Contexts
Introduction
There are many healthy settings initiatives – operating at both organisational and geographical levels. Although they are focused at a local level, it is important to understand the wider contexts in which they operate.
Regional Context
The North West region has supported the establishment of the Healthy Settings Development Unit and pioneered work in settings such as prisons and sports stadia, as well as having strong involvement in well-established programmes such as Healthy Schools.
Key links include:
Government Office for the North West
email: gonwmailbox@gonw.gsi.gov.uk
www: http://www.gos.gov.uk/gonw/
NHS Northwest
email: website@northwest.nhs.uk
www: http://www.northwest.nhs.uk/
North West Public Health Information Portal
www: http://www.nwph.net/default.aspx
North West Public Health Observatory
email: nwpho-contact@ljmu.ac.uk
www: http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/default.aspx
Northwest Development Agency
email: info@nwda.co.uk
www: http://www.nwda.co.uk/
National Context
The Government’s Public Health White Paper, Choosing Health: Making Healthy Choices Easier not only highlights the value of Healthy Schools, but also discusses the importance of early years settings; pledges support for healthy colleges and universities; includes chapters on 'local communities leading for health', 'a health-promoting NHS' and 'work and health'; and draws attention to the importance of prison health initiatives and healthy night-life environments. In addition, a wide range of policies and strategies relating to regeneration, sustainable development, social inclusion, community cohesion and partnership working lend support to the theory, principles and practice of the whole system healthy settings approach. The Government’s emphasis on ‘joined-up’ policy and of the need for better integration at regional and local levels, is particularly important – as it highlights the value of practising a whole system approach within settings, and of strengthening links between different settings.
Key links include:
Government Office Network
www: http://www.gos.gov.uk/national/
Improvement and Development Agency for Local Governement (I&DeA)
www: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1
National Health Service (NHS)
www: http://www.nhs.uk/
Policy Hub (Portal for Policy-Related Information)
www: http://www.nationalschool.gov.uk/policyhub/
UK Parliament (Government Departments, Ministers and Other Information)
www: http://www.parliament.uk/
International Context
At the international level, a range of charters and declarations – such as the Ottawa Charter and the Jakarta Declaration provide endorsement and legitimacy for the healthy settings approach. In addition, the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), the WHO Healthy Settings website and other relevant pages provide useful portals.
Agenda 21 and UN Division for Sustainable Development
www: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21/index.htm
European Union
www: http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
IUHPE
www: http://www.iuhpe.org/
WHO
www: http://www.who.int/en/
WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development
www: http://www.euro.who.int/ihd
WHO Healthy Settings Portal
www: http://www.who.int/healthy_settings/en/
WHO Global Conferences, Charters and Declarations on Health Promotion
www: http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/en/
