New research has highlighted how councils could use food purchasing and advertising policies to help tackle climate change. Food and drink production accounts for more than one-third of UK greenhouse gas emissions. Councils can help reduce this impact by choosing more environmentally sustainable food for schools, leisure centres and other council-run sites. They can also influence the types of food advertised on property they own or manage. Researchers from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria and Oxford University found that only a small number of English councils have introduced climate-friendly food advertising and purchasing policies, despite most having declared a climate emergency. The study calls for […]
Monday 2 November, 9am until 4pm – The Catalyst, Newcastle Helix. Join leading researchers, policymakers, practitioners and experts-by-experience from across the region for a powerful one-day conference exploring some of the most pressing challenges facing women, families and marginalised communities. This unique practice improvement event will bring together national speakers with regional leaders in research, public health, social care and community organisations to examine how stigma, trauma and disadvantage shape people’s lives – and what we can do differently to improve outcomes. This event is jointly hosted by: Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health; NIHR School for Public Health Research; Office for Health Improvement and Disparities; Newcastle […]
Cumberland Council has been recognised for its work to improve access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food, receiving the Excellence Award in the Good Food Local Awards (North East and North Cumbria). The council was also ranked highest for leadership among the 13 participating authorities. Since joining the Good Food Local programme in 2024, Cumberland has increased its overall score from 67% to 86%, with its score for tackling food poverty rising from 58% to 79%. The award reflects strong partnership working between the council, local organisations and communities. Initiatives contributing to the achievement include increasing the number of affordable food hubs from 16 to 21, supporting 10 schools to […]
Across North East and North Cumbria, there is growing recognition that food waste and food insecurity are closely linked challenges that require coordinated, system-wide approaches. Recent research and improvement work across the region highlights how combining insight with practical action can help address both. Understanding the role of social supermarkets Research supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria shows how social supermarkets are helping communities access affordable food while reducing surplus food waste. These models provide a more dignified, choice-based alternative to emergency food aid, enabling people to select their own food while reducing stigma. However, the research also highlights an important limitation: […]
Fresh and the NENC Smokefree NHS Taskforce are hosting a free lunchtime seminar on Monday 22 June (12.15–1.15pm), featuring Professor Sanjay Agrawal, a national leader in tobacco dependency. The session will focus on the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) report Smoking, health and social justice, which highlights how smoking is increasingly concentrated among people facing disadvantage, including poverty, poor mental health and insecure housing. The report calls for stronger, more joined-up action to reduce smoking-related health inequalities. During the seminar, Professor Agrawal will share key findings and recommendations, including the introduction of opt-out smoking cessation support across NHS services, improved support for underserved groups, and a more coordinated cross-government approach. […]
We are delighted to share an exciting regional event that brings together people from across health, care, local authority, education and voluntary sectors to explore how we can all make a difference through Making Every Contact Count (MECC). Taking place on Wednesday 3 June 2026, Making Every Contact Count: Where are your opportunities? is a free, full-day conference delivered in collaboration with Northumbria University and supported by North East and North Cumbria NHS. The event will be held at the Business and Law Building, City Campus East, Northumbria University, Newcastle. About the event MECC is about using everyday conversations to support healthier choices and improve population health. This conference […]
After several requests from around the region, we are now pleased to inform you that we can offer an eLearning package to support you to implement MECC across your organisation and for staff or volunteers. The lesson has been specifically tailored for the North East and North Cumbria and is freely available via the Boost Learning Academy. The MECC module is designed with three lessons that can be accessed and completed with 3 x 20 minute micro sessions that cover: Introduction to MECC Behaviour Change and MECC Conversations Practical MECC Skills and Benefits You must complete the modules in the order listed and this course is ideal for those that have previously […]
Building leadership, learning and improvement at neighbourhood level. The Neighbourhood Health Learning Conference is a region‑wide learning event for people who are actively shaping and influencing the neighbourhood health agenda across North East and North Cumbria. Designed for senior leaders and system partners with influence at place level, the conference brings together colleagues from health and care, local government, commissioning and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to learn together and strengthen neighbourhood health improvement in practice. Using the Boost theory of change as a shared framework, the day will explore how neighbourhoods can adopt a learning‑led approach to tackling complex challenges, embed improvement into everyday practice, and […]
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 3 March 2026 saw Paul Court (Chief Executive of Healthworks) deliver a presentation on ‘Healthworks: Driving impact and reducing health inequalities’. Following a 30th Anniversary Impact Event, Paul joined us to share the work and impact of Healthworks. We heard how targeted, community‑based programmes are delivering an estimated £46.2 million in savings to health and social care services, easing pressure on overstretched systems and aligning with NHS Long‑Term Plan priorities to tackle health inequalities, improve population health, and strengthen out‑of‑hospital care. Insights from the Impact Report 2024-2025 were spotlighted, featuring […]
Are you involved in public health research outside the NHS? NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health wants to make it easier to set up and do research by designing a new service to support you. The team invite you to complete a short survey to help us understand the barriers and challenges of doing public health research outside the NHS, and to explore the potential options for what a public health research delivery support service might look like. The pilot aims to recognise and meet the diverse needs and complexities of public health research outside the NHS, as there are already established services and support available for clinical research through the Research Delivery Network (RDN). They […]
