Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Strategy

For more information on the information in this strategy, please contact:

Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health Gateshead

Email: [email protected]

Our strategic partners

NHS Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear (opens new window)

NHS Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group (opens new window)

NHS Gateshead Health (opens new window)

Healthwatch Gateshead (opens new window)

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (opens new window)

Connected Voice (opens new window)

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (opens new window)

Northumbria Police (opens new window)

The Gateshead Housing Company

Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnership

Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Board

Since we launched our Health and Wellbeing Strategy in 2020, our communities have faced extraordinary challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and deepened existing inequalities, while the ongoing cost of living crisis has placed even greater pressure on individuals, families, and services. These events have tested our strength and ability to adapt, but they have also reaffirmed the importance of making Gateshead a place where everyone thrives. The health and care system also continues to see significant changes including the NHS England 10-year plan with the ambition to move from hospitals to communities, from analogue to digital and from treatment to prevention. Responding to these challenges requires a joined-up approach. The partnership approach of the Health and Wellbeing Board in driving this work through our organisations and systems, could not be more important.

This updated and developed strategy continues the approach we started in 2020. While we have made progress in some areas, there is still much more to do. The gap in health and social outcomes in many cases is widening. We live in an increasingly digital world; one marked by increasing risk from misinformation that can impact health and put lives at risk. We must act with renewed urgency and purpose.

Reducing health and social inequalities is not just a matter of fairness, it is essential for the wellbeing of all. In more unequal societies, civic participation declines, household debt rises, and child wellbeing suffers. It is wrong that a person's health and life chances are so closely tied to their social and economic circumstances. 

In Gateshead, the evidence is stark. Child poverty remains unacceptably high. In 2023 to 2024, the proportion of children (under 16) in absolute low income families had increased to 23.5% (JSNA headline data). In 2024 to 2025, 7,891 people accessed emergency food support from Gateshead Foodbank.2 These figures are not just statistics; they represent real people in our communities struggling to meet their most basic needs.

I welcome the inclusion of the additional objectives set out by Sir Michael Marmot, specifically addressing the fundamental issues of racism and sustainability. Evidence tells us that racism has a significant impact on physical health and wellbeing and that it is the communities with the least resources that suffer most from climate change. These additions reflect our commitment to tackling structural inequalities and ensure that 
our approach to health and wellbeing is inclusive, equitable, and future-focused. By embedding these principles, we are strengthening our resolve to create a fairer and more resilient Gateshead for all.

As Sir Michael Marmot reminds us: "Why treat people and send them back to the conditions that made them sick?" (https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/marmot-review-10-years-on (opens new window)).  We are determined to break the cycle of disadvantage and build a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future for all.

Cllr Martin Gannon - Leader, Gateshead Council

We don't all have the same opportunities to live healthy lives. In Gateshead, life expectancy is up to sixteen years less than in the areas of England with the highest life expectancy. (https://analytics.phe.gov.uk/apps/health-inequalities-dashboard/ (opens new window))

People living in poorer areas not only die sooner than those in wealthy areas but spend more of their lives with disability or poor health. 

Our health is shaped by the world around us. A healthy and thriving community needs the right building blocks in place (https://www.health.org.uk/resources-and-toolkits/quick-guides/what-builds-good-health (opens new window)). Building blocks like enough income to live on, access to warm, affordable and secure housing, safe neighbourhoods, clean air, green spaces, supportive relationships, and high-quality services such as health and social care. Missing or broken building blocks lead to poor health and deepening inequalities. 

Our 2020 Health and Wellbeing Strategy recognised the importance of these building blocks through its vision: "Good jobs, homes, health and friends". This continues to be the vision we are working towards in our updated Health and Wellbeing Strategy. 

Because the factors that shape our health are so wide-ranging, no single organisation can tackle them alone. That's why this strategy is built on a strong partnership. Across Gateshead, we're fortunate to have a committed network of partners - from the NHS and local government to voluntary organisations and community groups - all working together to align our efforts and create opportunities to improve health and reduce inequalities. 

Our shared ambition is clear - to strengthen the building blocks of health and wellbeing - fixing where needed, reinforcing some areas, and sustaining what's strong - so that everyone in Gateshead can thrive and reach their full potential.

We know this is possible - because we've seen it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities, organisations, and individuals came together in extraordinary ways, acting with compassion, solidarity, and purpose. 

That spirit of collaboration continues today, with agile and innovative work taking place in many areas across the system, and it gives us hope that we can close the health gap and break the cycle of disadvantage, so that every person, in every neighbourhood, can thrive.

Councillor Lynne Caffrey 
Chair, Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board

Our vision for health and wellbeing in Gateshead: 'Good jobs, homes, health and friends.'

We want Gateshead to be a place where everyone thrives.

