How we work

Our focus

Health inequalities are the unfair and preventable differences in health experienced by different groups of people. They include how long someone is likely to live and at what age they might get avoidable diseases.   

There are lots of factors that contribute to certain groups experiencing better health than others. The quality of housing people live in, their education and skills, income and access to nature all play a part. These issues - often referred to as 'wider determinants of health' - are often linked. For example, someone who is unemployed may be more likely to live in poorer quality housing with less access to green space and fresh food.  

We are equipping the council to research health inequalities, their influences and links. We'll use the evidence we gather to shape our services so they're more effective at promoting good wellbeing. 

Research activities

Our research is being guided by what matters most to local people and organisations. We can carry out all kinds of activities, from evaluating an existing community initiative like our Warm Spaces to assessing whether a new project might improve health locally. 

Demonstrating the breadth of what's possible, some of our current projects involve: 

• Evaluating a project aiming to get more people walking and cycling
• Developing resources for schools to help pupils who've experienced domestic abuse  
• Helping our schools and libraries boost literacy skills over the summer holidays 
• Creating a network of young people to get involved in research 
• Assessing the link between autism and poorer dental health and possible solutions 
• Evaluating the perceptions and accessibility of sexual health services in Gateshead  

Building research capacity

We are helping create more capacity and capability within the council to research health inequalities. While we already have lots of talented and experienced colleagues, they haven't necessarily carried out academic research before. By linking up with Newcastle University and recruiting our HDRC Gateshead team who have academic backgrounds, it means we can train existing colleagues to become 'researchers' within the council. 

This means that whatever part of the council our home-grown researchers work for, whether it's transport, housing, education or social care, once they have the necessary skills, they can study changes which could improve how we work.