My name is Laiba, and I am 16 years old from Halifax.

I believe that your financial situation determines your health and well-being. I’ve experienced first-hand how the money in your pockets can mean the difference between life and death. Financial stress is a significant contributor to anxiety and depression. Stable finances provide peace of mind, enabling individuals to focus on personal growth and maintain a positive outlook on life. I take pride in my local area, which has many community programs designed to help people with low incomes. Even my school has a community kitchen, and I have seen the positive impact of this first hand. The connection between health and financial well-being is undeniable. By supporting initiatives that bridge this gap, we can create a healthier, more financially secure future for everyone.

My name is Rushda, and I am 15 years old from Halifax.

I believe that education has a huge impact on our health and well-being. Witnessing the transformative power of community health initiatives has been a deeply moving experience for me. One initiative that stands out is a volunteer-driven project that offers free educational workshops. These events helped educate individuals on preventive healthcare. The sense of community and support here in Halifax not only inspires healthier lifestyles but also empowers people, like myself with essential knowledge about their well-being. The profound impact that education can have on an individual’s health is evident, making it crucial to leverage these tools for the greater good of our community.

Tatiana Briosa from Keighley in Bradford is a member of ACORN, a community-based union that supports a network of low-income people organising for a fairer deal for communities left behind by companies, councils and parliament.

ACORN supported Tatiana to ensure the essential repairs were carried out by her landlord and helped her to win damages for moving her family into a house that was not fit for purpose.  

‘I’m not alone – ACORN supports hundreds of thousands of tenants so that where they live does not affect their health.’

ACORN is working with private and social tenants in Bradford who have been affected by poor quality housing, with the main issues being damp and mould causing respiratory conditions as well as stress and anxiety.  

Building a group of tenants-volunteers (some of whom will be trained to become case workers), they support other residents on a one-to-one basis with housing issues.  

Bradford 4 Better are a community group that want to take action to improve Bradford for its citizens, including tackling the health inequalities that exist.

Originally a small community clean-up group, B4B evolved quickly into a pressure group and grew exponentially, highlighting the grassroots frustration that many Bradford residents felt. B4B soon gained a reputation for being the go-to organisation if you needed something to change. 

Their committee is comprised of many people in the health sector, from GPs to researchers. As their membership grew, so did the scope of their work. Recently, one of the ways they have been improving health outcomes has been to raise awareness of the importance of bowel cancer screenings, including helping translate all materials so that language is not a barrier for minority ethnic groups.