At Want That Change, we’re on a mission to improve health and wellbeing across Tameside..

With over 232,000 residents in our borough, more than 70% of adults are overweight or obese, and around 30% live with high blood pressure (Tameside Healthy Places Strategic Framework, 2024–2028).  

Life expectancy in Tameside remains below the England average — approximately 76.9 years for men and 80.1 years for women, compared to around 78.7 and 82.8 nationally (Tameside Strategy 2023-2026, 2024) Healthy life expectancy is also lower than national averages — 61.6 years for men and 58.2 years for women in Tameside.

 

🌱 Why We’re Here

NHS policy and reform in England have increasingly prioritised prevention and community-led health action:

• The 2019 NHS Long Term Plan commits to shifting NHS resources out of hospitals and into community-based services and primary care to prevent illness before it develops, which could save up to 500,000 lives over ten years (Faculty of Public Health, 2024)

• Recent commentary and research highlight this direction as a strategic shift from treatment to prevention, part of broader NHS reform aimed at improving health equity and reducing demand on clinical services (Transformation Partners in Health and Care, 2025).

- Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) across England are now embedding prevention into how health services are delivered — supporting collaborative, community-focused interventions to tackle chronic disease and health inequalities (Faculty of Public Health, 2024).

• A Deloitte‑Royal Society report further outlines a new health ecosystem centred around proactive, preventative care and health education, reinforcing the need for local, grassroots health initiatives (Royal Society, 2025).

As NHS policy continues its strategic shift towards prevention and community-based care, our work at Want That Change aligns precisely with this direction — helping residents adopt healthier habits before chronic illnesses develop, reducing pressure on NHS services, and supporting longer, healthier lives.
(NHS Long Term Plan, 2019.

 

🤝 Loneliness & Social Isolation (England-Wide Insight)

Loneliness is a growing public health concern in England. About 22% of adults report feeling lonely “some or all of the time”, with 6% experiencing it often or always (Nesta, 2025). Those in poor or very poor health are far more likely to feel lonely—62% felt lonely some or all the time, compared to only 18% of those with good health (NHS Digital, 2024). Because we know that loneliness is linked to chronic disease and mental health risks, our programmes provide social connection alongside health education.

 

💼 Supporting All Stages of Life

Whether someone is working, retired, or facing limitations due to health issues, we deliver free wellness education, peer support, and resources for managing conditions. For those exploring work or starting ventures, we also provide development programmes to build confidence and purpose within the community.

 

🤝 Working Together

We actively collaborate with local services, businesses, and community groups to strengthen impact across Tameside. If you’re interested in partnership, referral, or collaboration — please get in touch. We'd love to work with you.

 

We’re committed to transforming health outcomes in Tameside through practical, inclusive, and community-led solutions.