Ben Wealthy

Politics is changing, again. Charities need to rethink their approach to policy and influencing and decide where they stand on the central issue of the day: the economy.  It is advisable to revisit, but not rip up, existing work. Pandemics and political winds can, and should, force every organisation to reflect on the principles and plans it holds. This is no bad thing. Above all, stay true to your charitable objectives (which transcend political cycles) and stay close to your members and/or those you exist to serve.  Considering the tone you use and the tactics you employ is essential. Your messages and asks are likely to remain broadly similar although your language could benefit from a refresh. Plays and songs are often framed and reframed for different audiences and different times while the essence of the story is retained. Flexibility and pragmatism matters. What works matters. Preventing progress being reversed and, where possible, edging key priorities forward matters. Building

In times of trauma, we look to family, friends and neighbours for solace and strength. But the nature of the COVID-19 threat, a virus transmitted through close contact with others, tested this instinct. Despite that, people emerged as one of the main tools in the response to COVID-19. Communities rallied to deliver food parcels and medical supplies, we wore face coverings to protect others and adapted our behaviour as part of a common cause to limit illness and death. One innovative approach to building and sustaining community power was the COVID-19 Community Champions Scheme . As rapidly developed vaccines offered hope, attention turned to delivering messages to diverse and disadvantaged communities that made them feel comfortable about stepping up and receiving a vaccination. The messenger was key, especially in poorer areas and particular ethic minority groups. They had to be trusted by people and rooted in their area. The idea behind Community Champions was to encourage and

Following the Spring Statement in March, the Resolution Foundation published analysis estimating that another 1.3 million people would be pushed into poverty next year. Professor Michael Marmot has warned of an impending “humanitarian calamity” and argued that to deprive citizens of basic material needs robs them of their dignity. In place of a policy response to the poverty pandemic there is a void. Cue the Health Disparities White Paper (currently being drafted in the new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities). It could be out as soon as May or June, so the influencing window is narrow. The priority given, by the public and politicians, to tackling the elective backlog in the NHS is understandable. We can see it, right here and right now. However, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has also acknowledged the link between poverty and poor health and outlined his ambition to address the ‘social backlog’. Both are essential and both are connected. The Preve

2022 will be a complex one for public health policy - three defining themes standout. First, COVID-19 remains a significant public health threat. We are in a transition period, edging tentatively towards a settled ‘business as usual’ approach. It is wise to ignore the loudest voices, those seeking to frame ‘living with COVID’ in terms of either strict lockdowns or letting the virus rip. There is a third path which politicians, public health professionals and the public can support. What this looks like – in terms of measures and messages - has yet to be adequately defined (perhaps a small unit in the Cabinet Office is currently ruminating over the next roadmap ‘Beyond Plan B’ or ‘Living with COVID…still’).   The public inquiry offers the chance to take a step back and consider how policy-making can improve in the future. For me, some key areas are a must for scrutiny and deliberation – the government’s approach to and implementation of stakeholder relations, the process of rapid ev