Plans for a Healthier and Happier South Tyneside

Plans to tackle the biggest health and wellbeing challenges in South Tyneside will be outlined to councillors next week.

Members of the Cabinet will be told that a new Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy will seek to address those challenges by building on the learning of the pandemic, further developing partnership working and aligning efforts towards a single vision.

The Health and Wellbeing Board members, who will oversee the delivery of the strategy,  understand that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach is not always appropriate. To address this, research was carried out by a team from Newcastle and Northumbria universities with some of South Tyneside's more disadvantaged and under-represented communities to understand what a healthy and happy South Tyneside means to them. Their voices - as well as those of young people, elected members, and a broad range of community partners - have collectively informed the strategy.

The overall aim of the strategy is to improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of South Tyneside residents and reduce health inequalities. To achieve this there will be a number of areas of focus during the life of the strategy. These are: giving every child and young person the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential; creating vibrant communities where everyone is included and valued; creating a thriving and sustainable local economy with opportunities for all; and creating environments that are healthy and help people make the most of the good things around them.

The research and engagement also highlighted the need for policies and services to be produced by staff and partners working with the public to ensure they are fit for purpose and are delivered in a fair way. Plans have been prepared to deliver on each of the areas of focus. This includes the establishment of Family Hubs; support for residents in financial hardship; reducing loneliness and social isolation, and creating places to live, learn and work that are safe and healthy. Work is also already underway with partners to  design and deliver a range of initiatives which aim to tackle the cost of living crisis.

Councillor Anne Hetherington, Lead Member for Adults, Health and Independence, said: "The Community Insights research which informed our Health and Wellbeing Strategy was so powerful. The views shared by the community groups involved have truly refocused our priorities as a Health and Wellbeing Board, with a greater focus on what matters to the people of South Tyneside. This has led to a much greater emphasis on the wider determinants of health, such as issues around financial security, having safe and secure places to live and having fun, affordable things to do."