Health inequity is far from a new problem, but its persistence demands urgent action. Across England, people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds face significantly worse health outcomes than their white counterparts: outcomes that are explained by the structural conditions in which people are born, grow, work and age.

In the communities where we will work, this reality is stark. In Greater Manchester, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Black Caribbean communities experience disproportionate rates of preterm birth, lower uptake of vaccines, and are more likely to report poor GP experiences and underreport health conditions altogether. In Lambeth, Black women face the highest rates of multiple chronic conditions in south London, and Black and Asian mothers continue to report poorer and less trusted experiences of maternity care. In Barking and Dagenham, minoritised communities are developing long-term conditions on average five years earlier than their white counterparts, and barriers including distrust and language mean bowel cancer screening uptake remains persistently low.

This evidence demonstrates the preventable harm of structural racism and discrimination. Receiving this funding means we can go further than simply documenting these disparities and begin, alongside communities, to dismantle the structural causes behind them.

The centrepiece of our delivery is three Anti-Racism Collaboratives (ARCs), each based in a specific place and rooted in the communities experiencing the sharpest health inequities. Our three ARC locations are:

• Greater Manchester

• London Borough of Lambeth

• London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Each ARC is hosted by a trusted minoritised ethnic-led VCSE organisation, recruited through an open Expression of Interest process. Host organisations provide local coordination, maintain community relationships, and support each Co-Production Panel in their area. The ARCs will deliver 2 ‘Change Programmes’ per year, addressing specific issues around health equity.

Being part of this partnership means more than receiving a grant. The National Lottery Community Fund has brought together organisations to work collectively on health equity, sharing power, evidence and learning to drive national systems change. As one of the partners, the Foundation will also contribute to expertise in evidence, influencing, and co-production to shape national policy, fund design and system change.