We pledge to:

• Put people and families at the heart of everything we do
• Tackle inequality so people have a fair chance
• Support our communities to support themselves and each other
• Invest in our economy to provide sustainable opportunities for employment, 
• innovation and growth across the borough
• Work together and fight for a better future for Gateshead

Our Commitment:

We, the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board, renew our shared commitment to the vision of our Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and to delivering the eight strategic objectives.

• We will work together to align all plans and strategies with the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. This will act as a golden thread through all that we do 
• We commit to implementing the strategy through genuine collaboration with our partners and communities
• We will be transparent about the opportunities and challenges, focusing resources to those in most need 
• We will use evidence to inform decisions, measure progress and share learning, and embed a 'health and wellbeing in all policies' approach to drive meaningful and sustained impact. 

When we use the language of "we" and "our" throughout this strategy this is to be read as all members of the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board, and its connected forums and partners.

Our Gateshead Joint Strategic Needs Assessment helps us to understand the key issues facing people in Gateshead. The ongoing challenges, and emerging issues, for health and wellbeing in Gateshead are set out by Health and Wellbeing Strategy objectives on the Marmot principles..

We know that people in Gateshead experience significant health inequalities.

Two babies, born on this day in Gateshead, could have as much as a 13-year difference in life expectancy due entirely to the circumstances into which they are born. 

 

If you look beyond Gateshead those same babies could have as much as a 16-year difference in life expectancy when compared to the most affluent area in Britain.

We have developed a Local Index of Need (LIoN), which brings together data for 39 indicators, so we can identify geographically where our most vulnerable communities are within Gateshead, and effectively target our resources. We use this data to group the population into different categories to better understand the level of need.

Overall Local Index of need (LIoN) 2019 (opens new window) is this correct?

Add images for Gateshead Residents' Thrive Category 2019 and 2025

From this we know that, during 2024, 26% of residents were in vulnerable, or very vulnerable, situations with a further 51% just coping. In 2019, 40% of residents were in vulnerable, or very vulnerable situations with a further 29% just coping. There has been a positive improvement for our most vulnerable residents but at the same time we have fewer thriving residents, and the challenge is to move more residents into managing or thriving situations.

We want to keep working to change this, to make Gateshead a place where fewer people need direct support, or are on the edge of not coping, and more people are thriving.

We want to help our communities not just survive, but to flourish, prosper and succeed. We are all working differently, to achieve the right outcome for those people and families who require more care and support.

In 2020, we reviewed the evidence on how best to achieve our goals and, as a result we adopted the six policy objectives outlined in The Marmot Review: Fair Society, Healthy Lives (2010) and reaffirmed in Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On (2020) . We have now added Objective 7 and Objective 8, which were introduced by the Institute of Health Equity in 2022 to reflect growing recognition of their impact on health equity.

1. Give every child the best start in life
2. Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives
3. Create fair employment and good work for all 
4. Ensure a healthy standard of living for all 
5. Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities
6. Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention
7. Tackle racism, discrimination, and their outcomes
8. Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity together

To achieve our vision, we know the importance of working together, across Gateshead, with communities, breaking down boundaries between organisations and services. Our Joint Health and Wellbeing strategy combines a shared ambition to close the health gap in Gateshead from partners across the borough. By using this strategy and combining the efforts of all partners, we will improve health and wellbeing for everyone in Gateshead.

Our Strategy has been developed and agreed by our key partners. It will be delivered together with the organisations on the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board through our combined existing strategies, policies and plans. Our shared health and wellbeing vision and principles will guide everything we do.

Our health and wellbeing is shaped by the world around us. Building a healthy society is like constructing a strong and sturdy building. We need the right building blocks in place. (https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-12/HEAJ9448-Communicators-Toolkit-220725.pdf (opens new window)). These health and wellbeing building blocks include good jobs, safe homes and neighbourhoods, good quality and easy-to-access services, enough money to meet every day needs and more.

Wider determinants of health

• access to services
• income
• education and skills
• homes
• transport
• food
• environment
• supportive family and friends
• environment

Building blocks that are weak or missing result in poor health and health inequalities.

To effectively reduce the health gap, we must learn where building blocks are missing or broken, so that we can see the opportunities for action.
10 Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

We know that improving health and wellbeing in Gateshead means focusing on the specific needs, strengths, and circumstances of each local area. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work. Instead, we need to use a place-based approach that brings together different parts of the system to work in a joined up way. The Population Intervention Triangle sets out how this can work. Whilst the building blocks of health shows what we need to change, the Population Intervention Triangle (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-inequalities-place-based-approaches-to-reduce-inequalities/place-based-approaches-for-reducing-health-inequalities-main-report (opens new window)) helps us to understand how we can change things. It shows three types of action that, when combined, can make a bigger difference than any one on its own. 

