Impact on Urban Health

@impurbanhealth

Helping cities & urban areas become healthier places for everyone. Tackling health inequalities w/ @gsttfoundation.bsky.social Get our newsletter 📨 Website:

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Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· 20d

If they can imagine it, you can invest in it. Watch the film: https://urbanhealth.org.uk/who-we-are/about-us Find out more about our work, go to: https://urbanhealth.org.uk/

A girl painting small clay fruits with an image of the final creations overlayed

A girl drawing on a post-it note that says 'Be kind' with an image of the post-it overlayed

A girl playing with clay, and a post-it that says '£ no more worrying overlayed'

A girl listening in class, and stickers saying 'no pollution no problems' overlayed

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jul 15

Have you come across standardised admission ratios? Standardised admission ratios (SAR) shows whether more or fewer people are being admitted to hospital than would be expected for an area, taking into account the age of the population.

On average, the emergency hospital admissions ratios for COPD is almost twice as high in urban areas than rural.

Image of a graph showing how admissions for COPD, heart disease and stroke are higher in urban compared to rural areas.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jul 13

Persistent ethnic inequalities aren't explained by deprivation. When reflecting on The State of Urban Health, some findings are hard to share because they touch on difficult topics. This post touches on the topic of childhood mortality. 🧵

People walking down a street. In the distance, there are some tall buildings. There is a road with vehicles driving down it.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jul 10

What does deprivation mean for some people living in #Lambeth and #Southwark? Deprivation is a major driver of health inequity, shaping large differences in health outcomes across England. 🏥 In urban areas, deprivation is often more concentrated and more unequal between neighbourhoods.

The text reads: “Many residents in Lambeth are on low wages or have insecure work, meaning that they can’t afford nutritious food, or things like gym memberships or even time off work when they’re sick. Funded partner, Impact on Urban Health, Financial foundations for adult health programme

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jul 8

98% of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England are classified as urban. In many deprived neighbourhoods in Manchester, Birmingham and Leicester over a third of residents are 0-19 years old. Overall, urban areas tend to have higher levels of deprivation.

The text reads: 98% of the most deprived neighbourhoods nationally are urban. Find out more in The State of Urban Health. Image of people shopping in front of a fruit and vegetable stall.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jul 7

Does it matter where you live as a child? 👦 We recently published The State of Urban Health. It provides one of the most comprehensive pictures of urban health in England to date. 🏙️ Some findings highlights the stark inequalities that exist in England.

Does it matter where you live as a child? An image of children playing football in a large, grassy field.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 30

Urban health is complex – but the inequalities we found aren’t inevitable. By focusing on preventing ill-health before it happens, and by involving communities in decision-making about their health, we have the opportunity to make urban areas healthier and more equal places to live. 💓

Communities are clear on what needs to change. An image of a high street with vehicles. In the foreground is a park.

Urban health inequalities are not inevitable – they are systemic and preventable. A children's playground with swings, slides, and trees. Children are running on the grass. In the distance, there are some flats.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 30

We found some of the starkest differences in outcomes just streets apart in the same urban neighbourhoods. 🏙️ The key drivers of these differences in towns and cities? Poverty, racism and discrimination.

Health inequalities are structurally driven and shaped by racism and discrimination. An image of a street food market and a high rise building in the distance.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 30

It’s packed with analysis of national and regional data, and conversations with residents and partners. From food environments to air quality 🪟 Preventable illness to overcrowded homes 🏘️ Accessible services to insecure work 💷 We explored what makes urban health different.

A street with shops and restaurants. In the foreground, there is a public park where people are sitting on benches and on the grass. There are flowers and trees.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 29

Coming tomorrow: The State of Urban Health 📢 We're launching one of the most comprehensive pieces of research on urban health in England to date. Our report tells us how health inequalities are shaped by systems & lived experiences.🗒️ Explore data dashboards on health, demographics & more. 📊

Coming tomorrow: One of the most comprehensive pieces of research on urban health in England to date.

