Wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council have partnered with the Institute of Health Equity to become a Marmot place, aiming to drive a cultural shift and embed a broader, place-based approach. This initiative prioritises addressing the unfair and preventable inequalities between Wokingham’s communities by focusing on the key building blocks of health.

A Fairer Wokingham was launched in 2024

Wokingham is often ranked among the best places to live in the UK, yet, like any area, it faces health and well-being inequalities. Despite overall wealth, pockets of deprivation exist, with some neighbourhoods experiencing significantly higher levels of disadvantage. In these areas, life expectancy is up to five years lower than in the least deprived neighbourhoods.

Addressing these inequalities is a key challenge for Wokingham and a driving force behind its decision to become a Marmot place. This initiative will take a targeted approach to tackling localised deprivation and reducing health inequalities across the borough.

The Institute of Health Equity’s recommendations for Wokingham challenge Wokingham Borough Council and system partners to adopt more strategic actions and approaches, not projects, on the building blocks of health and to shift the culture so that inequalities are everyone’s business. This will require all partners to work collaboratively, prioritising health equity and strengthening the whole ‘health equity system’  

Year one has focussed on the opportunity within Wokingham Borough Council to strengthen health equity within its council plan, and embed across directorates where new strategies are in development,  considering long-term approaches to tackling inequalities by work in partnership to reduce inequalities in education outcomes identify gaps in skills and employment training and their role in improving building blocks of health.

Key recommendations include:

• Shifting towards more localised delivery models that prioritize early intervention and prevention.
• Embedding ambitious health equity principles into both existing and future partnerships.
• Collaborating with residents and businesses of all sizes to create inclusive economic development strategies.