Population intervention triangle

• Civic-level interventions are strategic actions taken by local authorities or other public sector bodies like the Police, Fire and Rescue and welfare agencies which aim to improve population health by changing the wider environment in which people live. Examples of this include legislation and regulation, planning policy, alcohol licensing and housing standards.
• Service-based interventions are public services delivered by the NHS, local authorities, or other organisations, including the voluntary and community sector, to support individuals directly, for example hospital services and social care and support services,
• Community-centred interventions are interventions where the community is actively involved in designing, delivering, or shaping the action - not just receiving it - including peer support, or local health champions and volunteers.

Working in this way means that we don't treat these areas as separate. Instead, we connect them, making sure everything we do is joined-up and tailored to local needs. When civic, service-based, and community-led actions come together through place-based planning, we can make a bigger difference to reducing health inequalities.We will use our insight from our Local Index of Need (LIoN) and work together with local communities and those with lived experience, to help us to see the relative needs of different places and people. 

This will support us in identifying and developing suitable interventions and where they would be best targeted within local communities.In addition to geographically defined communities, we will also think about the needs of diverse communities and those experiencing health inequalities, to jointly develop approaches which will help to close the health gap.

An example of how the Population Intervention Triangle works

Food insecurity is when a person cannot reliably access enough affordable and healthy food. The North East has the second highest food insecurity rate in England. Rising food inflation has hit healthy staples hardest - nutritious foods cost 2 to 3 times more per calorie than unhealthy ones.(https://foodfoundation.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-04/TFF_The%20Broken%20Plate%202025.pdf (opens new window))  Shops, high streets and TV and street advertising often promote ultra-processed, cheap options high in salt, fat, and sugar.

Diet-related disease is a leading cause of illness and preventable early death. In Gateshead, only half of adults eat enough fruit and veg; children eat even less. Obesity affects 37.9% of Year 6 children (https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/obesity-physical-activity-nutrition/data#page/1 (opens new window)) and 68.4% of adults, (https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/obesity-physical-activity-nutrition/data#page/1 (opens new window)) with higher rates in deprived areas. Food insecurity makes it hard for people to plan cook and eat healthy food and can lead to poor nutrition and unhealthy eating behaviours.

Civic level interventions

Gateshead Council has a planning policy to limit new fast-food takeaways near schools and in areas with high obesity rates. This has helped improve children's health in the most deprived areas, where a Lancaster University study showed a 4.8% drop in obesity rates compared to similar places without the policy. 

Community centred interventions

Community groups across Gateshead are working to improve access to healthy food and reduce diet-related health inequalities. Through cooking classes, food education, food growing projects, places and events to share food together, these initiatives are helping people build skills, confidence and connections around nutritious, affordable food. Many of these projects come together through Gateshead Food Partnership to share ideas, learning, resources and skills.

Service lead interventions

Over 30 local organisations offer emergency food support, from large charities to small community groups. With support from government funding and the council, they are working together to make sure no one goes hungry or cold. Residents can also get financial help directly from the council; all who are eligible for Free School Meals get vouchers in the holidays; and Citizens Advice Gateshead are based at food banks to offer support and help stop future crises.

We aim to deliver the most positive outcomes for everyone, but we will focus our resources to help those in the most need - this will mean doing different things in different places.

We know we need to do more to address inequalities so we will prioritise the use of our collective resources to those communities in Gateshead that need us most. This is very different to how we have previously allocated resources based on equality (everyone getting the same).

Equality:
everyone is given the same support. Because their needs differ, they don't all get the same outcome. Equal treatment doesn't produce equal results

Equity:
People are given different levels of support based on their needs. Now everyone can see the game. Resources are distributed fairly, rather than equally

Removing Barriers: 
Instead of continually giving different levels of support, the structural barrier (the fence) is removed. Now everyone can see the game without extra help

The diagram shows that giving everyone the same level of support doesn't work. People need support that matches their level of need, and we should also try to remove the barriers that cause those needs in the first place.

As national policies continue to change, we face both new opportunities and new challenges. To respond well, we need to make sure our approaches are more person‑centred, easier for people to use, and focused on prevention. Different areas and groups will need different approaches, based on their local needs and strengths. By working in this way, we can better meet our shared goals at national, regional, and local levels.

Delivering these aims will take coordinated action from a wide range of partners, strategies, and structures. We recognise that many workstreams are already underway and addressing much of what is needed. This strategy will not replace that work. Instead, it will acknowledge it, bring it together, 
streamline it, and strengthen it - both across partner organisations and in collaboration with our communities.

While the Joint Health and Wellbeing Board has the statutory responsibility for overseeing the strategy, we will identify the most appropriate multi‑agency boards or partnerships to lead on delivering each of the eight strategic objectives. Each objective sets out how work is already happening and how it will continue to develop.

We are implementing a Health and Wellbeing in All Policies (HiAP) approach because many of the building blocks of health and wellbeing - including housing, education, transport, employment, the local environment and access to health, care and support services - are shaped by decisions made across the Council, NHS, and other public sector organisations. HiAP is about working together across all services and sectors to think about how our decisions affect the building blocks of health and wellbeing, and to use every opportunity to improve health and reduce inequalities. It is an internationally recognised framework, endorsed by the World Health Organisation.

