Preventative Power is a report by UK Community Foundations (in partnership with Place Matters and Point North) that examines how community foundations across the UK are working with the NHS, local government, and voluntary & community sector (VCSE) organisations to shift the health system toward prevention and early intervention. It showcases concrete case studies that illustrate how place-based, grassroots initiatives—such as mental health support, community conversations to surface unmet health needs, and interventions addressing social determinants like housing, food security and poverty—can improve wellbeing, reduce health inequalities, and lessen pressure on acute services.

The report also draws out key lessons: how deep local knowledge, strong trust with communities, flexible funding, and partnership working are essential. It argues that community foundations are in a unique position to bridge between statutory health services and communities, and recommends scaling up these models, investing in the VCSE sector’s capacity, and building health policy and funding frameworks that treat prevention and place‑based work as central rather than peripheral.