Asset-based approaches

This evidence summary seeks to address the following question relating to the outcomes of involvement in social enterprises for young people with additional support needs: What are the benefits of social enterprise ventures such as cafés for young people with additional support needs? How does evidence from academic research and lived experience back up the approaches taken by [organisation redacted] as examples of good practice? It identifies some key studies relating to the wide range of outcomes for young people with additional support needs from work- and employment-based social enterprise interventions and recommendations for good practice.

Catch-up with East Dunbartonshire Council about how an assets-based approach can improve mental health and wellbeing.

WITTY is a free iPad app which enables people to visually map positive assets and factors they have and can better engage with in day to day life.

Whilst we have provided this tool on an iPad you could create a paper version yourself using A3/A4 paper and images and objects you have to hand.

The Project aimed to incorporate strength-based practice in the delivery of mental health services by piloting Personal Asset Mapping, and to broaden awareness of community assets in order to show options outside of public service delivery including through developing a Community Well-being (asset) Map. This was intended to complement rather than replace attention to the needs of people who use services.

Lisa Pattoni presents highlights from Paul Morin's presentation and discusses his research with Fiona Garven of the Scottish Community Development Centre and Jennifer McLean of the Glasgow Centre for Centre for Population Health.

This Insight provides an overview of the research evidence on effective strengths based approaches for working with individuals and presents selected illustrative examples, written by Lisa Pattoni.

For more information on the "Using an assets approach for positive mental health and well-being" project, please see the Asset Mapping project blog. Please note that the report is available for download in both PDF and EPUB versions above, in addition to being reproduced in full below.