Agenda item

1.    Dr Ghosh provided an update on the Marmot Coastal Region programme and noted that Kent was the first Marmot Coastal Region. He advised that the initiative had been informed by research into Marmot regions across the country, engagement with stakeholders, and findings from the Chief Medical Officer's report on coastal inequalities. Further work undertaken by Public Health in 2021 had identified similar inequalities along Kent's coastline, leading to the decision to focus the programme on coastal communities.

2.    Dr Ghosh explained that the Marmot approach comprised eight principles and that the initial focus had been placed on work and pathways into employment, as a key wider determinant of health. He noted that this aligned closely with subsequent national policy developments, including the Kent and Medway Connect to Work initiatives, and that the programme was intended to expand to encompass the wider Marmot principles over time.

3.    It was noted that the programme covered the coastal districts of Swale, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone & Hythe, together with Ashford due to its links with neighbouring coastal areas. The programme's four objectives were to achieve strategic alignment, identify high-impact actions, promote culture change around wider determinants of health and health inequalities, and build momentum for sustained change.

4.    Dr Ghosh outlined the governance arrangements, which included a steering group comprising representatives from local authorities, the NHS, education, VCSE organisations, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Institute of Health Equity. An Expert Advisory Board, chaired by Sir Michael Marmot, provided strategic oversight, supported by a working group responsible for day-to-day delivery. The steering group was accountable for reporting progress to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

5.    Members were reminded that the Marmot Coastal Region had been formally launched in Dover in March 2026 by Sir Michael Marmot. Dr Ghosh advised that, as part of the programme, Kent County Council had committed by April 2028 to support at least 200 young people into education, employment or training, assist 150 people on probation into education and employment, and support a further 100 people facing additional disadvantages, including care leavers, carers and people with mental ill health, into work.

6.    Dr Ghosh advised that delivery was being progressed through a three-tier approach comprising long-term culture change, system alignment and the Marmot Accelerator Programme. He noted that the Institute of Health Equity had produced the recently published Kent Report, including a data-led analysis and deep dive into work, income and health. Work was also underway to align existing programmes addressing employment and pathways into work to maximise impact and avoid duplication.

7.    The Marmot Accelerator Programme focused on local innovation projects designed to support people with high levels of need into employment and improve work-related skills. Dr Ghosh advised that commissioning would be delivered in two phases, with an initial focus on preventing young people from becoming not in education, employment or training, together with a grant scheme for local organisations. The second phase would focus on projects supporting delivery of the programme pledges relating to probation services and people facing additional disadvantages.

8.    Dr Ghosh further reported that the first Marmot Accelerator project had commenced on the Isle of Sheppey in June through the Breaking Barriers initiative. The Sheppey Career Readiness Initiative aimed to support 36 young people who were not in education, employment or training into those opportunities over a 12-month period.

9.    Further to questions and comments from Members the discussion included the following:

(a)  Support was expressed for the practical projects being delivered through the Marmot programme, particularly the Sheppey initiative, and it was noted that the partnership workshops had provided valuable opportunities for agencies to work together and consider both existing activity and gaps in provision. It was further noted that one of the Marmot principles related to tackling racism, and concern was raised that there was a perception among some communities that racism was increasing. It was expressed that a more proactive approach be taken to tackling racism within communities and for this to be reflected in the further development of the Marmot programme.

10.It was RESOLVED that the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board noted the key components of the Kent Marmot Coastal Region and discussed how to support the initiative.