On September 11th, Redbridge Town Hall hosted the launch of the Queen Mary East London Civic Action Network, drawing over 100 participants from faith communities, voluntary and community organisations, local authorities, NHS teams, elected leaders and Queen Mary University of London staff and researchers. The first network event focused on how we build health equity across East London by fostering connections, deepening understanding, and enhancing collaboration together as health stakeholders and systems. This aligns to one of the five priority themes of Queen Mary’s Civic University Agreement, ‘A Healthy and Sustainable Future’.
Dr. Philippa Lloyd, Vice Principal for Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Queen Mary, and Prof. Alison Blunt, Deputy Vice Principal for Impact (Culture, Civic and Community), opened the event with remarks that set the stage for a series of presentations. Key insights were shared by the North East London Integrated Care System (NEL ICS), London Borough of Newham Public Health, and Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service, offering a thorough overview of the current health landscape and challenges in East London.
Building on these discussions, Queen Mary’s health research strengths are anchored in fostering community partnerships that tackle local challenges with a focus on prevention. By sharing our expertise and experiences in healthcare and service provision, we highlight the critical role of early intervention in achieving meaningful outcomes, guided by the insights of the communities we serve. Our civic focus, rooted in Queen Mary’s heritage, not only addresses these local challenges but also fosters equitable partnerships, building connections between universities and communities that enhance social, economic, and democratic well-being both locally and globally.
The day featured dynamic table discussions on essential health equity themes, including access to services, social determinants of health, and mental health. These discussions were followed by a networking break and a second round of talks, allowing participants to refine ideas and propose actionable strategies. The event concluded with a networking lunch, where attendees continued to build connections and discuss next steps.
Alison Blunt highlighted the event’s success, stating,
“By sharing knowledge and experience across a range of sectors, the Network identified key actions and built new connections to achieve positive change in, with and for East London."
Our next steps will be to take these actions forward together, strengthening the collaborations and partnerships required across sectors to address health inequalities and improve health outcomes for everyone living and working in East London.”