Nicole Greene, Communications and Influencing Manager
As a born and bred Mancunian who moved to London over three years ago, there’s nothing quite like going home. Most people who have moved away from their hometown can relate to this sensation. For me, it’s the small things like hearing a northern accent, eating my mother’s chicken soup or the sense of familiarity and nostalgia.
During my latest visit home, I came across Health Equals’ ‘Make Health Equal’ billboard in the Northern Quarter. The text reads “Every day is precious, especially in Manchester.” Having been part of discussions before the launch of the campaign, seeing it come to life in my hometown made me pause and reflect.
Playing around with Health Equal’s digital feature to determine the life expectancy in different areas, I discovered that my Manchester postcode had an average life expectancy of 81 years. For context, the lowest life expectancy in the UK is 74 years, while the highest is 90 years. In my London postcode, the life expectancy is 86 years. This disparity didn’t surprise me, as the inequalities between the North and South has been something I have noticed since making the move.
Life expectancy is impacted by several interconnected factors such as income, air quality and housing. Our world shapes our health and wellbeing. And for the one in four children in the North West who live in poverty, their experience of poor housing and low income is likely going to cut years from from their lives.
Research by the Race Equality Foundation has previously shown that specific groups of Black, Asian and ethnic minority people have a much lower life expectancy. For example, the average age of death for people with a learning disability who are from an ethnic minority is 34 years, just over half the life expectancy of White counterparts, at 62 years of age.
The Make Health Equal campaign is highlighting the role of access to healthy food, more affordable, quality housing, improved air quality and access to green spaces in reducing health equalities. Comparatively poorer access and poorer experiences affect people of Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds disproportionately contributing to poorer health and wellbeing.
I am proud to be part of this campaign which is striving to make a difference and bringing these issues to the forefront.
Read more about Health Equals here.
