Major study to assess public health benefits of Community Wealth Building

Researchers have launched a major new investigation into the power of Community Wealth Building (CWB) to affect local economies and improve population health.

Glasgow Caledonian University will lead a £1.5million study to determine whether retaining more wealth in local communities can prevent premature deaths and tackle health inequalities.

CWB is an approach to economic development that aims to generate, circulate and retain more wealth within local areas.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funding the three-year study to examine how CWB is being implemented and how it is impacting local economies and population health.

GCU will work in partnership with researchers from the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the University of Glasgow and Lancaster University to assess whether CWB is improving economic and health outcomes. The findings will inform local economic polices across Scotland and other parts of the UK.

Neil Craig, Professor of Public Health Economics at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University and Co-Principal Investigator, said: 

“Economic inequality is a cause of health inequality. Ultimately, if CWB is found to be effective in improving health and reducing inequalities, this could lead to fewer premature deaths, particularly amongst economically disadvantaged communities.”

North Ayrshire became the first area of Scotland to adopt a CWB strategy in 2020. The approach is now being piloted in Clackmannanshire, Fife, Glasgow, the South of Scotland and the Western Isles. Councils work alongside major employers, businesses and partner organisations and commit to generating employment and spending resources locally.

Dr Micaela Mazzei, Reader at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health and Co-Principal Investigator, said: 

“Previous research shows that there is a need to better understand whether and how CWB can make a real difference. The stakeholders recognise the importance of this work and have pledged to offer practical support, share their expertise and act on the findings.”

Dr Jennifer McLean, Interim Director of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, said:

“We will work to ensure that the voices, expertise and perspectives of those working across various sectors involved in local CWB implementation in Scotland are able to shape and inform this project, so that the evaluation is grounded in local insights, and that learning is relevant to local people and communities.”

Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy at North Ayrshire Council, added:

“CWB has become an integral part of how we operate, helping to support both our local community and businesses. In the last financial year alone, more than £70million was spent locally with almost 900 suppliers. This research is timely and important as it will deepen the evidence base to increase our understanding of the wider impacts of CWB.”