The two-child cap has for too long penalised children. Ending this will not only help struggling families, but offers long-term social and economic benefits. @alexisdarby.bsky.social explains how arguments used to defend the cap fail against the evidence: www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/blog-why-scr...

"It marks the end of one of the most punitive social policies in recent history that has denied hundreds of thousands of children the support they deserved simply because of the size of their family." www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f...

Statements following the removal of the two-child benefit cap - Health Equity North

Today (Wednesday November 26, 2025) Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP announced in the Autumn Budget that, from April 2026, the Government will be lifting the two-child benefit cap. The cap was imposed in 2...

healthequitynorth.co.uk

The two-child cap will be removed from April! We have campaigned for years to end this unjust policy – through evidence, advocacy & collaboration. Half a million children will be immediately lifted from poverty as a result. Read our reaction 👇 www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/statements-f... 1/2 #Budget

New @healthequitynorth.bsky.social report shows that closing the North-South health gap could create economic gains of £18.4bn per year. Economic inactivity due to ill-health is now at its highest level since records began. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

North-South health divide 'will be made worse by benefit cuts'

Attempted cuts to PIP had left northern communities "feeling under attack," a report says

inews.co.uk

Since 2022, we’ve been making the case to scrap the two-child limit. Read about our advocacy and why it’s vital Government ends this policy in the upcoming Budget. www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/blog-lifting...

Health Equity North@healthequitynorth.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The two-child limit remains the single biggest driver of child poverty in the UK today. Read about the work Health Equity North has been doing to highlight to policymakers the impact of this limit in @alexisdarby.bsky.social's recent blog post. www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/blog-lifting...

@northumbriauni.bsky.social is the newest member of now 20 research-intensive institutions of the Northern Health Science Alliance. They will play an active role in shaping and contributing to the NHSA’s 15 pan-northern programmes and expert networks. www.thenhsa.co.uk/2025/10/nort...

We heard from @mayorofgm.bsky.social, Lord David Willetts, President of @resfoundation.bsky.social, @josephtiman.bsky.social, Victoria Braddock from Marketing Manchester, and Professor @andywestwood.bsky.social at Policy@Manchester's panel event on how devolution can continue to benefit our regions.

Women in our region face lower healthy life expectancy, worse mental health and £132m is lost in wages every week. Hear from Kirith Entwhistle MP, Dame Lesley Regan and Proffesor Louise Kenny on how we can build a better future for nothern women. Register - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-a...

Health Equity North@healthequitynorth.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Hear from an expert panel at our #LabourPartyConference event ‘Building a Better Future for Northern Women’, which includes: @hannahdavies.bsky.social, @kirithentwistle.bsky.social, Professor Dame Lesley Regan, and Professor @louiseckenny.bsky.social. Join us: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-a...

Our #WomanOfTheNorth report found women living in the North have lower healthy life expectancy, worse mental health, & more likely to suffer domestic violence. Our panel event at @teamlabouruk.bsky.social Conference will examine findings & recommendations www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/labour-party...

THREAD Families living in areas of higher poverty - such as the North of England - are less likely to have access to healthy, affordable food and more likely to have children who live with obesity. www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/northern-chi... 1/7

Great fun at #WomensHealthGM today with @janemcdermott.bsky.social and @evefrancisholt.bsky.social discussing the GMCA's plans for women's health and @healthequitynorth.bsky.social Woman of the North report.

Health Equity North@healthequitynorth.bsky.social · last yr.

Our Head of Public Affairs @alexisdarby.bsky.social spoke on a @manchester.ac.uk panel today about Women's Health in Greater Manchester, talking about our #WomanOfTheNorth report findings. #WomensHealthGM

I attended the launch of the Ageing in the North report, highlighting inequalities older people in the North face compared to the South. Great to meet my constituents Jane McDermott, Elaine Unegbu and Alexis Darby, who contributed to this important work.

Todays @theguardian.com Prof Kate Pickett from @healthequitynorth.bsky.social says UK faces “worse health more inequality, and growing north south divide.” Welcomes Wes Streeting’s focus on deprived areas but urges govt to scrap welfarecuts and boost health in poorer communities. shorturl.at/PUAfi

Poorest parts of England to get £2.2bn more for NHS to cut care inequalities

Deprived and coastal areas to get extra cash this year for staff and resources in effort to improve health outcomes

shorturl.at

Yesterday we launched our Ageing in the North report in Parliament. It shows older people in the North are more likely to be poorer, sicker, inactive and in poor housing, costing the NHS billions. Great to have @annadixonmp.bsky.social at the event and front page of the @yorkshirepost.co.uk

The NHSA@thenhsa.bsky.social · last yr.

