Community at Heart
Cardiovascular diseases are strongly associated with health inequalities. There are differences between groups and communities in the prevalence, treatment and outcomes of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. This is because cardiovascular health is affected by wider determinants of health such as income, housing, education, the environment, and access to health and social care.
Greater Manchester (GM) has poor cardiovascular health, with the communities at greatest risk also being the least engaged in managing their CVD health. Increased CVD mortality across GM localities correlates with areas of higher deprivation and every GM locality is in the top third most deprived local authorities in England. Urgent action is required to reduce the decline in health and improve existing inequalities.
The Community at Heart project will help to reduce inequalities and improve health outcomes in underserved communities. This will be achieved by using data to inform where engaging with the community could be beneficial and enable audience insights to be gathered about how health conditions are managed and the potential barriers that prevent support being accessed. This work may also involve the co-creation of culturally competent communication products and public health messages, that resonate with specific audiences.
Improving the GM system’s understanding of communities at higher risk of CVD through advances in population health management, better engagement with communities and the use of voluntary sector outreach organisations will help place communities at the heart of the CVRM Mission.
The Understand phase of the Community at Heart project aimed to assess the current landscape of CVD) prevention in Greater Manchester, focusing on national and local context, available data, and people’s experiences. This phase ran from April to July 2025, involving a multi-professional team and engaging with public, patients, clinicians, and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector.
The Understand Phase has mapped out where the greatest needs and opportunities lie, highlighting both data-driven gaps and community insights. As we move into the Reimagine Phase, the project will build on these findings by focusing on targeted, community-led, and data-informed interventions, aiming for more equitable, sustainable, and impactful CVD prevention across Greater Manchester.
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