OBJECTIVES: To feasibility test a novel community-based financial incentive scheme to promote healthy weight and well-being. DESIGN: Single-arm, prospective feasibility study using mixed methods. SETTING: Two communities in Scotland experiencing high levels of disadvantage according to the Scottish Index for Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Community C1 is in a large rural area with a small town centre (population~1.5K) and community C2 is a small and urban community (population~9K), enabling contextual comparison. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible adult (18 years or over) community members recruited through community outreach. INTERVENTION: The Enjoy Life LocallY (ELLY) intervention comprised free soup twice weekly (café/delivery/pickup)
loyalty card stamped for engagement in community assets (such as local activities, groups and clubs) exchanged for a £25 shopping card when a participant attends a minimum of 9 assets over 12 weeks
goal setting
information resources
self-monitoring of weight and well-being. OUTCOMES: Primary outcomes-feasibility of recruitment, retention and engagement. Acceptability of intervention components was assessed by self-reported questionnaires and interviews. Secondary outcomes-feasibility of collecting outcomes prioritised by communities for a future trial: health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), mental well-being (WEMWBS), connectedness (Social Connectedness Scale) and weight-related measures (weight, body mass index (BMI)). RESULTS: Over 3 months, 75 community citizens (35 citizens in C1, 40 citizens in C2) were recruited (125% of target recruitment of 60 participants (117% of 30 participants C1 target, 133% of 30 participants C2 target), 84% female, baseline weight mean (SD)=84.8 kg (20) and BMI mean (SD)=31.9 kg/m CONCLUSIONS: The ELLY study recruited and retained participants from two disadvantaged communities in Scotland. The study was acceptable to participants and feasible to deliver. A full trial is warranted to determine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, with consideration of scalability. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The ELLY feasibility study was not pre-registered.