Health and Wellbeing in All Policies is one of six cross-cutting themes, we have agreed as essential for successful outcomes as we implement our Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Our six cross-cutting themes

• Health and Wellbeing in all Policies
• Leadership and Governance
• Communications, Engagement - working with communities, Networks for collaboration
• Research, Learning and Evaluation
• Employee Experience and Wellbeing
• Training and skills development

Developing these themes will provide a firm foundation as we continue to implement our Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

We recognise that many of the outcomes we want to deliver, across the Strategy are very ambitious. However, we feel passionately that all Gateshead residents deserve to live in conditions that create good health and wellbeing. Whilst the strategy is aspirational, we will work to measure our progress, looking at the steps we need to take to achieve our goals together. The strategy is the starting point from which we will set out a clear action plan that captures the work that is already being done in Gateshead and details what else we will do across partner organisations to achieve our aims.

We aim to deliver the most positive outcomes for everyone, but we will focus our resources to help those in the most need - this will mean doing different things in different places.

We know we need to do more to address inequalities so we will prioritise the use of our collective resources to those communities in Gateshead that need us most. This is very different to how we have allocated resources in the past based on equality (everyone getting the same).

1. Give every child the best start at life
2. Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives
3. Create the conditions for fair employment and good work for all
4. Ensure a healthy standard of living for all
5. Create and develop sustainable place and communities
6. Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention
7. Tackle racism, discrimination and their outcomes
8. Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity together

The foundation for a healthy life starts in pregnancy and extends throughout childhood. To address inequalities, we need to narrow the gap in children's access to positive experiences in early life and prevent adverse childhood experiences. We know that many children and young people in Gateshead already live in circumstances which support them to have the best start in life. We know there are some families, or communities, where added pressures make the best start in life more difficult to achieve.

We know the importance of an environment that makes confident, resilient and positive parenting possible. 

We will continue to offer universal support to families through health and education services and deliver targeted support proportionately to meet the health and social needs of different families.

We know that investing in interventions early on, that support early years development, is the best way to help children achieve better outcomes throughout their lives.

We also understand how important transition points are in children's lives, and we will develop programmes to support them at each key milestone.

The action we will take

We will:

• focus our efforts on supporting confident, positive and resilient parenting, targeted to those who most need our support
• increase the focus of existing expenditure on early years to narrow the gap in early development 
• address the effects of adverse childhood experiences and trauma to improve the wellbeing of children and young children
• make sure maternity services, parenting programmes, childcare and early years' education are of high quality and meet the needs of all groups 
• support families to create a positive home learning environment to help children start school with a good level of development
• ensure children in our care, and those who are care experienced, have loving, stable homes and carers
• reduce inequality in child development and educational outcomes so that all children can thrive
• support schools to deliver an effective curriculum that addresses the skills required for later life and supports emotional, mental and physical health and wellbeing
• support Gateshead as a child friendly place through improving all building blocks of health reduce the long-term effects of child poverty and use local and regional opportunities to tackle poverty increase the proportion of free school meal eligible children who eat a school meal.
• Enable all children and young people to be physically active in line with the Chief Medical 
• Officers' recommended levels. (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d839543ed915d52428dc134/uk-chief-medical-officers-physical-activity-guidelines.pdf (opens new window))

We will deliver this through:

• Children and Young People's Partnership Strategy 
• Family Hubs and Best Start in Life and commissioned programmes 
• Education Schools and Inclusion including Gateshead Schools, early years and childcare settings
• Gateshead Safeguarding Children Partnership and Corporate Parenting Board
• Local VCSE organisations 
• Children and Young People's Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Transformation Plan 
• Gateshead SEND Strategy, Care Leavers Strategy and Young Carers Strategy 
• North East Child Poverty Action Plan and North East Child Poverty Reduction Unit
• Tackling Poverty Together Partnership strategy and action plan (in development)
• Gateshead Health Foundation Trust Corporate Strategy 
• Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board Clinical Conditions Plan and Quality Strategy.
• Ongoing engagement with children and young people through groups including SEND youth forum; children in care council, Gateshead Youth assembly

We will know we have made a difference when:

• we address the root causes and prevent the events and circumstances which lead to adverse childhood experiences.
• parents and carers can access evidence based support programmes to build resilience and improve outcomes for children
• all families can access affordable, high quality childcare, when and where they need it
• child poverty is reduced
• all children start school ready to learn, with a good level of child development
• permanent school exclusions are reduced
• the gap in educational attainment and wellbeing for all is narrowed

The building blocks of health and wellbeing have the power to affect our ability to achieve our potential and thrive.

