Health Inequalities in Birmingham

This project is the result of a partnership with Aston University (Centre for Health and Society), Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC), Citizens UK, and VCFSE (voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise) organisations. It aims to better understand health inequalities in some of the most deprived wards of East and West Birmingham by engaging local communities and students in co-designed conversations on local health challenges to better understand barriers living healthy lives.

This collaborative project builds on innovative methodologies and engagement models. Read more about it in our "Community Connexions Engagement Handbook".

The findings and recommendations from the project can be accessed in the report below. An executive summary and three infographics are also available to download for easier access to the data.

Health Inequalities in Birmingham (PDF document)

Executive Summary (PDF document)

Methodologies (PDF image)

Barriers encountered to access NHS services (PDF image)

Barriers encountered within NHS services (PDF image)

After engaging with the findings collected through a series of listening events, local community and voluntary groups received micro-funding to implement a series of hyperlocal solutions that sought to reduce barriers to good health within their localities. Watch their videos below, and find out more about their different initiatives and their impact.

Introduction

BLESST CIC Youth Club Activities

Aspire & Succeed The Sewing Club

Welcome Change CIC Soil to Boil

Saathi House The Gym Club

Bridging the Digital Divide

This project is part of ‘Community Connexions’, a patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) programme for the community that seeks to capture the lived experiences of local communities in Birmingham and the Black Country to adapt our healthcare services to better meet local needs and inform future health research. ‘Community Connexions’ is funded by the Clinical Research Network (CRN).

We are grateful to our community partners for co-creating this project. Our partners include Aspire & Succeed, BLESST Centre, Saathi House, Huda Community Centre, Welcome Change CIC, Age Concern Birmingham, and Bringing Hope.

For more information, please contact Dr Céline Benoit.

In partnership with:

Awards

This project is part of 'Community Connexions', which was highly recommended in 2023. Patient Safety Awards, Category: IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR MINORITY ETHNIC COMMUNITIES. In 2024, 'Community Connexions' won a Community Inspiration Award, Category: HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

Award certificate (PDF Image)