The wider determinants of health are the social, environmental, and economic factors that shape people’s health and wellbeing. To make long‑lasting improvements, we need to understand the complex systems behind these factors and respond in ways that recognise how they interact.
Public Health Wales, working with Executive Directors of Public Health and their teams across Wales, has secured three years of funding from the Health Foundation’s Shaping Places programme. This funding, which began in June 2024, supports local government and partners to take joined‑up, system‑wide action on the wider determinants of health. Similar programmes are already running in England and Scotland.
The Shaping Places for Well‑being in Wales programme is a national resource designed to help Public Services Boards use systems thinking approaches as they develop and deliver their well‑being plans. It also supports sharing of learning between Public Services Boards and with partners across the UK.
Systems thinking is a way of understanding complex challenges by looking at how different factors, including policies, organisations, people and activities connect and influence one another. It helps us explore and take more effective decisions on strengthening the wider determinants of health.
Further information on systems thinking approaches in public health can be found here.
The programme has three main strands. These have been refined over time based on feedback, evaluation, and ongoing learning:
A national learning group brings together members and officers from Public Services Boards to develop skills in systems thinking in practice. Through workshops, practice sessions, and reflective activities, participants learn how to apply systems thinking tools, approaches, and mindsets to complex local challenges.
In response to feedback, the programme offers bespoke systems thinking support to individual Public Services Boards. This support is adapted to each area’s context and priorities, helping local partners explore problems more systemically and identify opportunities for collective action.
This group was set up to address challenges identified by Public Services Boards and national partners in delivering impact. It focuses on improving three key areas:
The programme team leads the work on improving learning spaces so Public Services Boards have more opportunities to share insight, reflect, and learn from one another.