A new report
showing how communities have been inspired and helped to improve
the health of all their residents is published today.
The Communities for Health programme is helping some of the most
disadvantaged communities in the country. More than 360 local
activities have enabled people to take control of their own health
and wellbeing, tackling obesity, smoking, drugs and alcohol.
This second report about the Programme, Unlocking the energy
within communities to improve health, describes how
community activities in more than 80 local authorities have
encouraged behaviour change and strengthened local partnership to
tackle a wide range of key health priorities.
For example:
* Barnsley has developed a peer support programme where parents
help vulnerable families to access healthcare and lead healthier lives.
* Doncaster is working with local partners on community-focused
schemes ranging from enhancing community allotments to improving
the fitness of primary school children; and from setting up peer
mentors for young people to health screening for workers who do
not normally access it.
* Brighton is working with older people, including services for
the Bangladeshi and Arabic communities, and volunteer schemes
where neighbours look out for older people, help with practical
tasks and provide company.
* Knowsley used social marketing in its development of ‘Snack
Right’, a project to increase fruit and vegetables as a snack of
choice for weaned children to the age of four in the most deprived areas.
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said:
“The NHS is based on the principle of fairness, treating all
those who need it regardless of their background. That is why the
Government has put in place the most comprehensive programme ever
in this country to address health inequalities, through providing
the NHS and local authorities with the tools and support they need.
“Mortality rates for cancer and cardiovascular disease have
fallen fastest in the most disadvantaged areas. Life expectancy
has improved for all social groups and infant mortality rates are
at their lowest ever level. Projects like these are invaluable in
giving everyone an equal chance of good health.”
Communities for Health is supported by the Improvement and
Development Agency (IDeA) who have published an accompanying
document Communities for Health: the story so far...
In 2008/09 Communities for Health funding of £11 million was
given to more than 80 local authorities with a further £9 million
in 2009/10.
Notes to Editors
The report is published on 15 October 2009 and is available on
the DH website: www.dh.gov.uk
The commitment in “Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps”
(June 2008) to further fund the Communities for Health programme
is one of a series of investments to increase support to local
areas to deliver the 2010 health inequalities national target.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk