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This commentary paper welcomes calls for widening participation amongst ethnic minorities in research that aims to understand well-being. However, we demonstrate how a history of exclusion in the daily routines of communities render such calls limited in their ability to address inclusion fully. The absence of ethnic minorities from spaces and dialogues that define what constitutes good well-being is highlighted. We use life-courses that align with Western norms as an example to develop our arguments. Overall, exclusion is rooted in colonial histories and the discrimination experienced by ethnic minorities during day-to-day, routine living. Additionally, relational ontologies of well-being are overwhelmed by individualised constructs. We outline how the suppression of marginalised values in everyday spaces and activities has limited meaning-making in relation to well-being amongst ethnic minority individuals and groups. We characterise this marginalisation as an epistemic injustice in defining well-being. In our conclusions, we call for dialogues and developments in critical race theory (CRT) to be considered in research commissioning processes. Spaces and dialogues that are owned and shaped by ethnic minorities should be supported before we can widen participation in well-being research meaningfully. Values that are practised and developed in such spaces can then contribute to how communities define well-being and the appropriate ways in which it can be studied. It should be acknowledged that we use the term ethnic minority throughout this paper for brevity. The diverse experiences and perspectives that this term covers should be engaged with when considering the recommendations that we make.

ABSTRACTThis study examines the feasibility of using an indoor environment sensor system to improve property management and health in social housing. Over a 6-year period, sensors were installed and maintained in 280 homes to monitor temperature, humidity, and air quality, with the sensor data provided to residents and the Housing Association (HA) through co-designed dashboards. Employing a mixed method sequential research design, feasibility was evaluated using the RE-AIM model. From the residents’ perspective, monitoring the indoor environment was acceptable, but adoption rates of the dashboard were low and there was minimal evidence of its effectiveness in prompting changes in behavior. From the HA perspective, the system proved effective in identifying high-risk homes, prompting the HA to reach out to vulnerable residents, and provide more timely support and maintenance. The system also facilitated long-term monitoring, planning, and helped the HA achieve its social objectives and legislative responsibilities. Despite initial technical challenges, HA staff expressed a desire to continue using the system, integrate it with existing infrastructure, and expand its deployment to more homes. However, scaling the intervention would require careful planning. In conclusion, sensor systems are a feasible intervention that holds promise in helping to address health risks in underserved communities.

As part of the NHS long-term strategy to meet the medical and non-medical needs of patients, there is growing acceptance that the traditional model of service delivery can no longer meet current challenges. This has led to the co-creation of services with patients and other stakeholders such as the voluntary and community sector to help deliver these. Social prescribing, which is now available through the NHS, is one such option that allows individual patients with a social need to access local health resources and social support outside the NHS.

ABSTRACTWe critically explored the use of Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) in the evaluation of a co-designed intervention toolkit for Healthy Ageing through Innovation in Rural Europe (HAIRE). The toolkit was co-designed and implemented in rural communities in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. NPT was applied as a novel analytical framework to shed light on key practices and processes that supported implementation. Further, the paper discusses how social innovation research helps frame co-designing such interventions with local communities. During the study, 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with project partners and volunteers who were involved in toolkit co-design and implementation. A need for co-designing toolkits that explore ageing holistically was identified. Holistic understandings of ageing can be developed by paying attention to person-centred and place-based (context-specific) aspects of ageing. Finally, we illustrate how NPT can guide future evaluation frameworks as it offers the flexibility required to understand context-specific implementation.