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Forgingalliances
We linkcommunity groupsfor mutual benefit
Workingtogether
We help communitiesto organise
TakingControl
We teach peopleto manage theirown health
Grass roots work
We engage withlocal people’sown agendas
Buildingnetworks
We sustain servicesfor local people
Influencing Policy
We take local people’s agendasto decision makers
Changingpractice
We seek to makepractice moreresponsive
Social Action for Health
Accessto services
We improvepeople’s knowledgeof their entitlements
Aim: To work with local people towards justice, equality and communityValues: • We start with the people • People have the right to take control of their lives • People’s health can be improved by tackling isolation, poverty, racism and unemployment • Healthy communities are good for the whole society
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Changing practice
Susie Crome, Project Manager
"We asked the GP practices we work withif we could have direct access to their patient lists. Some agreed provided we signed a confidentiality statement. Now we phone people directly in their ownlanguage. It's quicker and simpler, and it's allowed us towork towards a rolling programme of courses, whichmeans lots more people will benefit." 
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Taking control
Tina Patel, Project Manager
“When people manage their conditionthemselves, it has far greater impact thana symptomatic solution, such as a nurse telling you how to use your inhaler. One woman didn't feel able to get a bus to her course so we had to send a minicab each week. By the last week, she felt confident enough to get the bus by herself. She just felt better about herself and her skills." 
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Forging alliances
Philip Morgan, Volunteer
"Alliances are about humanrelationships. They embody friendship as well as business. Society doesn't like diversity, but when you're part of analliance you have to live with difference and work with it. That's what community is all about." 
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Influencing policy
Shabira Papain, Project Manager
"We're successful because we make local people's own agendas the start and end of our work. It's the only way to make animpact on health inequalities. We have lots of conversations with decisionmakers where we say these are the issues highlighted by local people and here's how services could be improved." 
Access to services
Nirban Chowdhury, Project Manager
"We train frontline workers to lead groups in their own communities informing people about cancer and cancer services. Communication betweenGPs and community members is a major barrier. People just don't get taken seriously. We tell them to actually use the word 'cancer'. Then at least they stand a chance of being investigated properly." 
Building networks
Eyarun Choudhury, Project Manager
"As part of a network small community service providers can support one another,train together and access funding more easily. It also gives them a bigger voice.We convene meetings, organise training and more. We tell people, 'You provide the services and we'll bend over backwards to support you'." 
Working together
Andy Benson, Network co-ordinator
"SAfH's work is directed towards trying to interest individuals in being more collective. We try to convince people of the advantage of combining forces todo something together. It's about helping people to take an interest and engage withthings around them." 
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Grass roots work
Joe Walker, Project Manager
“So much service provision is about setting agendas and hitting targets.Sometimes we don't have an agenda at all. We'll go to a community and start toconstruct one from scratch with them.They'll say these are the issues and we'll say, well, how can we help you to generate change. The work involves and is owned by local people.” 
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