22 September 2026
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Social Prescribing Network Webinar – 15 September 2026
Closing the Health Gap: Tackling Inequalities and Improving Population Health
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Social Prescribing Network Webinar
15 September 2026
Full presentation slides available here
Introduction
- The webinar focused on reducing health inequalities and improving population health across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
- A record-breaking 122 people attended, making this the highest-attended Hampshire & Isle of Wight Social Prescribing Network webinar to date.
- Presentations explored the role of the voluntary sector, adult literacy, health innovation, public health, and social prescribing in addressing health inequalities.
- Speakers shared practical examples of partnership working, prevention, community engagement, and place-based approaches that support healthier communities.
Angela Gill
HSPN & Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forums Facilitator
Angela Gill opened the webinar, welcoming participants and outlining the programme.
Tim Houghton
Chief Executive, Community First
Tim provided a voluntary and community sector perspective on closing the health gap. He highlighted evidence showing significant differences in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between more and less affluent communities within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The presentation emphasised that community organisations are a vital part of the social infrastructure of health, offering trusted local support, building confidence and resilience, and helping people stay connected.
Tim described the important role of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in prevention, social prescribing and improving wellbeing. He stressed the need for stronger place-based collaboration between primary care networks, social prescribers, public health teams and community organisations. Key priorities included targeted support for communities facing the greatest challenges and investment in preventative activities such as physical activity, volunteering, skills development, nature-based initiatives and social connection.
Kate Randerson
Coach and Local Connector, Read Easy Southampton & Isle of Wight
Kate introduced Read Easy and explained the relationship between literacy, health literacy and health outcomes. She highlighted that around one in six adults in England have very poor literacy skills and discussed some of the reasons people may struggle with reading, including disrupted education, caring responsibilities, learning difficulties and English being an additional language.
The presentation demonstrated how literacy affects a person’s ability to understand health information, access services, follow medical advice and make informed decisions about their health. Kate explained how improving literacy supports prevention and independence by helping people engage more confidently with healthcare and everyday life.
Kate outlined the Read Easy model, which provides free one-to-one reading coaching delivered by trained volunteers. She shared examples of the positive impact on confidence, employment opportunities, social participation and family life, together with information about referrals, volunteering opportunities and local support available across Southampton, Eastleigh, the New Forest and the Isle of Wight.
Linda Du Preez
Innovation Adoption Programme Co-ordinator, Health Innovation Wessex
Linda presented Health Innovation Wessex’s approach to improving health outcomes and tackling health inequalities through innovation. She explained how the organisation works across the NHS, academia, industry and the voluntary sector to identify and support innovations that can improve care and be adopted at scale.
A key theme of the presentation was health equity, which is embedded throughout Health Innovation Wessex’s programmes and projects. Linda described the importance of community engagement, co-production, trusted voices and digital inclusion in ensuring innovations benefit everyone, including communities experiencing poorer outcomes.
She shared examples from women’s health work across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, where women’s experiences of periods and menopause helped shape future service improvements. Linda also highlighted the Medicines Safety Improvement Programme, which supports people with learning disabilities through improved medication reviews and collaborative working between health services, social care, voluntary organisations and people with lived experience.
Jo Jefferies
Associate Director of Public Health, Hampshire County Council
Jo provided an overview of health inequalities, explaining that they are avoidable and unfair differences in health outcomes, access to healthcare and wider determinants of health. She outlined how inequalities can be linked to deprivation, geography, disability, ethnicity and social exclusion.
The presentation explored the relationship between deprivation and healthy life expectancy, demonstrating the substantial differences experienced by people living in the most disadvantaged communities. Jo explained that health is influenced by a range of interconnected factors including housing, education, employment, income, transport, access to healthy food, and social relationships.
Jo highlighted the importance of place-based approaches and partnership working in reducing inequalities. She described how leadership, data, community engagement, lived experience and healthy environments all contribute to improved population health outcomes.
The presentation concluded by focusing on social prescribing and its role in addressing wider determinants of health. Jo highlighted how social prescribers can help connect people with community assets, support those facing barriers to services and use local knowledge to improve wellbeing and reduce inequalities.
Forthcoming Events and Webinars
- Tuesday 22 October 2026, 09:30-14:00 – North Hampshire Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum Networking and Showcase Event, Winchfield Village Hall.
- Thursday 12 November 2026, 13:00-14:00 – Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum Webinar: Reaching Men Where They Are: Community Approaches to Health.
- Wednesday 25 November 2026, 10:30-13:00 – Mid Hampshire Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum Networking and Showcase Event, The United Church, Winchester.
- Wednesday 9 December 2026, 13:00-14:00 – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Social Prescribing Network Webinar: Good Work and Health: Supporting People into and within Employment.
- Wednesday 10 February 2027, 13:00-14:00 – Voluntary Sector Health & Wellbeing Forum Webinar (Theme to be confirmed).
- Finally, came the announcement of Wednesday 14 April 2027, 09:30-14:30 – as the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Social Prescribing Network’s 2027 Conference, which will be held at the Utilita Bowl, Southampton, and included a call for HSPN member Case Studies/Videos.
Contact Information
Katy Ovens
Health Forums Officer
Community First
Email: healthforums@cfirst.org.uk
For further information about forthcoming webinars, events, and network activities, or to register free, please contact Katy Ovens as above.
Find out more about the Health Forums, including registration and previous meetings & webinars