The pioneering work of a movement which has drawn people together from across North Wales to fight health inequalities has been shortlisted for a major UK award.
The 2025 Movement is aiming to end avoidable health inequalities in the region by the year 2025 and includes a wide range of North Wales organisations. Developed as a place-based partnership, using systems leadership, small teams work together to tackle difficult issues, from homelessness to food poverty.
The Movement’s work – which has already seen hundreds of people helped in communities in Gwynedd, Ynys Mon, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham – has now been shortlisted in the Public Health and Wellbeing category at the Guardian Public Service awards, which are set to be announced on Tuesday, November 26.
The news has been welcomed by team members across the wide range of organisations making up the movement – which include Wrexham Glyndwr University, North Wales local authorities, ClwydAlyn Housing, North Wales Housing, Adra, Cartrefi Conwy, Grwp Cynefin and Wales and West Housing, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales Fire & Rescue Service, a number of third sector partners and others with help from leadership practice, Do-Well (UK) Ltd.
Nina Ruddle, Head of Public Policy and Engagement at Wrexham Glyndwr University, and one of the partners of the movement, said: “There is evidence which suggests that in some parts of North Wales, people’s life expectancy can be up to thirteen years less than in others.
“The 2025 Movement grew from a small group of people who were angry at that inequality – and wanted to change things.
“As a university, we have been proud to help provide a forum for the 2025 Movement, to help secure some funding, and to see both our staff and students take part in projects led by its teams.”
The 2025 Movement works by bringing together small groups of people together in groups called ‘Just Do’ teams, where they collaborate on difficult issues in particular areas.
In Flintshire, teams worked with residents in sheltered accommodation to help them come together and eat healthy food thanks to a Good Food Hub. Across Flintshire, 800 meals were delivered to tackle Holiday Hunger – one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK. ClwydAlyn Housing is also totally transforming its meals service in nursing and extra care to grow capacity in the third sector to address food poverty.
In Gwynedd, a team met rough sleepers and helped to dismantle the barriers they faced accessing health services. Rough sleepers can access GP services more easily, get flu vaccinations, find out where to get emergency dentistry and have improved access to mental health services both in the community and in hospital.
In Conwy and Denbighshire, a Housing Officer based in the acute hospital at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd worked to improve hospital discharge times – particularly in relation to housing issues. This project saved more than 1,200 bed days, which could have cost the health board hundreds of thousands of pounds.
And across North Wales, 3,000 vulnerable households were identified where residents needed help – whether with issues such as fuel poverty, damp, housing support or money advice.
The cumulative impact of each project as part of the wider 2025 Movement has now been recognised with the Guardian shortlisting – with teams across North Wales
Clare Budden CEO of ClwydAlyn and Chair of 2025 said: “ I am absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award.
“We are really proud that our partnership working and systems leadership approach to addressing avoidable health inequality in North Wales is being recognised as a successful and innovative way of working, and we are pleased that we can demonstrate real benefit in the communities where we work.”
Find out more about the Guardian Public Service Awards here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/series/guardian-public-service-awards-2019 and about the 2025 Movement here: https://2025movement.org/