The Knowsley Health and Wellbeing Board agreed a proposed approach to the development of a new Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2026-2031 at its meeting on Tuesday 11 November.
The new strategy will have a clear focus on focus on reducing health inequalities in the borough and be shaped around the “All Together Fairer” (Marmont) objectives. These are:
- Give every child the best start in life
- Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives
- Create fair employment and good work for all
- Ensure a healthy standard of living for all
- Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities
- Strengthen the role and impact of ill-health prevention
- Tackle racism, discrimination and their outcomes
- Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity together
The board has agreed to introduce yearly action plans to ensure that measurable progress can be made against the objectives due to their scope and levels of complexity. This will also provide the board with the flexibility to respond to local needs and changing circumstances while ensuring that the strategy achieves its long-term ambitions.
First year priorities
A development session was held last month during which the board considered areas of focus and potential actions. It was agreed that the first year of the new plan would focus on two main priorities:
- Supporting the mental health of children and young people to enable them to thrive and reach their full potential
- Tackling racism, discrimination and their outcomes
The board suggested a number of actions to support these priorities including raising awareness of mental health in schools, promoting positive extracurricular activities and working to reduce stigma.
Next steps
Council officers will continue to develop the strategy, alongside an annual action plan and monitoring framework.
A further development session will take place in the early in the new year before the draft strategy undertakes engagement and consultation.