Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Manchester strengthens how research is shaped and used, across the Council and its partners. We share research in a clear and simple way, and help people do their own research with tools, advice, and funding. We work with local people and partners to use evidence to inform decisions that can help people to live healthier lives.
Overview
Good health and wellbeing is essential for us to live happy lives, where we can feel fulfilled and reach our potential.
However, health outcomes are unequal in Manchester - men in Manchester live about 3.7 years less and women 3 years less than the England average. Health inequalities mean some people live shorter, less healthy lives than others.
There are many factors which contribute to inequalities in health – such as whether we experience poverty or discrimination, our jobs, the condition and security of our homes, and our access to public transport and green spaces. These social, economic, commercial and environmental factors are known as the ‘building blocks’ or wider determinants of health.
Our Health Determinants Research Collaboration will help Manchester to uncover insights about what and how the wider determinants impact health outcomes, ensuring that communities' experiences are articulated through research, and use research findings to influence policies that will reduce these unfair health gaps. Manchester City Council and its partners can influence many of the “building blocks of health”.
HDRC Manchester:
- Works with local people, the VCFSE sector (voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise) and the University of Manchester to use research to improve health in Manchester.
- Listens to the experiences of our communities and helps them to shape research and decisions that affect their lives.
- Builds research capability and capacity to support decision-makers in Manchester to use facts and evidence to make better decisions.
- Shares research in a clear and simple way, and help people do their own research with tools, advice, and funding.
- Trains and supports local people to do their own research and share what they learn with their communities and with decision makers.
Our goal is to make things fairer, so everyone in Manchester has the chance to live a healthy life.
About NIHR
The NIHR funds, enables and deliver world-leading health and social care research. It improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.
NIHR funds 30 HDRCs across the UK, which enable local authorities to become more active in research and build a culture of evidence-based decision-making. The research aims to address the wider determinants of health and tackle health inequalities.
The NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Manchester is a part of the NIHR and hosted by Manchester City Council.
The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.