Six areas in England have been chosen to take part in a programme aimed at tackling health inequalities and improving the wellbeing of local communities.
The Healthy communities together programme will bring together local authorities, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector to demonstrate how partnerships can tackle deep-rooted health inequalities.
The chosen areas - Coventry, Croydon, Gloucestershire, Leeds, Newham and Plymouth - will receive grant funding up to £500,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund and will benefit from leadership development support from The King’s Fund.
Richard Murray, chief executive of The King's Fund, said: 'The Healthy communities together programme will provide these six areas with the much-needed financial headroom and development support to build long-lasting partnerships. Through this, they should be well-placed to tackle some of the engrained inequalities that often leave the most-deprived communities facing the worst health outcomes.’
Elly De Decker, England director at The National Lottery Community Fund, added: ‘Through the Healthy communities together programme, we are investing in the potential of cross-sector partnerships to improve health outcomes for communities across England.
'This funding, raised by players of the National Lottery, will give voluntary and community organisations the much needed time and flexibility to build strong partnerships in their area to shape local health and care plans, thus unlocking their local knowledge and expertise for wider benefit.’
