New role created to tackle inequalities in Black Country

Leading Midlands’ landlord whg has created a new Director of Stronger Communities role as it builds on its work to address the impact of the wider determinants of health and inequalities which are prevalent within many disadvantaged communities.

Connie Jennings was appointed to the position in July, having worked at whg in a variety of community focussed roles including Social Inclusion Manager and more recently as Head of Health and Wellbeing. Connie brings to the role her own lived experience and passion to ensure that those communities who are at risk of being left behind have access to support, opportunities and services.

whg operates in one of the 20% most deprived districts in England and as a placed-based community organisation, has long been committed to investing in the health and housing agenda. The housing association has a corporate aim to “promote health and prosperity where we can make a difference” and sees the relationship between health and housing as pivotal in creating stronger communities and sustaining tenancies.

Connie said: “We are proud members of Walsall Together, a place-based partnership Board, working alongside a range of partners to help build resilient communities.  Some of our communities have persisting but avoidable health inequalities, where people suffer poorer health outcomes and, in some cases, have a shorter healthy life expectancy than other areas in England.

“We believe that this is not acceptable, and we are keen to play our part, along with our partners, to help tackle this.

“I feel extremely privileged to be given this opportunity and will work hard to ensure our customers have fair access to those services which will enable them to live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives.”