IRISS launch new Social Assets in Action project

IRISS have launched their new ‘Social Assets in Action’ project in East Dunbartonshire.

Traditional approaches to improving well-being, reducing health inequalities and achieving other social goals have focused on the deficits and problems of individuals and communities. In contrast, using an approach that values assets identifies the skills, strengths, capacity and knowledge of individuals and the social capital of communities. This can provide a different story of place that is a positive and outcome focused picture, that values what works well and where health and well-being is thriving.

This project will promote strengths-based approaches to supporting individuals by developing the use of an assets-based approach in the delivery of services and in community development. It seeks to work together with users of services and practitioners to develop an understanding of the personal and community assets that are available within a local community to support positive mental health and well-being. The value of the project resides in the fact that the community of people receiving support will become co-producers based on the use of assets that for the most part may be pre-existing.

Work will be continued with East Dunbartonshire CHP, Community Care and NHS GGC and others in an advisory role, to support the implementation of an assets-based model in community mental health services.

Outcomes

    Organisations and practitioners involved in the project understand the opportunities of a strengths based approach for transforming services from a deficit model of support
    Practitioners are able to implement a strengths-based approach using asset mapping to support individuals with mental health problems
    The experience of individuals receiving support improves and their control over their own support increases
    Individuals can see the opportunities of being more involved within their community and organisations feels better able to support individuals to be involved in their community

The digital map of all the local assets identified during the workshops of 2011/12, as well as the full project report is available on the project website . On this site you will also find videos of practitioners talking about their experiences of being involved in the project, and a digital story of one of the local people who got involved.

For further information, please contact Lisa Pattoni .To keep up-to-date with progress, follow the project blog .