In our latest Health and Wellbeing spotlight, Healthworks, a community health charity, shares its approach to the Community Wellbeing Pathfinder service, an early intervention and preventative programme designed to improve wellbeing across Newcastle. Healthworks outlines how the service combines short-term interventions with a social prescribing approach, focussing particularly on reaching people living in the most disadvantaged communities in Newcastle. The blog explores successful partnerships in place including with Newcastle City Jobcentre, and the approach the team has taken to reach people experiencing multiple disadvantages, who are often the least likely to engage with traditional services.
Healthworks is a long-established community health charity helping people across Newcastle and the North East to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Since 1995, we have delivered preventative health programmes, community wellbeing services, lifestyle support and accessible health information, with a particular focus on supporting people facing challenges such as low income, unemployment, poor housing, social isolation and health inequalities.
This understanding sits at the heart of the Community Wellbeing Pathfinder (CWP) Service.
Commissioned by Newcastle City Council, the Community Wellbeing Pathfinder Service is an early intervention and preventative programme designed to improve wellbeing across Newcastle. The service provides holistic support to people experiencing challenges relating to physical and mental health, housing, employment, volunteering, financial wellbeing and social isolation.
The service combines short-term interventions with a social prescribing approach, helping people access the support, services and opportunities already available within their communities. Community Wellbeing Pathfinders can provide up to 12 sessions of personalised support over a 12-week period, working with individuals to identify their goals, overcome barriers and take positive steps towards improved wellbeing.
The service is particularly focused on reaching people living in the most disadvantaged communities in Newcastle, with more than 70% of service users coming from neighbourhoods within the lowest 30% most disadvantaged. By supporting people early and helping them access the right support at the right time, the service aims to improve wellbeing, strengthen community connections and reduce pressure on statutory services.
Community Wellbeing Pathfinders work across the city, building relationships with residents and partners in a range of settings. The team works closely with organisations including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Newcastle Foodbank and a wide range of community organisations, while also delivering drop-in sessions in local communities to make support more accessible.
A particularly successful partnership has been developed with Newcastle City Jobcentre. Since September 2025, Healthworks has delivered a fortnightly drop-in and appointment service within the Jobcentre, providing support with issues including housing, debt, physical and mental health, social isolation and barriers to employment.
Tony, from Newcastle City Jobcentre, said:
"From our very first meeting, where Jake explained the excellent support available to our clients, I have had nothing but positive feedback from work coaches and clients. I have seen real change in the people they support. When the Jobcentre was closed for essential repairs, Jake and his team stepped up and provided telephone appointments to ensure support remained available. The diary is always full, which is testament to the great job they do."
This partnership demonstrates the flexibility and responsiveness of the service and the value of providing support in settings where people already access other services.
A key strength of the Community Wellbeing Pathfinder Service is its person-centred approach. Pathfinders work one-to-one with individuals, providing tailored support based on each person's circumstances, priorities and aspirations. This helps people feel heard, supported and empowered to make positive changes.
In its first year of delivery, the service received more than 500 referrals from across Newcastle, demonstrating both the demand for community-based wellbeing support and the value of the service to residents and partner organisations. The estimated social value generated during this period was around £2 million, highlighting the significant wider impact of the programme on individuals, communities and public services.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. One service user said:
"This service has been amazing. I felt heard and understood throughout. The support was personalised rather than robotic, and I looked forward to our sessions. I can't sing their praises enough."
One of the biggest challenges has been reaching people experiencing multiple disadvantages, who are often the least likely to engage with traditional services. To address this, the team focuses on being visible and accessible within communities, working alongside trusted partners and delivering support in familiar settings such as community centres and places of faith.
One of the key lessons from the programme has been the value of combining wellbeing support with social prescribing and warm introductions into other services. For many individuals, this approach acts as a bridge into wider support, helping build confidence, reduce anxiety and improve quality of life over the longer term.
Looking ahead, Healthworks is committed to continuing to develop the Community Wellbeing Pathfinder Service and strengthening its contribution to improving health and wellbeing across Newcastle. The service demonstrates how VCSE organisations can build trusted relationships, provide flexible support and create meaningful social value while helping tackle health inequalities and supporting prevention.
For more information visit: Community Wellbeing - Healthworks
Service Manager: Jake.lightowler@hwn.org.uk