Reflecting on 20 years of preventative action

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for Health Equalities Group’s special 20th anniversary webinar — we were delighted to welcome so many delegates to mark this milestone in our journey.

The session reflected on two decades of preventative action, beginning with Dr Robin Ireland (HEG CEO 2003–2016) tracing our origins from Heart of Mersey through to the formation of HEG. We then shared current priorities: Nicola Calder on the healthier weight and food systems agenda, Michael Viggars on working with the sports sector to deliver public health outcomes, and Dr Matthew Philpott on taking a settings-based approach through initiatives such as the NHS Prevention Pledge and School’s Pledge. A panel of NHS and local public health leaders looked to the future, discussing the partnerships, leadership, and system change required to meet today’s challenges.

To support the event, we also launched two new resources. These materials demonstrate how our past and present work provide a strong foundation for the future; helping shape healthier, fairer, and more resilient communities:

• Reflecting on 20 Years of Preventative Action – charting our journey and impact across local, regional, and European levels.

• Partnering for Prevention – illustrating our current projects, frameworks, and advocacy, and setting out how HEG works with partners to embed prevention across systems.

Thank you once again for celebrating this important milestone with us. We look forward to working with you to ensure prevention remains central to public health systems in the years ahead. If you missed the webinar you can catch up on the presentations and discussions below.