Evaluation of Community Engagement in the Design and Delivery of Health Promotion Interventions

Background: Community engagement has become mainstream practice in many sectors, such that many might say that it has become another box to be ticked when planning and delivering projects. There are many potential benefits of community engagement to the residents, local stakeholders and external delivery agencies; however gaps have been identified in the evaluation of impact, barriers and facilitators of community engagement (NICE, 2008). This study prospectively looks at how the process of community engagement under the Well London programme (a five-year health promotion programme which addresses physical activity, diet and mental wellbeing) was delivered in multiple deprived neighbourhoods, and how this process influenced the different stakeholders and the health promotion projects delivered.

Methods: This study used a mixed method approach to examine the process, perceptions, impacts, incentives, barriers and challenges of community engagement. Data were collected through literature review, questionnaire surveys, participant observation, qualitative interviews and evidence from documentary sources.

Results: The study found that the World Café and appreciative enquiry approaches used were useful and effective tools for engaging communities; and the primary motivation for residents’ participation was the desire to belong to a community which they could help shape for the better. Key lessons from the process are the need to manage the expectations of local stakeholders and residents by effectively communicating programme goals and limitations; and the need for sufficient time to build relationships and trust for engagement. Residents’ level of engagement was influenced by past experiences of consultation processes, local politics and regeneration. There is a need to have good knowledge of the community that is being engaged, and to know the local context and peculiarities which differentiate communities.

Conclusion: Residents of different ages, gender and cultures engage differently and processes should be sensitive to, and accommodate these differences. The impact of the CEP on the design and delivery of projects was inconclusive.