Communities Making a Difference for health

The theme of this year's conference was 'Making a Difference: Tackling Health Inequalities in a Community Setting'. The conference highlighted and showcased a broad range of work being taken forward by the 14 NNHAZ neighbourhoods to tackle health inequalities and improve the health and well being of their local residents.

Speakers from local communities across the Northern area shared their experiences of working to reduce health inequalities within their neighbourhoods. The 150 strong audience was provided with an insight to some of the health challenges faced by local communities and the benefits of working in partnership with the statutory, voluntary and community sectors to effect positive health and well-being changes.

The conference programme focused on how the HAZ model of partnership working and joint action planning has resulted in significant positive changes and improvements in the HAZ neighbourhoods and for the local residents living within them.

Speaking about the importance of building community capacity, Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health Improvement with the Public Health Agency, said:

"The HAZ model of partnership working and joint action planning has resulted in significant positive changes for local residents - both in terms of addressing the wider determinants of health and building social capital. It is clear that well organised and empowered communities, such as the NNHAZ neighbourhoods, are highly effective in determining their own health – as clearly demonstrated by those communities participating in today's conference."

The conference programme consisted of presentations from several NNHAZ neighbourhoods, highlighting projects which have been progressed to support the three key themes of the Health Action Zone – access to education and empowerment; access to services and facilities; and the promotion of positive mental health.