Working with community groups to reduce health inequalities
6 June 2022
“I would like people to take notice of people like me who have a large amount of life experience but have never been asked their opinion”
(2021, BNSSG HEPP survey participant)
The insights and diverse thinking of people and communities are essential to enabling Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to tackle health inequalities and the other challenges faced by health and care systems. (2021, NHSEI)
Local community groups in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are giving voice to the experiences of the people they work with and actively improving people’s health and wellbeing in a variety of ways. As Healthier Together evolves as an ICS we want to build on and support these community groups and community assets more broadly.
Two recent projects developed through Healthier Together and funded by grants from NHSEI bring this into sharp focus. These projects have highlighted how vital community groups and organisations are in building trust with communities, and in designing and delivering services that work for the people that need it most.
Read more about:
- The Health Equality Partnerships Programme (HEPP), led by The Care Forum an independent voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisation:
– Read the HEPP Executive summary or full report.
– Read the Top Tips for Co-Designing Health Services with BAME and/or deprived communities. These top tips are based on local rapid searches completed through the HEPP.
– Watch the HEPP video podcasts the Care Forum recorded.
– If you need the information above in a different format or would like to discuss the work please email bnssg.clinical.effectiveness@nhs.net. - Reducing Inequalities Grants (ongoing project) –
– Grants of up to £10,000 were awarded to nine community groups to improve Covid vaccination uptake and reduce health inequalities by supporting communities to come up with solutions that work for their population.
– Interim report due in July.
– Read more about the Reducing Inequalities Grants.
If you have questions about either project, please email bnssg.clinical.effectiveness@nhs.net.