Should businesses have a role in supporting neighbourhood health and wellbeing?
It’s a question many public health and community leaders are starting to ask.
With public finances under intense pressure, neighbourhood platforms are looking for new paths to financial stability.
It’s not about asking for handouts or turning community spaces into advertising boards. Done right, involving businesses can benefit everyone - not just financially, but socially and culturally too.
Think of The Co-op, which reinvests part of its profits back into local causes and community hubs. Or Greggs, whose Breakfast Club Programme helps ensure thousands of children start their school day with a meal. Or Boots, offering free health checks and wellbeing clinics that make every day healthcare more accessible.
These familiar high street names show that when businesses step up locally, they can have a real, lasting impact on neighbourhood wellbeing.
Businesses are part of the community too. If our goal is to improve health and wellbeing through a single, digital front door, community-minded companies should be part of the picture.
And in return, it’s reasonable for businesses to contribute a small amount to help sustain the platforms that connect them with local residents.
Everyone benefits:
- Businesses gain visibility and trust among residents who value socially responsible brands.
- Residents can discover all community-based services - whether public, voluntary or private - in one place.
- Your platform gains a reliable source of revenue to keep improving and growing.
Why it matters
Supporting community initiatives isn’t just good PR - it’s good business. It helps companies earn trust and loyalty by showing they care. It makes employees feel proud to work for a company that gives back. Most of all, it shows that everyone has a part to play in building thriving neighbourhoods.
Actionable platform tip:
We’re trialling this very approach with Living Well Warrington. It’s another example of the inclusivity and sustainability we’re building into Made Open platforms and processes.
Stay tuned as we share more stories of what’s working on the ground - and how community-minded businesses of all sizes are helping create healthier, more connected neighbourhoods.