VSNW are pleased to share the publication of our latest reports: “1000 Voices: Cheshire & Merseyside”, and “1000 Voices: Lancashire and Cumbria” in collaboration with NHS England – North West.

These reports detail and summarise 800 first-hand accounts and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic collected from specific communities across Cheshire & Merseyside and Lancashire & Cumbria, with 400 “voices” collected from each region. This research forms part of a wider programme of work developed by NHS England – North West to better understand the experiences of the pandemic by communities across the North West including how gaps in health inequalities have widened and to develop recommendations for current and future working. The remainder of the 1000 voices (200) were collected separately in other areas.

For the Cheshire & Merseyside and Lancashire & Cumbria projects, specific communities were identified by NHS England – North West and chosen via local intelligence to focus on people from backgrounds and demographics most marginalised and exposed to the impacts of COVID-19 in those areas:

·       Cheshire & Merseyside

o   People who do not have English as a first language

o   People who are digitally excluded

o   People living in the most deprived areas as measured by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

o   People over 55 who are not in education, employment or training.

·       Lancashire & Cumbria

o   People from ethnic minority backgrounds

o   People aged under 25

o   People who are on the autistic spectrum or otherwise disabled.

o   People living in rural areas.

o   People living in the most deprived areas as measured by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

Voices were collected and analysed by VSNW with the support of place-based infrastructure organisations across the regions that expertly connected us in to organisations and individuals on the ground.

Warren Escadale, Chief Executive of VSNW said:

“The learning about the unequal impact of the pandemic reflects long term inequalities. These voices need to be heard. As the new health equalities framework, Core20PLUS5, is rolled out these lessons need to be at the forefront of service review and design.

In many ways, the pandemic gave us a preview of what an online world could look like and how it can go wrong. We need to use these lessons to inform our consideration of what does and does not work so we don’t repeat our mistakes.” 

The voices collected are extremely insightful into the lives of those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and the subsequent pandemic impacts that many of these communities are still dealing with. They are also heart-breaking, frustrating and yet in some cases, despite everything, hopeful.

The voices, experiences and recommendations detailed within this report will be shared with the newly developed Integrated Care Boards across the North West to influence the design of services and to ensure that our most vulnerable and marginalised communities are put at the very heart of strategy and service development.

To access the Cheshire & Merseyside 1000 Voices Report click here.

To access the Lancashire & Cumbria 1000 Voices Report click here.

For a blog with an overview of the 1000 Voices work across the North West please click here.