We provide a quarterly round-up on the organisation’s multi-sector policy influencing activity along with relevant updates from across public affairs.
General Election
In the period in which we have seen the General Election, our External Affairs team have focussed their efforts on strategic direction for the new government, reframing our narrative and looking at the wider policy landscape. During the election period, we celebrated Labour’s ‘Countryside protection plan,’ which includes policies for improved nature access, creating new walks and planting three new national forests, as well as looking into the ‘grey belt’ – policy recommendations which we have been advocating for through evidence submissions, engagement and our cross-departmental Routes to Roots manifesto. We reiterated our commitment to advocate for the policy calls contained within our low-cost or no cost manifesto on the announcement of the General Election in May, which can be read in full here.
As ministerial appointments and briefs are finalised, we will continue to campaign for healthier, fairer and stronger communities across Departments, Select Committees and the backbenches.
Events
May and June were busy event months for Intelligent Health, with our CEO and Director invited to speak across various policy areas. Director, Katherine Knight spoke at Elevate at two sessions across the two-day event. On day one, Katherine was invited to speak about Beat the Street on a panel discussion regarding the gamification of fitness with other speakers from Brawn Power, British Esports and Endurance Zone. On the final day, she joined partners from Park Play and Wildstrong to explore the topic of building strength and friendships under an open sky and creating long-term physical activity habits through more than just ‘exercise.’
Katherine Knight addresses the audience at Elevate
Much of our CEO, Dr William Bird MBE’s engagements during this time focussed on the intersections of health and nature. This included a keynote address at Buckingham & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust’s Enabling Healthy Communities, presenting on the integral connection between access to quality green spaces and good health and wellbeing. William was also invited to a Health and Nature Recovery Roundtable event at Kew Gardens, with other likeminded trusted voices from within the natural environment sector. As a pioneer in the field, William also chaired a panel at the International Social Prescribing Conference, hearing from speakers on the topic of innovation in heritage and nature.
Dr William Bird chairing a panel at the International Social Prescribing Conference
Over the last year, much of our advocacy work has centred around improving nature access in the urban built environment. This had included ongoing conversations with developers, housebuilders and urban planners. William spoke on a ‘Connected Thriving Places: Positive Disruption to Housing Challenges’ panel with representatives from Crisis, AtkinsRealis, Bristol Housing Festival, Lloyds and Arkerlof at the UKREiiF Annual Event. Our CEO was also a keynote speaker at the TCPA Developing Well conference in Birmingham and took part as a keynote speaker and on a panel to discuss: Why is creating places and spaces where children and young people can ‘develop well’ so important?
Intelligent Health Advisory Panel
Our Advisory Panel convened at Somerleyton Hall and Gardens, Suffolk across 14 to 15 May. We welcomed Phil Jones, Chairman at PJA and Board Member of Active Travel England, to the Panel and were joined by Jon Alexander, author of Citizens for a session on civic engagement, and how to implement global best practice into the work of the Advisory Panel and representative organisations work, using Beat the Street as a case study. Over the two days, we discussed partnership working, policy in practice and were also joined by Laura Hampton from Wild East to talk about the charity’s rewilding aims and how both the private and public sectors can support them in their mission. The Advisory Panel will meet virtually in the Autumn to identify future workstreams, bringing together expert voices from across sectors to determine what a healthy place looks like.
Members of Intelligent Health Advisory Panel at Somerleyton Hall Gardens
We will continue to provide relevant political updates throughout the year, if you have not done so already, please sign up to our Partner Newsletter to receive quarterly policy round-ups directly to your inbox.
