Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board

The Harlow Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board’s key objectives are to:

• provide leadership for health and wellbeing in the district
• raise the profile and act as the voice for health and wellbeing
• review the priorities for health improvement in the district on an annual basis
• bring together key partners to deliver a partnership approach to funding, activity and co-ordination and delivery for all in the community
• identify potential funding opportunities which enables partners to develop joint projects and workstreams throughout Harlow

The board has responsibility for deciding how the Public Health Community Grant Fund is distributed.

The board also create Harlow's health and wellbeing partnership strategy (pdf)

This document sets out our commitment to help all our residents form a health and active lifestyle.

The strategy has 5 key priorities which feed across all the board’s subgroups:

• reducing health inequalities in Harlow by addressing the wider determinants of health
• promoting healthy weight and encouraging active lifestyles across the life course
• improving mental health and wellbeing
• tackling addiction and reducing harm from substance use and gambling
• supporting long-term independence and connection across Harlow’s community

Health and wellbeing priorities

Reducing health inequalities in Harlow by addressing the wider determinants of health

Focus on the socio-economic factors that influence health, with targeted support:

• for residents in the most deprived neighbourhoods
• on health outcomes and development for all children in Harlow
• for people facing insecure employment, unemployment, low income, or financial insecurity
• for groups at higher risk of early or preventable mortality, including men and those with long-term health conditions
• on community safety interventions to help residents feel safe

Promoting healthy weight and encouraging active lifestyles across the life course

Support residents of all ages to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and lead an active lifestyle, with a focus on promoting individual, family, and community-level behavioural change and addressing the underlying socio-economic barriers to good health.

Targeted action will focus on:

• healthy behaviours and good oral hygiene for all children and families
• adults and older people with no or low levels of movement, especially those aged 50+
• people living with disabilities, neurodiversity, or long-term health conditions
• low-income households and communities experiencing health inequalities

Improving mental health and wellbeing

Promote mental wellbeing and reduce suicide rates across all age groups through prioritising prevention, early intervention and tackling risk factors, with a targeted focus on:

• young people experiencing mental health issues and at higher risk of self-harm
• adults with serious or long term mental health conditions, including those facing poor housing, unemployment, and addiction issues
• groups at greater risk of mental ill health, including LGBTQ+ communities, Black and Black British residents, and men
• individuals who have experienced, are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing domestic abuse

Tackling addiction and reducing harm from substance use and gambling

Reduce the health and social harms linked to alcohol, tobacco, drug use, and gambling across all age groups, with targeted support for those most affected. Our approach will prioritise protecting our community, focusing on:

• prevention and early intervention, including vaping, especially among young people
• addressing underlying drivers of addiction and harmful behaviours
• reducing smoking prevalence and supporting smoking cessation
• raising awareness of the harms of alcohol and other substances and gambling, including links to physical and mental health

Supporting long-term independence and connection across Harlow’s communities

Reduce social isolation and loneliness, strengthen community participation, resilience, creativity and happiness, and support good mental wellbeing for people of all ages, particularly for:

• older adults, especially those receiving social care or living alone
• unpaid carers, including male carers at risk of social isolation and new parents
• people with long-term conditions or poor mental health
• residents in the most deprived or disconnected neighbourhoods

Board subgroups

The board has subgroups that work with local organisations to deliver health and wellbeing projects and initiatives to help improve the health and wellbeing of our residents.

Each group meets quarterly, and membership of the groups is open to service providers, community groups and partner agencies.

Early Help and Start Well

This subgroup focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people living in Harlow (pre-birth to 19 years of age). 

Bewell, Staywell, Workwell

This group works to make sure that all adults lead healthy and fulfilling lifestyles, enjoy good mental health, lead active lives and eat well. 

Age Well

This group's focus is that all adults over 65 live a safe, healthy and independent life for as long as possible. 

Harlow Creates

Harlow Creates aims to increase access to high quality arts, culture and heritage experiences for Harlow residents and support individuals working in this sector within the town. It also aims to facilitate communication and collaboration across arts, culture and heritage, community, education sectors and beyond within Harlow, as well as support the health and wellbeing of Harlow residents through engagement with creativity.

Find Your Active Harlow

This group aims to increase levels of physical activity in Harlow.

Grants of £250 to £2,000 are available for individuals and organisations offering physical activity initiatives in Harlow.