Edberts House - community-led health and wellbeing
From a case study by Power to Change
On the High Lanes estate in Gateshead, Edberts House is more than just a building - it’s a warm, welcoming space that has been that listening ear since 2009. With a pioneering approach to community-led health and wellbeing, Edberts House is proving that real change starts on your doorstep.
“We have tried to create an atmosphere that is like a house, not a community centre,” says Chief Executive Sarah Gorman. “There’s something much nicer about a more homely environment that you can walk to, in your slippers, that’s in the middle of your estate. We’re like extended family.”
The charity opened to understand some of the prevalent issues in the community. “This area once had the highest levels of antisocial behaviour in Gateshead,” explains Sarah. “There was a wonderful sense of community but people felt very disenfranchised. So we started to think: we don’t have to wait for others to come along and sort things out, we can create solutions for ourselves. To ask: how do we really enrich community life and start to address the cause of issues rather than the symptoms?”
The core values of Edberts House are ‘love, kindness, bravery, generosity, trust, equity and respect’, and they work across two key areas: community development and social prescribing, with all work aimed at improving health equity.
After piloting a programme with a local GP surgery – where Edberts House placed a community worker within the surgery – they found that one in three patients visiting the GP did not have a clinical issue, but a social one. The combination of cuts, closures, and high levels of local deprivation had left many in the community struggling to know who, or where, to turn for help, support and connection.
It’s this focus on looking at inequalities and health outcomes through the lens of prevention, community building and addressing social issues that has led to Edberts House being recognised for good practice by the Institute of Health Equity. The charity now operates four community houses, employs over 40 people, supports over 7,000 people a year, and works across 18 GP surgeries as well as in secondary care settings.
The impact has been significant. Not only has antisocial behaviour noticeably decreased in the area where they first started working back in 2009, but there’s been a tangible and positive effect on the lives of local people. Doctors and other professionals are also celebrating the impact of their work.
The presence of Edberts House as a physical bedrock of the community, a literal next-door neighbour on the estate for many, continues to act as a vital lifeline.
Read the full article here.
What if this was an expression of church and prayer could be offered?
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From a case study by Power to Change, 17/02/2026