Working together to reduce health inequalities

The Bevan Foundation is working with the People’s Health Trust to reduce inequalities in health.

Living on a low income or in a neighbourhood which experiences socio-economic disadvantage dramatically affects people’s health and well-being.

Not only are people more likely to suffer serious illness, they also on average live 9 years less than people in the wealthiest areas.

The People’s Health Trust believes in a world without health inequalities. They fund and support groups of residents which experience socio-economic disadvantage to address the underlying structural causes of health inequalities.

The Trust believes that supporting local communities to take greater control over what happens in their neighbourhood is key to creating new and stronger relationships, improving confidence and encouraging a greater sense of belonging.  In doing so, they can achieve long-term improvements in health.

The Trust currently funds two major programmes in Wales.

• The Local Conversations programme supports residents in neighbourhoods in Wales to shape decisions that affect their community.
• The Active Communities programme supports local people to come up with their own ideas to make their neighbourhoods even better places to live.

The Bevan Foundation will work with the People’s Health Trust to increase its understanding of the social and economic determinants of health in Wales and to facilitate its contribution to public policy.