CHEM is a partnership that works to make health fair for everyone in Manchester.
Why CHEM was set up
CHEM started in July 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some communities in Manchester were hit harder by Covid than others. These include:
- People from different racial backgrounds
- Disabled people
- LGBTQ+ communities
- People who face extra challenges, like refugees or people seeking asylum
CHEM was created to help these communities and make sure their voices are heard. In September 2023, CHEM started looking at wider health issues, not just Covid-19.
What they do
CHEM works with lots of organisations. These include the Council, health services, hospitals, GPs and community groups. We:
- Build trust between communities and services
- Listen to communities and share their ideas
- Use data to understand problems
- Work together to make things better
CHEM is part of our plan to make the city fairer for everyone (Making Manchester Fairer).
Who CHEM focuses on
CHEM works with groups who often face unfair treatment and worse health. These include:
- People affected by racial inequality
- Disabled people, including those with learning disabilities
- People who are new to the UK, refugees, Roma, Gypsies, Travellers, and sex workers
- LGBTQ+ communities
- People who face more than one type of discrimination
How CHEM works
CHEM has two main parts:
The Strategic Group
This group includes leaders from health services, the Council, and community organisations. They meet every month to:
- Plan CHEM’s work
- Find out which are the biggest health problems for the groups CHEM supports
- Use data to understand problems
- Make changes that improve health for the priority groups CHEM supports
Sounding Boards
Sounding Boards are groups that represent different communities. They give people a voice and share ideas with CHEM. There are six Sounding Boards:
- African and Caribbean
- Bangladeshi
- Disabled People
- Inclusion (migrants, refugees, etc.)
- LGBTQ+
- Pakistani
- Each Sounding Board is run by a local community organisation.
Why CHEM is important
CHEM helps make sure everyone in Manchester has a fair chance to be healthy. By working with communities, we can tackle discrimination and improve health for all. For more information about CHEM, email: chem@manchester.gov.uk