PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 11 Making sense of community wellbeing: processes of analysis in participatory wellbeing assessments in South London

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 11 Making sense of community wellbeing: processes of analysis in participatory wellbeing assessments in South London Andrea Cornwall Introduction estate1 of around 6,000 people in the London Borough of Sutton in September 1996. It had a number of objectives. Conventional health needs assessment, in the UK as elsewhere, generally involves the First, it sought to engage residents in collection and analysis of quantitative data by `expert' researchers. Shifting the frame from documenting and analysing their needs, as they analysis by health researchers to a process of themselves saw them. Secondly, by co-learning with community members broadening the focus from `needs' to involves a number of challenges, which this `wellbeing', it aimed to stimulate greater involvement and collaboration between a article seeks to address. It draws on experience range of professionals dealing with a broad with Participatory Wellbeing Assessments in range of wellbeing-related needs. Thirdly, by the London Boroughs of Sutton and Merton over the last few years. involving residents at every stage, it aimed to catalyse a process that would build longer- Putting locally perceived needs on the term partnerships for action. agenda I played more of an active role in this than in ...