fund).

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners are commissioned to provide link workers for delivery. Systems are put in place, particularly a Management Information System for collection of patient journey data.

A purple arrow pointing downward
2 men and 2 women sit round a conference table with their laptops in front of them

Ways to Wellness is established to oversee the project and hold contracts in place of VONNE, the first referrals are taken in April 2015. The cumulative costs avoided in secondary care over the first five years was £4.6 million.

Ways to Wellness services start to expand into other parts of Newcastle from spring 2022.

Start a conversation

Simon Bromhead, Sandra Mitchell-Phillips and Sonia Townend stand in an office, smiling to the camera in front of the Ways to Wellness logo

Left to right; Simon Bromhead, Ways to Wellness Head of Development, with Chief Executive Sandra Mitchell-Phillips, and Head of Digital Systems Sonia Townend