Table 2.

Summary of key health literacy initiatives in Stoke-on-Trent (2015–2017).

Organization	Initiative	Those Supported by This	Intended Outcomes
Stoke Speaks Out	Using Early Years Story Boxes, Stoke Speaks Out works directly with childminders, children’s centers, schools, nurseries, and parents to embed a range of early speech and communication strategies. Using play-based scenarios and a multi-sensory approach, the children are immersed in health-related vocabulary, which provides a foundation for later learning. So far, four health literacy Early Years Story Boxes have been created: (1) going to the dentist; (2) going to the hospital; (3) going to the doctors; (4) healthy eating	Early years children and their care providers	Increased familiarity and confidence with health scenarios and language
Open Network & Schools Sports Partnership	This partnership project within schools in the city adds value to the physical education and sport experience of primary-aged children in Stoke-on-Trent by embedding health literacy concepts into the way that School Sports Leaders (who are children themselves) encourage others to be more active and healthy	Children in primary and secondary schools	Easier to understand and act on information about healthy exercise and eating
Haywood Community Hospital	Based on health literacy best practice, the Centre is improving the well-being of people with arthritis and related conditions by (a) being thoughtful about how information is made available to people, (b) working in partnership with the local Public Health team to gain access to the latest health information, and (c) ensuring that volunteers working in the center receive training in health literacy	Inpatients and outpatients being supported by this hospital	Improved information sharing via the use of trained volunteers in the Patient Information Centre
University Hospital of North Midlands	University Hospital of North Midlands have launched the “It’s OK to Ask!” initiative, which encourages patients to engage more fully with health care professionals by asking three questions: “What is my main problem?” “What do I need to do?” “Why is it important I do this?”	Outpatients	Increased confidence to engage with medical staff via the “It’s OK to Ask!” initiative.
The Cultural Sisters	The Cultural Sisters is a participatory arts organization with a focus on Arts and Health, engaging with people using a creative processes to explore and learn about health and wellbeing issues. Health literacy concepts have been embedded into these arts projects, allowing people to engage more fully with the health messages being shared	Vulnerable groups in society	Increased esteem and confidence through participatory arts
Community Health and Learning Foundation	Health literacy training and awareness for a broad range of professions and service providers, including General Practitioners (GPs) and other GP practice personnel, pharmacists, dentists, school teachers and other educators, participatory art group leaders, social workers, local authority planners and commissioners, and fire service professionals. Training courses were also run alongside that equip other trainers and teachers to support service users, school children, and other people from Stoke-on-Trent with the confidence and knowledge to improve their own health literacy	GPs and other GP practice personnel, pharmacists, dentists, school teachers and other educators, participatory art group leaders, social workers, local authority planners and commissioners, and fire service professionals. 65 people trained, 3 courses delivered (Year 1); 92 people trained, 6 courses delivered (Year 2); 49 people trained, 3 courses delivered (Year 3)	Increased understanding of health and literacy and confidence in supporting service users to improve their own health literacy
Quality Improvement Framework	Quality Improvement Framework that includes health literacy as a key component and a health literacy video as part of the training.	GPs and other GP practice personnel, and the wider public	Increased understanding of health and literacy and confidence in supporting service users to improve their own health literacy