Local government’s role in building a healthy society We’re working with local and regional government to highlight how they can help build a healthy society and fix the gaps that cause health inequalities
Right now, in the UK, some people are dying years younger than they should. Poverty, poor quality housing, and low paid or unstable jobs all impact people’s physical and mental health.
To create a healthy society for everyone, we need all the right building blocks in place: access to secure housing, good jobs with fair pay, quality education, and much more. These building blocks give people a solid frame to withstand life’s shocks and challenges – and local authorities can make a big difference in building healthier lives in the communities they serve.
On this page you can find a number of free resources for people working in or supporting local and regional government, including data, analysis, toolkits, frameworks and infographics.
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Communicating about health
Creating a healthy society requires greater action on the building blocks of health – the many different social, cultural, political, economic, commercial and environmental factors that influence our health. However, in the public debate about how to improve health in the UK, health inequalities and the wider determinants or building blocks are often left out or misunderstood.
We’ve been working with the FrameWorks Institute to help people think differently about health.
Devolution and health
Strategic authorities have a unique opportunity to shape the social and economic conditions that affect people’s health. With powers over transport, housing, skills and economic development, they have the potential to create healthier places and fairer opportunities.
We have been working with Strategic Authorities since 2019 to expand their role in improving health and reducing health inequalities. Currently, our £1.3 million Mayoral Regions Programme is building capacity to improve health and tackle health inequalities within Strategic Authorities.
Evidence hub data resource
Our What drives health inequalities? evidence hub brings together data, insights and analysis exploring:
- how the circumstances in which we live – such as our money and financial resources, the work we do, the housing we have access to – shape our health
- the trends and inequalities in these building blocks of health and in health outcomes.