Healthy Hearts -Research Engagement Network Launch

On 6th February 2025, we launched the Healthy Hearts Programme - Research Engagement Network in partnership with Edmonton Community Partnership, at Chestnuts Community Centre.

The programme focuses on prevention by equipping individuals with vital health information and encouraging meaningful conversations, to help them stay well or manage their heart health more effectively.

It was fantastic to be joined by residents, local grass roots organisations, representatives from the Community Diagnostic Centre in Wood Green and our health colleagues working in the heart health space.

The project is funded by the North London Integrated Care Board and builds on the successful partnership work we delivered in 2024 on mental health and prostate health.

To deliver the programme we are collaborating with local organisations Sewn Together, Black Arts Production Theatre Basketball CIC and RISE Projects to amplify health messages around heart health within their own communities, to work together to ensure the people of Haringey and Edmonton have healthier hearts now and in the future.

In 2020, the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease, in Haringey, was higher than the London and England averages and is the second highest cause of death in Haringey. We are now on a mission to change that. The programme focuses on addressing five long-term conditions that impact heart health: hypertension (High Blood Pressure), diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), obesity, high cholesterol, and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Lizzie Stimson from the North London Integrated Care Board, highlighted the uniqueness of the project, emphasising the real learning opportunity that cross borough working brings and how this could make us all think differently about health and wellbeing.

We ended the evening with everyone taking part in a feel good session courtesy of Candy's Dance Stars.

Our keynote speaker was Sola Story who shared his powerful story about experiencing an aortic aneurysm, despite being a fit and healthy Black man in his 30s.

Sola said:

“I had been told by my GP that I had high blood pressure, but I had ignored it. I was even asked by my GP to sign a waiver about refusing to take medication to address this. I thought I knew better. This is endemic in my community. High blood pressure is a ticking time bomb. Check your blood pressure, make sure health professionals know if it’s high, and follow their direction.”

To read more about the project and keep up to date with it's progress head here.