Social Capital and Community Well-Being

Social capital defined as networks of social assets enabling individuals and communities to achieve goals through shared relationships, identity and norms—has emerged as critical for understanding community well-being and addressing health inequalities. Erosion of social capital in marginalized communities contributes to service barriers, unemployment and chronic ill health. This chapter examines the historical development of social capital as a concept, its multidimensional nature and its relationship to community well-being, focusing on health, education and employment outcomes while acknowledging potential negative effects. Case studies of interventions from the Southwest of England aimed at increasing social capital are presented to provide real world examples to illustrate the theoretical models described. Key findings from the literature are explored leading to the conclusion that social capital represents a powerful but complex mechanism for promoting community well-being with promise for addressing health inequalities when approached inclusively.