RESIDENTS passionate about health and wellbeing are invited to make a difference to public health services in Warwickshire.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is launching a ‘Health Equity Group’ to ensure views from the community are always included in service planning and improvements.
Participation is voluntary and anyone over 18, living anywhere in Warwickshire, can get in touch below to find out more.
Training will be offered to members in March and the group, also involving representatives from the county council and different health organisations, will meet monthly from April.
The meetings will facilitate discussions to help identify solutions or needs for new initiatives to inform the development of a Warwickshire-wide programme that champions health equity among communities.
WCC health spokeswoman Margaret Bell said: “Tackling health inequality is an important area of focus for us as a health and care system.
“The Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2026 has a key priority to ‘reduce inequalities in health outcomes and the wider determinants of health’. Covid-19 has impacted our progress in this area and residents have been disproportionately affected by the virus with those in minority ethnic communities and vulnerable people facing increased levels of risk.
“The work of the new Health Equity Group will help to support this priority and respond to the needs of local people as residents will be directly involved, sharing experiences and ideas that could improve Warwickshire’s public health services, inform our decision-making processes, and help to reduce health inequalities across Warwickshire.
“It is important that people from all backgrounds from all over the county are represented in this group, and I encourage people to join in. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow residents, share ideas, and contribute to your local communities so everyone can feel safe, well and connected.”
Anyone can apply to become a member of the Health Equity Group. No qualifications are needed – just a passion for helping others and for ideas to improve public health outcomes.
A welcome meeting will take place on Thursday 24 February 24 for successful applicants and a free evening training sessions will be follow in March.
The group will be supported by a liaison officer in Warwickshire County Council.
Email at [email protected] for more information.
