Background

Stoke-on-Trent was first designated a member of the Healthy City Programme by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in December 1998, We were one of only eight cities in the UK and 39 in Europe to achieve Healthy City Programme status and it means that we are part of an international movement to raise awareness about the importance of health and well-being. The other UK cities are: Liverpool, Glasgow, Sheffield, Manchester, Camden, Newcastle upon Tyne and Belfast.

Our designation as a Healthy City means that our city planners and decision makers are committed to putting the health and well-being of all of those who live and work in Stoke-on-Trent at the heart of everything they do.

Stoke-on-Trent Healthy City was formally launched in January 1998 by the then Lord Mayor who signed a 'Declaration on Health' which sets out the partnerships principles. It is a development of the former Health Alliance which was set up in November 1993.

The Right To Health
Everyone in the City has a right to the best possible health and quality of life. Healthy Stoke-on-Trent's vision of health embraces the holistic and social understanding of health. Social environmental and economic factors all affect the health of people in the city. Promoting Social Justice and Equity in Health
Healthy Stoke-on-Trent will strive to reduce inequalities in health between different social groups and classes and enable everyone to enjoy the best possible health and well-being.

Partnership
Many different organisations have an impact on health through their policies and practice. It is essential therefore for those organisations to work together if change is to be effected. Partnerships must be formed between those organisations, the public and communities in the city, to empower communities to have more control over their health and their lives.

Participation
Communities should be able to participate actively in planning and taking decisions which affect their health needs and those of their community. Community participation requires genuine commitment to change from all organisations including ways of working that are open, flexible and accountable.

Advocacy
Advocacy is about promoting participation by people who are often excluded from decision making about services. A key principle is the independence of those providing advocacy from statutory organisations and services.

Accountability
Organisations should be accountable to the communities they serve. A commitment to accountability has implications for the way organisations operate, for example, the openness of decision making, the level of consultation and the availability of information.

Sustainability
To achieve long lasting improvements to health there will need to be commitment to organisational community development. Organisations will need to be supported to ensure Healthy Stoke-on-Trent's principles are fully integrated into organisational corporate culture. Staff at all levels should be enthused and empowered to work effectively and sensitively towards Healthy City goals. Community development programmes will enable communities, however defined, to identify their own needs and develop confidence and skills to take action.