The Food Active conference will bring together public health professionals, policy leads, elected members, the third sector, academics and wider stakeholders from the North of England (and beyond) to explore how populations across the region have been affected by COVID-19 and how the pandemic is widening the gap between the North and South in terms of health inequalities.
The event will focus on how the North can respond to both the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19 in addressing overweight and obesity, and how this can contribute to reducing regional health inequalities.
We have a fantastic line up of speakers and experts in the field, including: Dr Luke Munford, Lecturer in Health Economics at the University of Manchester; Anna Taylor, Executive Director of the Food Foundation and Dr Charlotte Hardman, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool.
We will also be hosting a panel discussion featuring three Northern Directors of Public Health – Matthew Ashton, Lead Director of Public Health at Food Active, Professor Peter Kelly, Director of Public Health for the North East and Yorkshire Region and Fiona Phillips, Assistant Director of Public Health at the City of York Council. The discuss will aim to draw on the panellist’s experiences to discuss the opportunities for addressing obesity and inequalities in the region in a COVID-19 era.
Finally, the conference will facilitate a series of smaller workshops to highlight best practice on promoting healthy weight and addressing inequalities pre, during and post COVID-19 locally. Workshop themes range from supporting those living with disabilities to stay active during lockdown, engaging with system leaders to support health and wellbeing, partnership working to support holiday food provision and much more.
The conference will be chaired by the charity’s Executive Director, Dr Matthew Philpott, with Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, Director of Public Health at Tameside Council and President of the Association for Directors of Public Health, chairing the Director of Public Health Panel Discussion.
The event will be hosted on the virtual platform Zoom and will be composed of a series of presentations, a panel discussion and workshops.
Please find the conference agenda here.
Join in the conversation by following us on twitter at @food_active and hashtag #FACONF.
