Community health priorities in Manchester   

Power sharing in research   

Rooted in a strong evidence base, the CPSP exemplifies how power sharing in research not only drives scientific excellence but also plays a vital role in addressing health inequalities. 

The insights in the paper come from over 10 years of our work at Healthy Me Healthy Communities CiC, a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Manchester. At Healthy Me Healthy Communities we believe in the power of people and place, working together to tackle today’s societal challenges alleviating the everyday struggle faced by many people, creating positive change and informing practice and policy. 

Nested within community practice of working with communities most affected by health inequalities, the paper traces the project journey from scoping, aims, methodology and outcomes. The CPSP engaged over 200 residents and healthcare professionals; a day of lively debate and discussion enabled the selection of the top 10 health priorities. The paper also speaks to lessons learnt for supporting engagement within communities most affected by health inequalities but experiencing multiple barriers to contributing to health research. 

In the wake of the Marmot review, in a city-region deeply affected by health and wealth inequalities (Marmot et al, 2021, 15), the paper makes the case for power-sharing, inclusion and community voice through community research partnerships.   

Community health priorities in Manchester 

One year on, the outcomes of the CPSP are becoming embedded in local neighbourhood processes and beginning to shape policy. The initiative clearly demonstrated the value of community power and inclusive decision-making in driving effective neighbourhood-level delivery. 

Healthy Me Healthy Communities (HMHC), along with VCSE and statutory partners, are now building on this momentum through the Community Power Forum. Operating across East and Central Manchester, the Forum is actively testing and advancing approaches to community power—exploring how local priorities can be more effectively identified and addressed. 

Through the CPSP, ten community-identified health priorities were co-created for Gorton and Abbey Hey. One key priority - “Does eating food received through food banks and community grocers impact a person’s health?”—is already influencing food and poverty policy in Manchester. 

Rich Browning, CEO of Healthy Me Healthy Communities (HMHC), is playing a central role in driving this agenda forward. As Vice-Chair of the Manchester Food Board, they lead a dedicated task and finish group focused on rethinking food aid strategies and progressing toward a more food-secure future—one where the reliance on emergency food support is significantly reduced. 

The complexity of the local ecosystem aimed at improving societal and life outcomes presents both opportunities and challenges for embedding community power and inclusive decision-making. 

Manchester is increasingly becoming a hub of opportunity, with initiatives such as the Making Manchester Fairer action plan and Community Forum, the Anti-Poverty Insight Group, the Community Power Forum, and a range of other locally led efforts driving forward a more equitable city. These initiatives are creating the conditions for community voices to influence strategy, shape delivery, and drive meaningful change. 

Sign up to our Partner’s Bulletin to keep up to date on our work, partnerships and collaborations.  

References 

Michael Marmot, Jessica Allen, Tammy Boyce, Peter Goldblatt, Joana Morrison (2021) Building Back Fairer in Greater Manchester: Health Equity and Dignified Lives. London: Institute of Health Equity. Available at: https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/build-back-fairer-in-greater-manchester-health-equity-and-dignified-lives [Accessed 2/7/24]

Sign up to our Partner’s Bulletin to keep up to date on our work, partnerships and collaborations.