The Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Partnership meeting scheduled for Tuesday 27 January 2026 was set to cover a range of important public health initiatives. Key discussions were planned around the Blood Pressure Exemplar Theme, a strategic overview of tobacco dependency, and an update on employment programmes.

Update on the Blood Pressure Exemplar Theme

A presentation was scheduled to provide an update on the Blood Pressure Exemplar Theme, which is one of three key initiatives within the Gloucestershire Integrated Care Strategy. The ambition for this theme is to enhance the prevention and early identification of high blood pressure, and to support individuals diagnosed with hypertension in managing their condition effectively. The approach outlined involves a multi-pronged strategy informed by population health management data.

The report pack detailed national ambitions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, aiming for 80% of people with high blood pressure to be diagnosed and 80% of those diagnosed to be treated to target by 2029. Current performance figures were noted as 69% for diagnosis and 65.7% for treatment to target.

Several projects were highlighted as part of the Blood Pressure Exemplar Theme, including:

• The TRY Project: This community-led pilot intervention, delivered by the Forest Voluntary Action Forum (FVAF) in partnership with the Forest of Dean Health Forum, aims to prevent, detect, and manage hypertension in working-age men in the Forest of Dean. The project embeds blood pressure checks and awareness within local Rugby Football Clubs, co-designed with community members, RFC leaders, and healthcare professionals. It focuses on engaging men least likely to access clinical health services through trained Heart Health Champions and community engagement activities.
• Know Your Numbers Campaigns: Four such campaigns had taken place between September 2023 and September 2025, with the Gloucestershire Health and Care (GHC) Outreach Vaccination and Health Visiting Team visiting 26 locations across the county. These campaigns aimed to raise awareness and offer blood pressure checks, resulting in 918 checks and 181 signposts for additional support. Insights from these campaigns indicated that over half of those who received a check were men, within the working-age bracket, and had not previously been diagnosed with hypertension.
• Get Salt Smart Campaign: This social marketing campaign, running from September to December 2025, aimed to raise awareness of the link between dietary salt and blood pressure, encouraging lifestyle changes. The campaign rationale highlighted that over a quarter of adults in England have high blood pressure, and salt reduction is a key lifestyle change. The campaign involved consultations with various stakeholders and reached a significant audience through social media, with 128,493 impressions on YouTube and a reach of 145,651 on Facebook.

The report also touched upon the importance of community insights, with work undertaken by Treasure Seekers at The Cavern community to understand knowledge, barriers, and beliefs surrounding blood pressure management. Key themes identified included a lack of understanding about blood pressure, anxiety around testing, and management difficulties due to more pressing challenges faced by the community.

Tobacco Dependency Strategic Overview

A presentation was scheduled to provide a strategic overview of tobacco dependency, focusing on the South-West Regional Tobacco Control Strategy and Pledge. The vision for the South West is to be smokefree by 2030, reducing smoking prevalence to below 5% and thereby reducing health inequalities, saving lives, and improving wellbeing. The strategy aims for a collaborative, evidence-based, and locality-led approach.

Key priorities of the regional framework include preventing uptake, reducing illicit tobacco supply and demand, minimising exposure to second-hand smoke, supporting smokers to quit through evidence-based treatment, using behavioural insights, and increasing public awareness.

The SW Smoke-free 2030 Charter was also to be discussed, aiming to refresh and strengthen commitments, align with best practice, and make tobacco dependence treatment a core health priority. This charter is a unified approach for NHS and Local Authority leaders, reflecting current priorities and evidence-based practice.

Locally, Gloucestershire's Tobacco Control Steering Group provides strategic direction, with work underway to develop a system-wide tobacco control alliance. This includes a needs assessment, a draft local vision, and high-level objectives aligned with the South-West approach. Relationships are being developed with NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICB leads to align approaches across the cluster.

Insights research commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) in 2025 focused on cohorts with high smoking prevalence, including the Polish community, the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with substance misuse challenges, and those in supported accommodation. The aim was to understand their views on smoking, the wider context of their behaviours, and the barriers and enablers to quitting. The learning from this research informed the commissioning of a Tobacco Dependency Outreach Service in December 2025, which will use the findings to develop and deliver bespoke offers for each group.

Update on the Employment Exemplar Theme and 'Connect to Work' Programme

A presentation was planned to provide an update on the employment exemplar theme and the 'Connect to Work' Programme. The Gloucestershire Employment and Skills Hub offers a single point of access for residents seeking advice, guidance, and support to move into or return to employment, education, or training, or to retain their jobs. This includes support for those who are unemployed, economically inactive, or in work but seeking alternative employment, as well as individuals facing barriers to entering the labour market. The Hub also provides pathways for young people, including those with SEND, care-experienced individuals, and those not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

The report highlighted achievements in 2025, including embedding the Linking Health and Employment (LEAH) Project, launching the 'Connect to Work' programme, investing in support for young people (NEET), launching the '100 Futures' work experience initiative, and developing the 'Get Gloucestershire Working Plan'. The 'Connect to Work' programme, funded until March 2030, aims to support around 3,000 participants, with at least half retaining or securing new employment. It follows an evidence-based supported employment model.

Performance data for December 2025 indicated 117 expressions of interest, 95 referrals, and 73 programme starts, with 13 paid job outcomes achieved. The LEAH Project and 'Connect to Work' Health Leads, seconded from the ICB, are working to build and assure the sustainability of relationships with the health sector.

Case studies were included to illustrate the impact of the 'Connect to Work' programme and the LEAH Project, showcasing individuals who have secured employment with support. Case studies for care leavers and young people (NEET) were also presented, demonstrating how the Hub's support has helped them secure apprenticeships and employment.

Focus areas for 2026/27 include ramping up delivery of the 'Connect to Work' programme, redesigning the Employment and Skills Hub, developing the Gloucestershire Employment Alliance, targeting new partners and customer groups, and working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to develop Youth Hubs. Challenges identified include a more competitive labour market, new programmes, the impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and ICB clustering, and the merger of Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service.

The Gloucestershire Employment, Health, Wellbeing and Inequalities Summit Pledge was also to be discussed, which commits to collaboration across sectors to support residents and enable disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to access inclusive and sustainable employment opportunities.

The meeting was also scheduled to include a Chair's Update regarding expressions of interest for the Vice Chair position, an update on NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) clustering arrangements, and consideration of public and member questions.