Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Strategy

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