Stronger Together: Building place-based partnerships to tackle health inequalities

How can the voluntary and community sector (VCSE), the NHS and local authorities work together more effectively to reduce health inequalities?

This is a question that has been asked across the UK for years - and it’s not going away. 

VCSE organisations are at the heart of preventative, place-based and neighbourhood health models that meet the needs of communities facing the biggest inequalities. The Kings Fund highlight their importance to the delivery of the NHS England 10 Year Plan, citing their role as “a strategic partner, advocate and bridge to communities”.

However, building genuine, cross-sector partnerships can be challenging — especially in the face of high demand, limited resources and ongoing system change.

Putting it into practice

Over the past three years, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Health Equalities Programme has supported 12 local areas to do just that: developing effective and sustainable partnerships between the voluntary and community sector, the NHS and local authorities, to improve health and wellbeing, reduce health inequalities, and empower communities.

As Learning and Support partner for this programme, we’ve been privileged to walk alongside them on their partnership journey, exploring the enablers and barriers to meaningful collaboration.

Join our final learning event 

As this programme comes to an end, we’re inviting you to join us for our final online learning event - Stronger Together: Building place-based partnerships to tackle health inequalities - on 18th November, 1-2.30pm. 

The opening panel will be chaired by Minal Bakhai, Director of Primary Care and Community Transformation; National Lead for the Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, NHS England, who will explore how this work is ‘mission critical’ to the shift from hospital to community, prioritised in the NHS 10 Year Plan. 

She will be joined by the Health Equalities Grantees, who will share their real-world insights and practical advice on: 

• The conditions required to create and sustain effective partnerships.
   
• How local VCSE organisations can influence and work alongside statutory partners.
   
• Interventions and approaches that embed collaborative practice

Join us to share your thoughts, ask questions, and come away with ideas and inspiration for strengthening VCSE-led partnership working in your local area.