Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP)

Pilton Community Health Project has been working in the Pilton area since 1984 - that makes it the oldest community health project in Scotland.

We use a social model of health - looking at how health is affected by everyday life and is as much about the quality of your emotional and social situation as about your experience of disease or disability.

We work with local people to identify causes of ill health (e.g. stress) and tackle them (e.g. counselling) and to campaign for better health services.

We run a range of activities and groups that local people can join so they can feel healthier or learn more about how to live healthier lives.

How do we tackle the causes of ill health?

We work using a community development approach. This means we want to work with local people, rather than tell them what to do. A community development approach is a process that includes:

- Promoting learning, knowledge, skills, confidence and the ability to act collectively.
- Taking positive action to address inequalities in power, access and participation.
- Strengthening organisation, networking and leadership with and between communities.
- Working for change through increased local democracy, participation and involvement in public affairs.