Welcome to the 2026 Director of Public Health Annual Report for Leeds. I’m delighted to share this report with you, which shows how we work with communities in Leeds to improve health and reduce health inequalities in our city.
This report draws on global evidence and our learning from working closely with communities across Leeds. It makes the case for embedding community-centred approaches at the heart of all our work to improve and protect the health of everyone in the city.
Leeds is a vibrant city, made up of many diverse communities with incredible strengths. These include 3,375 Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) organisations, over 200 languages spoken, vibrant faith communities, and beautiful green spaces that support health and wellbeing. However, as in every large city in the UK, there are long-standing inequalities between different communities. As a Marmot City*, we work in partnership to address these unfair differences in health.
Health starts in our communities. Community groups such as gardening clubs and singing groups are widely recognised as important cornerstones of community life. But the impact of these groups on community health is often overlooked. Relationships between neighbours, community groups and trusted organisations are just as important for people’s health as the services we provide.
Community-centred approaches are central to our work to improve health in Leeds. We are proud to have a long history of working in close collaboration with communities and VCFS organisations. This made a real difference during the COVID-19 pandemic, where we could build on strong, trusted relationships to support communities. This way of working is a strength of Leeds, which should be valued and celebrated. It builds the community resilience we need to face future challenges.
I have been inspired by the examples of brilliant work with and by communities that I have seen across Leeds – from Better Together groups providing friendship and skills, to Neighbourhood Networks supporting people in later life to stay active and connected. There are so many examples across the city to celebrate, and this report provides a small snapshot of them.
Leeds has a strong foundation for this work, with strong community assets and clear evidence that underpins good practice across the city. Building on this, the report sets out recommendations to support a system-wide commitment to strengthen and scale up community-centred working in Leeds.
Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health.
