LONDON, UK: Primary Health Properties (PHP) announced the launch of its Community Impact Fund as part of PHP’s wider ESG initiatives.
The fund is designed to support health and well-being initiatives in the communities served by its medical centres. This is the latest initiative led by the Group’s newly formed Environmental, Social and Governance Committee.
PHP has partnered with UK Community Foundations to offer grants to charities and community groups that are focused on social prescribing and community wellbeing projects in two pilot regions in Scotland and Lincolnshire.
PHP will be working with its GP practices and their social prescribing coordinators to promote the fund to organisations delivering social prescribing services to their patient lists and local communities.
The Community Impact Fund forms part of the Group’s ‘Premises, Health and People’ strategy which has formalised its dedication to responsible business.
Social prescribing enables a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing and PHP has created its Community Impact Fund to support GP practices and their communities with this model of care.
Social prescribing has a vital role to play in helping communities recover and rebuild after the coronavirus pandemic, particularly given increased demand for services to support mental health and combat loneliness.
Harry Hyman, CEO of Primary Health Properties, commented: “We are delighted to be working with UK Community Foundations, to ensure that our Community Impact Fund can be distributed to those services supporting the primary care and social prescribing provision within those targeted communities.
“The UKCF’s national coverage, their established community relationships and presence in the regions our portfolio covers will ensure that our fund is successfully promoted and delivered to those most in need.
“I’m very pleased with the work successfully carried out by our ESG committee so far, and this is another important initiative which will benefit all of our stakeholders.”
Rosemary Macdonald, CEO of UK Community Foundations, commented: “We are pleased that PHP has chosen to work with community foundations to distribute its new Community Impact Fund. Our members have a deep understanding of the needs of their local communities and our colleagues in Scotland and Lincolnshire will be able to identify organisations that will put this important new fund to excellent use, improving wellbeing across their communities.”