The Covid‑19 pandemic and cost‑of‑living crisis have had a harmful, widespread impact on people's mental health and wellbeing. We will work to make emotional health and wellbeing a priority. When people have good emotional wellbeing, they live longer, enjoy a better quality of life, do better at school, gain and stay in employment, and build strong relationships.

We will make sure that everyone can take part in their communities, use local services, and help shape the future of Gateshead. We will listen to our communities so people feel their voices matter. Together, we want people in Gateshead to feel connected, empowered and have hope for the future. 

We will think about every stage of life, including the impact of dying and bereavement, and how these experiences affect people across Gateshead. Our aim is to help residents feel resilient, supported and valued.

With life skills, learning, volunteering, and readiness for work, young people and adults will be able to realise their full potential, to develop and take control over their lives.

The action we will take

We will:

• focus efforts on creating the conditions for people to enjoy positive emotional health and wellbeing. We will consider measures across the whole population alongside specific action in various settings, for example, the workplace and schools 
• make opportunities for volunteering and social action part of everyday life
• make sure we use multi-agency whole system responses, co-designed with people who have lived experience of health inequalities such as care experienced people, those with learning disabilities, and carers
• prioritise our resources towards those groups and communities who are most in need
• make sure that the views and opinions of local people are represented in all aspects of our work through our democratic process and asset-based community development approaches
• focus on improving our residents' achievement in education and skills for life, and support digital inclusion 
• prioritise preventing and reducing the scale and effect of violence and domestic abuse giving everyone control of their lives
• work closely with our communities, libraries, schools, colleges, organisations and trusted voices and leaders, to understand and address misinformation, using insights, research and tools that support media literacy
• create a shared vision and approach for Gateshead as a Compassionate Place

We will deliver this through:

• Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board Clinical Conditions Plan and Quality Strategy
• Local VCSE Offer
• Community-led support services and the co-production Framework
• North East Combined Authority Excellence in Education programme
• North East Combined Authority Economic Strategy 
• Gateshead Economic Development Strategy
• Local VCSE organisations with a focus on volunteering and developing social action
• Post-16 Education Strategy (in development)
• Gateshead Domestic Abuse Strategy and Action Plan
• Integrated Adults and Social Care Strategy
• SEND Strategy
• Adult Care Givers Strategy
• Autism Strategy
• Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust Corporate Strategy
• Cumbria Northumberland and Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Strategy
• Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements

We will know we have made a difference when:

• everyone feels listened to and that their voice counts
• Gateshead is a positive environment where everyone can enjoy good physical and mental health and wellbeing
• we can all access the right support when we need it
• all young people and adults are ready, and have the skills they need, for the workplace
• everyone is able to be an active part of their community and we see an increase in volunteering in Gateshead
• we have created an environment where domestic abuse is unacceptable.

We know that good quality jobs are essential for people's health and wellbeing. For work to support a healthy life, as set out by the Health Foundation (https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-03/190325_THF_Infographic_No.9_Work_AW03.pdf (opens new window)) it should; pay fairly and offer lasting security, ensure good working conditions, enable a good work life balance, and finally provide training and opportunities to progress.

We want to create the conditions for high quality employment for every Gateshead resident.
Research (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/768979/A_guide_to_community-centred_approaches_for_health_and_wellbeing__full_report_.pdf (opens new window)) shows that volunteering and contributing to your local community can improve physical and mental health and offer valuable experience and skills on the pathway into employment

The action we will take

We will:

• help to create the conditions for local wealth, better jobs and economic growth across Gateshead 
• encourage local enterprise through self-employment and develop community led, cooperative employment opportunities 
• support sustainable, diverse and flexible opportunities for employment, innovation and growth 
• develop opportunities for volunteering and social action as a positive pathway to work and remove barriers to participation
• support employers to create or adapt jobs, with flexible working patterns and the right support, to make it easier for people to balance employment with personal commitments that support their wellbeing and maintain their employment
• help employers to effectively promote and support good physical and mental health and wellbeing at work
• support employers to achieve recognised accreditation which celebrates organisations that create healthy workplaces and lead with fairness, opportunity and respect
• support our local public sector to offer apprenticeships and employment 
• review how we currently support people into work, and recruitment processes, making sure this meets the needs of those who face disadvantage, and work to remove the barriers and inequalities that stop our communities from having access to good jobs
• upskill and support people who are returning to the workplace, including building digital and technological skills.

