Abstract
Following a series of listening events in Birmingham – one of the most diverse and deprived cities in the UK – that sought to capture the lived experiences of ‘under-served’ and marginalised communities, the research team presented the data during a 'community sandpit' event, bringing together academics, healthcare professionals, and the voluntary sector to propose solutions to tackle health-inequalities at place-based level. The purpose was for everyone to get work together to propose co-produced sustainable place-based solutions to help tackle health disparities.
The poster showcases a novel methodological approach based on the ‘community sandpit’, and the solutions that have been implemented as a result of co-production.
We invite viewers to reflect on the following questions:
- i) How can we work more collaboratively with healthcare providers and the voluntary sector, to focus on prevention (rather than cure), and help tackle health disparities?
- ii) What is happening in your local area, and where are there gaps/opportunities for collaboration?
iii) Since smaller organisations are most likely to support under-served communities, how do we make sure they do not miss out on funding opportunities?
We hope that one of the take-home messages from this poster will be the valuable contributions that voluntary and community-led organisations can play in supporting citizens' health, building on existing areas of excellence, and supporting the NHS in its upstream approach to health.