The image is the front cover of The State of Urban Health report, which includes a person cycling on a road in London.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 19

The Health Bill and the government’s neighbourhood health plans are important opportunities to promote health and design services to meet the needs of their community. 🏡 It’s also a chance to meaningfully involve residents in designing and build public trust in the process. 🧵

A screenshot of the amendment to the Health Bill. The text reads:
Dr Allison Gardner. Clause 24, page 18, line 8, at end insert— “(6) _31 Having regard to guidance issued under Section 4 (Duty as to reducing inequalities), this must, in particular, include taking such steps as are reasonable to ensure the involvement of communities who face disproportionate barriers to participation, including those most affected by health inequalities in the area.”

Member's explanatory statement:
This amendment creates a specific duty for local authorities and ICBs to ensure that communities most affected by health inequalities are actively involved in the creation of Neighbourhood Health Plans.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 18

Improving air quality doesn’t just mean better health. It means fewer sick days, less burden on the NHS, and more productivity. This #CleanAirDay, write to your local councillor to ensure clean air is on their agenda: https://www.cleanairhub.org.uk/clean-air-day

Cleaner air benefits all of us. By taking action together we can improve everyone's health, boost local economies, and make our communities greener.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 18

Air pollution affects everyone’s health, but not equally. You may be exposed to higher air pollution levels because of where you live; and children, older people & people w/ health conditions experience harms more Put clean air on the agenda #CleanAirDay https://www.cleanairhub.org.uk/clean-air-day

In the UK, air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to your health.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 18

Right now, councillors across the country are deciding what changes to deliver for their community. Together, we can make clean air is on the agenda. This #CleanAirDay, call on your councillor to champion clean air in your community: https://www.cleanairhub.org.uk/clean-air-day

This Clean Air Day, call on your local councillor to champion clean air in your community.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 17

The places where we grow up, live, and work can determine our long-term health. In our home boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, communities living just a 30-minute walk apart can see a 12-15 year gap in life expectancy. These gaps are replicated across the UK, and they’re widening. 🧵

Britain's health is going backwards. We're joining Health Equals in calling for a change in the law to tackle health inequalities.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Jun 16

This Thursday is #CleanAirDay! Stay tuned to learn about ways you can improve air quality in your community. Learn more about how air pollution affects your health at https://www.cleanairhub.org.uk/

A promotional image for Clean Air Day featuring a stylised graphic of a person and a cat. The text reads: "Clean Air Day. Save the date. 18 June 2026. Learn more at cleanairhub.org.uk." Logos for Clean Air Fund, Global Action Plan, and Clean Air Day are displayed.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 20

Michael Parsons, Head of Programme, is speaking on the second panel @centreforlondon.bsky.social's London Housing Summit 2026 tomorrow. 🔗 Register: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=L8FjGD7BBEGt3utJ4BjTIJk1hdvHLbNMuOBFmTmPAudUM0RPNVZZWVk0N05NVkJSQUhQNTJBOUNBWS4u&route=shorturl

Michael Parsons, Head of programme, Financial foundations for adult health, Impact on Urban Health

Speaking on the ‘Distribution and Demand for the Homes London Has’ panel at The London Housing Summit 2026, Tuesday 21 April.

An image of Michael Parsons.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 14

Living in poverty can negatively impact children's physical and mental health. ❤️‍🩹 The removal of the limit helps shape the conditions children live and grow in, which in turn can improve their health.

Living in poverty affects children's mental and physical wellbeing.

The government's recognition of this link is key - but tackling child poverty will take sustained action and investment to meet the scale of the challenge.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 14

Families can now access more financial support for each child in their household. 🏠️ The removal of the limit will lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty, as well as preventing many more being forced into poverty in the future.

This change immediately lifts hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and could prevent many more being forced into poverty over the coming years.