THREAD: Older people in the North of England are more likely to be poorer, less healthy, physically inactive, lonely & in poor housing - resulting in billions of pounds of avoidable NHS costs, according to our #AgeingintheNorth report released today www.thenhsa.co.uk/2025/06/olde... 1/15

MP for Shipley @annadixonmp.bsky.social is delivering the keynote speech out our Ageing in the North report Parliamentary launch, touching on the disparities that older people face in the North of England compared to their southern counterparts

THREAD: Older people in the North of England are more likely to be poorer, less healthy, physically inactive, lonely & in poor housing - resulting in billions of pounds of avoidable NHS costs, according to our #AgeingintheNorth report released today www.thenhsa.co.uk/2025/06/olde... 1/15

Older northerners struggle with “alarming” inequalities compared to people from the South - The NHSA

Click here to download the Ageing in the North report Older people in the North of England are more likely to be poorer, less healthy, physically inactive, lonely and in poor housing – resulting in mi...

thenhsa.co.uk

Following today's Spending Review from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, our Chief Executive @hannahdavies.bsky.social has commented on the announcement, which includes R&D funding rising to a record high of £22bn per year. Read Hannah's full comment: www.thenhsa.co.uk/2025/06/6277/

THREAD We welcome the Government’s decision to expand free school meals, a vital step we called for in our Child of the North report and the Cost of Living report. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Free school meal rule change to make 500,000 more pupils eligible

Charities broadly welcome the plans, saying they hope it is a sign of more to come.

bbc.co.uk

We are calling on government to: • Reform funding so it's transparent and cover real costs • Prioritise access for families with extra needs • Invest in early years as childcare is vital for future outcomes • Boost workforce pay and conditions to end staff shortages

Health Equity North@healthequitynorth.bsky.social · last yr.

THREAD: The lack of suitable childcare options is inflicting huge financial and emotional strain on some of the country’s most vulnerable families, according to a report by Health Equity North, @newcastleuni.bsky.social & @officialuom.bsky.social 1/9 www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/emotional-an...

@georgiagould.bsky.social says public services are siloed and focus too little on prevention. We need a community-led approach designed with people. Policy needs to start on the ground, not in the centre. #strongerthings

Looking forward to a big day @wearenewlocal.bsky.social Stronger Things conference. All about reimagining public services for the better and unlocking the potential of places. #StrongerThings2025

Thank you to @stephspyro.bsky.social of the The Daily Express for publishing an opinion column from our Academic Co-Director @profkepickett.bsky.social today about the why the two child benefit cap should be scrapped www.express.co.uk/news/politic...

'Child benefit cap must be scrapped – Labour can't afford not to'

Child poverty is running rampant across Britain.

express.co.uk

Our Executive Director @hannahdavies.bsky.social last week shared our research around inequalities at various panel events with leaders, partners, health champions and policymakers – read Hannah’s blog to find out more

The NHSA@thenhsa.bsky.social · last yr.

Last week, our CEO, @hannahdavies.bsky.social attended #UKREiiF, which turned a much-needed spotlight on “The Great North” - with Hannah and the NHSA being a key part of the conversation. Read Hannah’s blog about her participation at the event at www.thenhsa.co.uk/blog/the-nor...

@healthequitynorth.bsky.social new report shows - stark decline in healthier amenities. Takeaway shops up by 24% across England, number of banks and building societies decreased by 40%, and supermarkets by 10% and three times as many vape shops in deprived areas. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Number of vape shops in England rises by almost 1,200% in a decade

Research also shows deprived areas have up to 25 times as many bookmakers and pawnbrokers as affluent high streets

theguardian.com

Coverage of @healthequitynorth.bsky.social new report - examining the decline in “third places”, including cafes, pubs, social clubs and community centres. All of which "lead to more vibrant and safer communities, which in turn has a positive effect on people’s health and wellbeing."

The Mirror@mirror.co.uk · last yr.

Parts of the country are becoming “ghost towns”, with banks, libraries, pharmacies and public toilets replaced by vape shops, bookies and takeaways, a hard-hitting report has revealed.

Our research on the effects that PIP changes could have on local economies, written by authors @nataliecbennett.bsky.social @profbambra.bsky.social & @lukemunford.bsky.social, was featured on the @itvpeston.bsky.social programme last night - you can watch the episode on catch up

Peston@itvpeston.bsky.social · last yr.

Join ITV’s Flagship Politics show Tonight Robert Peston and Anushka Asthana will be joined by: 🌹 Gordon Brown 🇪🇺 Pedro Serrano 💼 Sir Charlie Mayfield 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Stephen Flynn 🔵 Gillian Keegan #Peston youtube.com/live/_sOdZhH...

Delighted that @marykfoymp.bsky.social highlighted our recent PIP analysis during today’s DWP debate in Parliament. She drew attention to the significant local impact of PIP reforms, noting that the City of Durham stands to lose - a staggering £13 million annually from its local economy.

"We won't stand for this unacceptable status quo" @hannahdavies.bsky.social has written an opinion piece for @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social about our findings that show women in the North of England are living shorter lives in worse health newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/gArP36yKA9uA...

It's a damning indictment of modern Britain that girls born in the North of England can expect to live shorter lives than those born elsewhere. But through devolution and strong female representation, we’re determined to improve the lives of women and girls. @healthequitynorth.bsky.social

Delighted that the northern female mayors @kimmcguinness.bsky.social and @mayorofwy.bsky.social signed our #WomanOfTheNorth charter today with @louiseckenny.bsky.social @hannahdavies.bsky.social and Suzanne White from @leigh-day.bsky.social www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/health-and-w...