Issue - meetings

To update the Board on progress with developing the Kirklees Healthy Working Life programme.

Contact:  Steve Brennan, Kirklees Place Director of Partnership Development, Allison Porter, Employment Lead, Growth & Regeneration Manager, and Phil Longworth, Programme Manager, Kirklees Healthy Working Life Programme

Phil Longworth, Kirklees Healthy Working Life Programme Manager,

Allison Porter, Programme Manager Business and Skills, and Jessica Taylor, Young Adults Employability Officer, Fresh Futures, presented the Kirklees Healthy Working Life Programme. 

In summary, the Board was informed that the government produced a white paper in November 2024, which identified a range of actions that needed to happen, to increase the number of people in work.  These were people who had previously been out of work because of ill health and also to increase the support for people who are in work, who might be at risk of losing their job because of ill health.

West Yorkshire was selected for two key national programmes, namely:

1.    Health and Growth Accelerator, led by the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (included in the new NHS Plan)

2.    Economic Inactivity Trailblazer led by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (included in the spending review)

The Board was informed that the intention is to deal with those as a single entity. Although funding has only been confirmed for the current financial year, there was specific reference to the accelerator programme in the NHS Plan. This provides some optimism that the approach will continue and that future funding may be made available through the Integrated Care Board (ICB).  Similarly, the trailblazer was referenced in the spending review, which again gives some hope that funding will continue beyond this year.  Work on this has been ongoing since April 2025 and has now progressed to the implementation phase.

This work was established in response to national recognition of the link between health and employment. West Yorkshire was selected due to having some of the highest rates of unemployment related to ill health. While a reasonable level of funding has been confirmed for this year and for the Trailblazer programme next year, the details of future funding remain uncertain.

It is well established that mental health, musculoskeletal conditions, and cardiometabolic issues are key factors affecting people’s ability to work. Historically, mental health and musculoskeletal issues contributed equally, but recent evidence shows a shift around 40% of those at risk of leaving work or struggling to return due to ill health are now affected by mental health conditions. This highlights mental health as a growing area of concern.

Due to the nature of the conditions, the greatest numbers of people are in the 50 plus age group, however, the group that is growing fastest in terms of people who are not in work due to ill health is young people aged 16 to 24. One of the distinguishing features of the approach in Kirklees, compared to other areas in West Yorkshire and the two other areas receiving accelerator funding, is a strong focus on supporting young people.  It is also important to highlight that out of the people who are not currently working, who are classed as economically inactive, approximately one in four, it is because of long term, ill health issues.

Referring to the presentation slides, the Board was shown a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21