Source: Child Poverty Action Group

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 14

1 in 9 children in the UK have been affected by the two-child limit. Under the limit, the number of children living in poverty has increased.

1 in 9 children in the UK have been affected by the two-child limit, with around 60% from working families.

Source: Child Poverty Action Group

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 14

Earlier this month, the two-child benefit cap was scrapped. But what does this mean for child poverty? And how can this improve children's health? 👪

Families on low incomes will now be able to claim Universal Credit Payments for all children living in their household.

Source: Child Poverty Action Group

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 13

Food available in schools must not only be healthier, but also high quality and culturally appropriate so no child misses out.

The text reads: School food standards 2026.

It's vital now that food available in schools is not only healthier, but high quality and culturally appropriate so no child misses out. Schools must be supported practically and with sufficient funding to deliver these plans, and stringent monitoring and accountability practices must be put in place to ensure updated standards translate to better outcomes for all children.

Nikita Sinclair, Head of Children's Health and Food programme, Impact on Urban Health

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 13

We welcome the Government's announcement today to update school food standards. 🍽️

The text reads: School food standards 2026.

We welcome plans to update school food standards to ensure healthier options are available for all. It's great to see government continuing to prioritise children's health following the expansion of free school meals to those in receipt of Universal Credit.

Nikita Sinclair, Head of Children's Health and Food programme, Impact on Urban Health

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Apr 6

Ask your local councillors to take action on clean air! - Lead the way on warm homes and lower bills - Ditch diesel and help workers breathe easy - Deliver less traffic and more movement - Adopt new targets and make London a clean air city https://www.healthyairlondon.co.uk/

The text reads: We're calling for London's local election candidates to:
Adopt world-leading targets and help make London a clean air global citiy
Ditch diesel and help London's workers breathe easy
Deliver less traffic and more movement, bringing economic and health benefits for all
Lead the way on warm homes and lower bills

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Mar 20

The latest @sustainweb.org #GoodFoodLocal London report is out! This annual report tracks how councils are supporting Londoners to eat and enjoy #healthy, #sustainable and #affordable food and supporting food insecure Londoners http://www.sustainweb.org/good-food-local/london

Good Food Local The London Report

A map of London and its boroughs.

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Mar 18

Most people who burn wood do so for enjoyment or the atmosphere. Only a small minority rely on wood burners as a primary heat source. ❗️ There's only one day left to have your say. Contribute before midday tomorrow (March 19th): www.gov.uk/government/c...

Practical measures like warnings at point of sale and more powers to councils can help phase out wood burning.
Source: Global Action Plan

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Mar 18

The Government is holding a consultation on wood burning. It's a unique opportunity to call for: 🔥 Limits on how much pollution stoves can emit 🚫 Stronger penalties for suppliers who don’t meet standards. ✅ Clearer information on stoves to help people make informed choices.

£54 million
Stopping unnecessary burning - especially wood burning - could save the NHS more than £54 million a year.
Source: Global Action Plan and Hertfordshire County Council

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Mar 17

Have your say on wood burning policy 🔥 The Government is consulting on new rules for wood burning in homes. If you care about air quality, this is a real opportunity to influence national policy. ➡️ If you haven't already, contribute to the consultation by 19 March 2026: https://lnkd.in/eNEgrJBT

15%
In London, domestic combustion - mostly from burning wood - contributes to over 15% of PM2.5 pollution, more than all the city's passenger cars.

Source: London Atmospheric Admissions Inventory (GLA/TfL)

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Mar 12

The consultation is open until 19 March 2026 - contribute now: www.gov.uk/government/c...

Did you know? The pollution caused by wood burning affects everyone who breathes it in. But it's particularly harmful to children, older people, and people with health conditions.
Source: World Health Organization

Impact on Urban Health@impurbanhealth· Mar 12

Have your say on wood burning policy - one week left! 📢 The Government is consulting on new rules for wood burning in homes. If you care about air quality, this is a real opportunity to influence national policy.