We will deliver this through:

• Gateshead Strategic Partnership
• Gateshead Economic Development Strategy
• North East Combined Authority SHINE programme
• Better Health at Work Award
• Gateshead's Local Plan
• North East Local Transport Plan
• Gateshead Transport Strategy (in development)
• North East Combined Authority Transport Plan
• North East Combined Authority Economic Development Strategy
• Volunteering and local VCSE organisations 
• Apprenticeship Strategy
• Post-16 Education Strategy (in development)
• Tackling Poverty Together Strategy (in development)
• Growth Health Accelerator Programme
• Working Gateshead Programme
• Digital Inclusion Network

We will know we have made a difference when:

• all working age residents have access to good quality, sustainable work with decent pay and conditions 
• all people in low paid, low skilled jobs have opportunities to build their skills base so they can progress and improve their standard of living
• accessible and affordable childcare is available to support all children, working parents and employers
• residents who face barriers to working are supported into jobs
• people are able to keep working when their personal circumstances change or they face life challenges
• employment statistics reflects the diversity of our population

We know how important it is to give people the power to make the most of their money and their lives, and to reduce the stress that comes with moving between welfare support and work. A key part of this is tackling inequality so that people of all ages have a fair chance and an income that supports a healthy life. 

Every Gateshead resident should have a good standard of living, including healthy food, decent housing, and digital services, to meet essential needs. We know that living in poverty has a serious long-term impact on health including shorter life expectancy and experience of ill health earlier in life.

The action we will take

We will:

• commission and provide advice, information and guidance which is local and meets individual needs
• promote the real living wage, and agile and flexible working, to employers
• maximise household income by increasing take-up of eligible benefits, and improving financial skills to boost financial wellbeing across all age groups, including pensioners
• encourage increased access to Credit Union services across all communities, address the impact of the poverty premium for vulnerable residents and promote better access to finance and support to prevent and reduce debt
• support community-based initiatives and diverse forms of home ownership, that aim to make sure a more sustainable community approach to living
• advocate for vulnerable people and communities to reduce differences in access to local services, developing a more co-produced approach and enabling delivery through neighbourhood health plans and community-based support
• embed the socio-economic duty (Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010) 
• address food and fuel insecurity, and the harm it causes, for our most vulnerable residents
• encourage organisations and settings that serve food to the public to offer options that are nutritious, affordable, and appealing, making good food the easiest choice.

We will deliver this through:

• Tackling Poverty Together Partnership Strategy and Action Plan (in development)
• Gateshead Strategic Partnership
• North East Combined Authority Child Poverty Strategy 
• North East Combined Authority Child Poverty Reduction Unit
• Local VCSE organisations
• Gateshead Food Partnership 
• Fuel Poverty action plan
• Strategic Housing Board.

We will know we have made a difference when:

• all working age residents are paid a living wage that considers the true cost of healthy living
• there is reduced need for financial crisis support across our households and families
• the number of children living in poverty is reduced
• the number of residents living below the poverty line, or in deep poverty, is reduced
• individuals and families are supported to have the best possible financial wellbeing, to access 
• debt and welfare advice when needed, to maximise household income and improve financial management skills

Our health and wellbeing is influenced by where we live, and the communities and homes we live in. 
Using place shaping approaches, our vision is that Gateshead will be a more prosperous, attractive and sustainable place to live, with improved quality of life and thriving communities. 

Our residents will feel safe and secure, and supported in their communities. Gateshead will have connected local communities, with healthy neighbourhoods and high streets, strong community networks, local assets and access to services. Our residents will feel proud of where they live.

The action we will take

We will:

• develop policies, with a Health and Wellbeing in all Policies approach, embedding use of health impact assessment, to reduce the scale and effect of climate change and health inequalities 
• support the development of quality community activities, prioritising neighbourhoods with greatest need, remove barriers to community participation and support people to be involved locally 
• focus on strengthening community safety and preventing crime and anti-social behaviour
• make sure that all residents can feel part of local, vibrant communities where they can socialise, enjoy their local surroundings, and take part in sport, exercise, cultural and creative activities
• make it easier for residents to live healthy lives by improving access to environments that support health, such as shops that sell healthy and affordable food, community services, and green spaces. Working to reduce exposure to harmful environments
• move the delivery of our services closer to where people live in communities, working with local residents to make sure that support is easy to find and use
• make sure the provision of good quality, secure, affordable homes, offers housing choice to residents and meets current and future housing needs 
• intervene early to tackle and prevent homelessness, working in partnership with local organisations to better understand its root causes and how we address them
• make Gateshead accessible to all, achieving a shift to sustainable, public transport and active forms of travel

We will deliver this through:

• Gateshead's Local Plan
• Regeneration Plan 
• Housing Strategy
• Neighbourhood health plans and community based support
• North East Transport Plan
• Gateshead Transport strategy (in development)
• Licencing policy framework
• Volunteering and local VCSE organisations
• Strategic Housing Board
• Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy
• Culture strategy (in development)
• Gateshead Domestic Abuse Strategy and Action Plan
• Youth Justice Board
• Communities, Neighbourhoods and Localities Teams

We know we will have made a difference when:

• local communities and social networks are strong
• there is strong sense of pride in place 
• social connections are improved for groups in need
• all residents have access to a secure, high quality and affordable home
• no one is sleeping rough or living in unsuitable accommodation
• homelessness is a rare occurrence and where it does occur, there are positive outcomes for people
• all communities have access to good quality environments
• Gateshead has low levels of crime and anti-social behaviour

We know our health and care services are changing, and demand is increasing as our population gets older and technology advances. We must make sure that our services support everyone's needs. We will involve local communities and the voluntary and community sector in the planning of services to reflect local priorities and needs. We will integrate our health and care services whilst ensuring they are placed based and bespoke to the needs of individuals.

