NGO Forum Steering Group

British Dental Health Foundation
www.dentalhelpline.org.uk

British Heart Foundation
www.bhf.org.uk

CIEH - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
www.cieh.org.uk

CSV
www.csv.org.uk

Department of Health (Funder)
www.dh.gov.uk

Equalities National Council
www.encweb.org.uk

Faculty of Public Health
www.fph.org.uk

Healthy Living Alliance
www.healthylivingalliance.org

The Royal Society of Health (host organisation)
www.rsph.org

SHEPS - Society for Health Education & Promotion Specialists
www.promotinghealth.org.uk

Unite the Union
http://www.unitetheunion.org.uk

Background

The government's 1999 white paper 'Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation' established the National Forum of Non-Governmental Public Health Organisations (subsequently known as the NGO Forum) as part of its developing public health strategy.   Since its inception the NGO Forum has been involved with developing the 'Choosing Health' white paper (2004) and the Wanless report on 'Securing good health for the whole population' also published in 2004.  The 'Choosing Health' White Paper recognized the contribution of the NGO Forum and states that the NGO Forum will be strengthened.

Most recently the national report on social marketing ‘It’s our health!’ included the NGO Forum as “the key vehicle for engaging key national NGOs in the planning and delivery of all future social marketing enhanced national programmes and campaigns.”  Currently the NGO Forum is working closely with the Department of Health to develop a compact to guide their future working relationship.

The Forum began with around 30-35 members - national non-governmental organisations concerned with different aspects of public health.  In June 2007 the Forum has over 90 members.  Member organisations represent the wide range of facets that make up public health including housing, community development, physical activity, sustainable development as well as heart health, nutrition, sexual health and many other issues.

The role of the voluntary sector in health can be summarised as the following five key areas:

• Education include providing resources for the public and professionals
• Advocacy, campaigning and lobbying policy makers
• Provision of services via equipment, people, and programmes (alone or in partnership)
• Research and evaluation
• Capacity building for both voluntary and statutory organisations by larger voluntary organisations

The NGO Forum seeks to support members whatever their role and ensure that communication between the third sector and the national statutory sector is efficient and effective.