Middlesex unites local leaders to tackle community health and wellbeing challenges

University event highlights Middlesex’s commitment to working with community partners to improve health outcomes across North and West London

Middlesex University welcomed 20 borough councillors representing wards across North and West London to an event exploring health and wellbeing challenges facing local communities and how universities, local government and other partners can work together to address them.

Discussions focused on the underlying factors contributing to poor health outcomes, identifying the groups most affected, communicating public health information effectively to residents, and working together to improve health and wellbeing across London’s boroughs.

Attendees represented Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. They included Leader of Barnet Borough Council, Labour councillor Barry Rawlings; councillors Anne Clarke and Anne Hutton; Opposition Leader of Barnet Borough Council, Conservative councillor Peter Zinkin; Brent councillor Tina Amadi; and Haringey councillor Jo Kuper, representing the Green Party.

As an anchor institution and civic university, Middlesex is committed to creating positive social impact, improving quality of life and widening access to education to support social mobility, particularly for disadvantaged communities.

The event provided an opportunity for the University to strengthen relationships with civic partners, better understand the concerns affecting the communities it serves and explore how its expertise and resources can contribute to addressing challenges across the wider region.

Addressing councillors at the event, Middlesex University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shân Wareing, said:

“As a civic university, we are proud to work alongside local government, NHS and social care partners to improve healthcare across North London.

“We already play a critical role in training the next generation of nurses, midwives and social care workers, as well as undertaking health-focused research and community engagement initiatives.

“Today is also an opportunity for us to better understand the challenges facing local communities, where the greatest needs exist and how the University can use its expertise and resources to make a greater contribution.

“Our ambition to drive positive change across the whole of North London is one we all share.”