Our health and care system will measure success in terms of improved wellbeing, independence and social connections. We will try to move existing resources away from expensive acute care provision, so we can reinvest in prevention and early treatment and support measures, in line with the NHS 10 year plan. We will keep people who need complex support, living at, or near, home, to have the support of their family and community.

The action we will take

We will:

• prioritise funding for the prevention of ill-health that can lead to high-cost treatment and support at all levels 
• embed the local VCSE organisations in ill health prevention, planning and delivery
• work together to join up how we plan, make decisions and offer health, social care and housing services, to respond to needs where people live
• address inequalities in how we design, commission and deliver our services, to include how we think about health literacy and other barriers to accessing services and support 
• make sure that no-one is living in unhealthy or unsafe accommodation 
• reduce the scale and harm from alcohol, tobacco and drugs
• reduce the harm that industries and their products cause to people, and challenge messages that make harmful industries or products seem normal or blame people instead of the industry, such as alcohol, gambling and junk food
• design how we work, and what we do recognising and facilitating effective social prescribing approaches
• adopt a system-wide Make Every Contact Count approach
• support people to age well by making physical activity part of their daily lives, increasing strength and wellbeing, through active environments, groups and communities 
• shift to use of technology and digital in our systems, in a way that supports prevention, without excluding our residents 
• prevent unnecessary lives lost through suicide 
• monitor the health of people in Gateshead using long-term measures

We will deliver this through:

• Gateshead Health and Care System Board 
• Commissioning Strategy 
• Housing Strategy
• Physical Activity strategy 
• Drug and Alcohol Strategy (in development)
• Local VCSE organisations 
• Gateshead Smoke free, Healthy Weight and Alcohol Alliances
• Integrated Adults and Social Care Strategy
• Adult Caregivers Strategy
• Tackling Poverty Together Partnership Strategy and Action Plan
• Suicide Prevention Partnership (in development)
• Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust Strategy
• CNTW Strategy
• Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements
• Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board Clinical Conditions Plan and Quality Strategy

We know we will have made a difference when:

• all preventable ill health in Gateshead is reduced 
• we close the gap in inequalities within the borough 
• all residents will be able to access flexible health and care support, when and where they need it. 

Racism and discrimination contribute directly to health inequalities. Tackling these issues is not only the right thing to do, but it is also required by law through the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. In Gateshead, we recognise that systemic racism affects access to services, health outcomes, and the experience of our workforce and residents. Our commitment to this Marmot Principle reflects a broader ambition to create an inclusive, fair and equitable health and care system.

Research consistently shows that people who experience racism or discrimination face higher rates of chronic stress, and illness. (Walcott, S. and Nightingale, G. (2025) How racism affects health. London: The Runnymede Trust and the Health Foundation) Systemic biases within healthcare systems also contribute to unequal access to quality care and poorer treatment outcomes for people from minoritised backgrounds and their communities. (Kapadia, D., Zhang, J., Salway, S., Nazroo, J., Booth, A., Villarroel Williams, N., Bécares, L. and Esmail, A. (2023) Ethnic Inequalities in Healthcare: A Rapid Evidence Review. London: NHS Race & Health Observatory.) By tackling racism and discrimination across the building blocks of health, we can improve health and wellbeing for those affected and build a more inclusive, equitable society.

The action we will take

We will:

• support local voluntary groups that work with minoritised communities, and offer advice, advocacy, and signposting to specialist services for victims of racism and discrimination 
• make sure we listen to minoritised communities, they are included in decision making and have opportunities to tell us what they need 
• build trust and strengthen community cohesion across communities and with local institutions
• increase awareness of hate crime reporting and work with partners to improve support for victims of hate crimes
• provide cultural competency training to staff so that they understand, respect and work well with people from different backgrounds, so that services reduce barriers, provide support and everyone feels understood, included, and treated fairly.
• support staff across organisations to be active bystanders who challenge unconscious bias, racism and discrimination.
• create a dedicated partnership, supported by the Health and Wellbeing Board to lead work to tackle racism
• review and update the Health Needs Assessment and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for race and faith communities in Gateshead
• improve how we collect and monitor data about service use, complaints, and workforce demographics and build trust for people to share their protected characteristics. This will help us identify inequalities and improve services to ensure they are accessible for everyone
• tackle the negative health, social and economic harms caused by hate crime and racism by providing appropriate and timely support through coordinated VCSE, health, community safety, police, and commissioned services
• promote fair recruitment practices so that the local workforce reflects our diverse population, and we support career progression through learning opportunities, mentoring and staff

