National online debate: 'Community Health Champions'

If you have an interest in community empowerment in health and well-being, you may be interested in contributing to the following national debate.
The Altogether Better Programme is working with the Department of Health and the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) to provoke a national online debate around ‘Community Health Champions’. The debate will begin on the 15th of June and last for four weeks.
This debate will explore the scope and potential of building the capacity and confidence of individuals to become ‘Community Health Champions’ through voluntary activities to improve the health and well-being of their own communities. If the outcomes of this work not only improve the use and design of health services, but also sustainably improves health and well-being, why is this approach not systematically integrated into the way we deliver health and well-being services in this country?
It is hoped this will help to gather evidence on the scale and scope of activities across the country and help to develop a framework for moving to a situation where Community Health Champions are genuinely understood and valued by decision-makers and integrated into the way we tackle health inequalities in this country.
To help to ensure this debate is useful and moves forward, a wide range of contributions will be required. This could involve a commentary or adding a document/paper to the site. Community Health Champions, participation leads, officers, delivery agents, strategic commissioners, elected members policy-makers and academics are all welcomed to take part. Once the debate is finished, the information will be used to shape a national event in November. All contributors will receive a free invitation to this event.
This is a real one-off window of opportunity to raise the profile, understanding and support for one of the key potential contributors to unlocking the challenges around reducing health inequalities and civic participation. Please pass on this email to your relevant networks and mailing lists as appropriate.
To join the Communities of Practice, please visit http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/, click on ‘register’ and enter your details as requested. Once registered, search for ‘healthy communities’ and apply to join the Healthy Communities Communities of Practice. If you have any difficulties in registering please contact Katrina Cottrill Katrina.cottrill@idea.gov.uk.
The 'Community Health Champions' discussion forum will start on Monday the 15th of June and continue to the 15th of July.
If you have any general queries, please contact: Roz Davies (Altogether Better Programme Director)Email: roz.davies@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk

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