The Health and Well-being Board of Northumberland Council met on Thursday, 13 August 2026. The meeting's agenda included updates on the Sexual Health Strategy and the 0-19 (25) Growing Healthy Northumberland Annual Report, as well as a review of the Board's forward plan.

Sexual Health Strategy - Progress Update

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the Northumberland Sexual Health Strategy, which covers the period from 2024 to 2029. The strategy is linked to the Northumberland County Council Corporate Plan 2026-30, specifically its priorities of tackling inequalities and achieving value for money. The report was intended to provide a summary of progress against the strategy's four key priorities: teenage pregnancy and young people, education across the life course, reducing STIs and HIV prevention, and contraception and reproductive health. The report indicated that progress was being made across all four priorities, with a high percentage of actions in progress. The recommendation was for the Board to comment on the report and agree with the current strategic direction and priorities.

0-19 (25) Growing Healthy Northumberland Annual Report 2025-2026

A presentation was scheduled to cover the 0-19 (25) Growing Healthy Northumberland Annual Report for 2025-2026. The report aimed to assure the Board that the service continues to deliver high-quality, responsive, safe, and effective services. It was intended to demonstrate the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme and its alignment with the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The report also aimed to highlight the service's impact on reducing health inequalities by targeting socio-economic, geographic, cultural, and vulnerability barriers through proportionate universalism. Key achievements from 2025-26 were to be presented, including the number of contacts made with children, young people, and families, and the achievement of Healthy Child Programme Key Performance Indicators. The report also detailed efforts to reduce health inequalities through initiatives such as the Baby Box initiative and targeted emotional wellbeing support. Challenges such as workforce recruitment and retention, and the impact of rurality on service access, were also to be discussed.

Health and Wellbeing Board – Forward Plan

The Board was scheduled to review its forward plan for the 2026-2027 council year. This plan outlines forthcoming agenda items for future meetings, providing an overview of topics to be discussed. The forward plan indicated upcoming discussions on subjects including the Neighbourhood Health Plan, the Northumbria Healthcare Trust's Community Promise and Health Inequalities, a Gambling Strategy, the Healthwatch Northumberland Annual Report, and the System Wide Intelligence Strategy. Future agenda items also included the Families First Delivery Model, the Warmer Homes Plan, advice networks for fuel poverty, physical activity, community mental health transformation, education, SEND and skills, and the Oral Health Strategy.