We will deliver this through:

• Local VCSE organisations and Connected Voice 
• Workforce Development and Inclusion 
• Community Engagement and Co-Production 
• Data, Evaluation and Transparency
• Using Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Heath Equity Assessments to review policies, services, commissioning and budget decisions
• Community Cohesion Strategy (in development)
• Community Safety Board
• Safer Gateshead Partnership Plan
• Community Tensions Monitoring Group
• All of our equality policies and strategies 
• Prevent Duty and Partnership Plan
• Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust Strategy
• CNTW Strategy
• Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements

We know we will have made a difference when:

• People from different backgrounds interact positively and respectfully
• People feel safe, supported and empowered to be part of their neighbourhood and community
• There is a shared vision and sense of belonging across Gateshead and its communities
• Inequalities and barriers to service access and participation are known and actively addressed
• Hate crime, racism and discrimination is prevented
• Local organisations are trusted and seen as accessible, fair and inclusive

The health impacts of climate change, environmental hazards and loss of natural environments hit our poorest communities hardest, making existing health problems even worse. Pursuing environmental sustainability and health equity together means recognising the links between environmental health, social justice, and overall well-being, and advocating for policies that address both. Our understanding of the impact of climate change, air pollution, housing and active forms of travel, is improving rapidly. The environment, 'our place', is a major determinant of health, thought to account for almost 20% of all deaths in Europe (https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/environmental-health#tab=tab_1 (opens new window)). Pollution, lack of green spaces, and unsustainable development can all negatively affect mental and physical health, especially for the most vulnerable populations.

By incorporating environmental sustainability into the broader framework of health equity, there is an opportunity to have a holistic approach to addressing the root causes of health inequalities. We want to create a greener, fairer Gateshead where environmental sustainability and health equity are pursued together to make sure all residents love where they live and can thrive. Building and connecting people, place, and planet.

The action we will take

We will:

• make sure that all work supporting environmental sustainability considers the inequalities that groups and communities may face
• reduce exposure to environmental hazards, for example; noise, air pollution, poor housing, and poor quality environments
• support fair and equitable access to environmental benefits such as; clean air, safe housing, outdoor and natural environments through place making policy
• build climate resilience through policies and plans which include protection against heat waves and flooding
• embed sustainability, health, and equity in all local policies to maximise shared outcomes - from transport to food to housing to education, including the products and services we fund, buy and develop, and our supply chain
• enable community and voluntary action to strengthen the links between people, place and planet and involve residents in designing green and health-promoting spaces.
• prioritise environmental policies that help vulnerable communities: ensuring that environmental improvements are accessible and beneficial to all 
• deliver more green infrastructure including; tree planting and green corridors, community gardens and green spaces in areas with poor access and use urban greening to reduce heat islands and improve mental health
• provide sustainable housing, green heat and energy schemes, including retrofitting homes for energy efficiency, prioritising low-income households for clean energy and insulation schemes, and addressing damp and mould 
• enable active and sustainable transport; improving walking and cycling infrastructure focusing on underserved groups and areas and ensuring public transport is affordable and accessible for all.

We will deliver this through:

• Gateshead Local Plan and Regeneration Strategy
• Climate Strategy 
• Gateshead Food Partnership 
• Travel Plan 
• Air Quality Management 
• Zero Carbon Heat Strategy 
• Climate Action Plans 
• Local VCSE organisations 
• Fuel Poverty Action Plan

We know we will have made a difference when:

• we actively use indicators like access to green space, air quality, fuel poverty, and health outcomes by ward.
• we undertake Equality Impact Assessments or more detailed Health Equity Impact Assessments (HEIAs) for all major environmental projects.
• environmental hazards are not felt unequally 
• people feel comfortable in their homes 
• access to nature and green space is available to all 
• people are able to travel sustainably 
• Gateshead is carbon neutral by 2030 
• Gateshead has clean air with low levels of pollution.

We will develop governance and reporting arrangements to make sure there are effective ways to monitor, evaluate and review progress of delivering against this strategy and report this into the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing board at least annually.

The outcomes we want to achieve are in line with the Institute of Health Equity suggested measures for demonstrating progress on tackling health inequalities; https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/taking-action/monitoring-and-evaluating-progress- (opens new window). We will develop Gateshead local indicator sets using these to monitor local inequalities and review progress of the impact of local interventions in the short, medium and long-term. To help tell the story of our health and wellbeing strategy, we will work with stakeholders to capture lived experience and develop case studies in line with the policy objectives.

The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment will support stakeholders to understand the key health and wellbeing issues for communities in Gateshead, including the building blocks of health and wellbeing.

This will be reviewed and monitored alongside the strategy to make sure priorities are identified and worked towards.

We will review this strategy at least every 5 years.