Developing evidence on how Community Transformation Funds work in practice, helping to understand their potential to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities.
Why the research is needed?
Community Transformation Funds (CTFs) are a relatively new way of helping health and social care organisations in England from different sectors to work together effectively. CTFs have been developed over the past two years by Macmillan Cancer Support and Social Finance, with input from researchers at King’s College London acting as learning partners.
It is hoped that the combination of CTF outcome funding and support for better coordinated local anchor constellations will enable greater diversity of engagement between statutory health and social care bodies and place‑based voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations that are relevant to their communities. Ultimately, this aims to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities, while supporting more community ownership and community‑led investment decisions. As yet, little is known about how they work in practice or what the outcomes are.
What are we doing?
Two pilot CTFs are set to launch in England in 2025, including one in West Hertfordshire. We will be supporting and examining how they work, including the strengths and weaknesses of the model.
How are we working with communities, services and organisations?
We will be working with Macmillan, NHS and public health partners, and local community organisations to find out how delivery is co-ordinated and what issues are encountered.
What will the impact and benefits of this research be?
It is hoped that the combination of CTF outcome funding and support for better coordinated local anchor constellations will enable greater diversity of engagement between statutory health and social care bodies. Ultimately, this will help to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities.
What do we have planned for knowledge mobilisation and implementation?
It is hoped that the combination of CTF outcome funding and support for better coordinated local anchor constellations will enable greater diversity of engagement between statutory health and social care bodies. Ultimately, this will help to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities.
Related papers, outputs and resources
The work will produce annual progress reports and deliver shared learning events so that learning from the pilot study can be publicised more widely.
In addition, you can:
Who is involved?
- Principal Investigator: Alec Fraser, King's College London
- Dr Claire Thompson, University of Hertfordshire
- Dr Adam Wagner, University of East Anglia
- Clare FitzGerald, King's College London
- Kelen Abnett, University of Hertfordshire
Get in contact
Email Alec Fraser or Dr Claire Thompson at alec.fraser@kcl.ac.uk or c.thompson25@herts.ac.uk.
