Welcome to our podcast 'Hope in the Deep End', brought to you by the Shared Health Foundation.

In this podcast series we are exploring all the different complexities of working in areas of deprivation, poverty and entrenched health inequalities. From clinicians to youth workers, we want to inspire, challenge and give inspiration to all those that work in the deep end.

This episode was recorded as part of our Politics Series, where we speak to colleagues from all sides of the House, campaigners and activists about what keeps them hopeful in their work.

Alison McGovern is the Labour Member of Parliament for Birkenhead and currently serves as Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness. She has represented her hometown in Parliament since 2010, first for Wirral South and then for Birkenhead following boundary changes in 2024.

Alison has long been committed to improving temporary accommodation for families and children. In this episode, she reflects on her political beginnings, her upbringing in a family of advocates, and the progress she’s made—alongside her vision for a more secure and compassionate future.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Sharedhealthgm
Want to appear on 'Hope in the Deep End'? Email us on contact@sharedhealth.org.uk

Welcome to our podcast 'Hope in the Deep End', brought to you by the Shared Health Foundation.

In this podcast series we are exploring all the different complexities of working in areas of deprivation, poverty and entrenched health inequalities. From clinicians to youth workers, we want to inspire, challenge and give inspiration to all those that work in the deep end.

This episode was recorded as part of Shared Health’s annual Homeless Families Conference: Dare to Hope - an event bringing together lived experience, housing, health, education, politicians, media and everyone working to support families in temporary accommodation. If you’re interested in attending our next conference, visit our website.

This Politics panel featured a cross-party discussion on homeless families. Paula Barker is the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree. She is the Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ending Homelessness. Councillor Caroline Jackson is the Leader of Lancaster Council (Green Party) and portfolio holder for Housing and Homelessness.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Sharedhealthgm
Want to appear on 'Hope in the Deep End'? Email us on contact@sharedhealth.org.uk

Welcome to our podcast 'Hope in the Deep End', brought to you by the Shared Health Foundation.

In this podcast series we are exploring all the different complexities of working in areas of deprivation, poverty and entrenched health inequalities. From clinicians to youth workers, we want to inspire, challenge and give inspiration to all those that work in the deep end.

This episode was recorded as part of Shared Health’s annual Homeless Families Conference: Dare to Hope - an event bringing together lived experience, housing, health, education, politicians, media and everyone working to support families in temporary accommodation. If you’re interested in attending our next conference, visit our website.

This Journalists Panel featured a discussion from national and local journalists on reporting homeless families' stories in a supportive, mindful and empowering way.

Kath Swindells is Deputy Features Editor at Inside Housing, covering social housing and homelessness, where her work has seen her named one of journalism’s 30 Under 30 by the Press Awards and PPA. Previously, she was a data reporter at the New Statesman, and is passionate about using human-centred data journalism to shed light into dark corners, such as in her shortlisted project, which tracks the numbers of toddlers and babies living in temporary accommodation in every council in the UK.

Ethan Davies is a Local Democracy Reporter at Manchester Evening News. He is an award-winning journalist who thrives off breaking big stories, building relationships, and connecting with audiences. He was named as the BBC's Local Democracy Reporter of the Year in 2024, and was shortlisted as Young Journalist of the Year at the Regional Press Awards.

Tarah Welsh is an Investigative Reporter and Housing Correspondent for the BBC.
She is a multiple award winner with the judges of RTS and Circom 2021 describing her work as “outstanding” and “brave”. Ensuring diverse voices and views get on air has been a key part of her role as a TV reporter for almost 15 years.
Tarah has covered the biggest stories in London, presented the main news bulletins from the studio, but, most importantly, she’s held the city’s authorities and politicians to account time and time again on matters important to viewers. She has presented and produced several documentaries that have reached worldwide and nationwide audiences.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Sharedhealthgm
Want to appear on 'Hope in the Deep End'? Email us on contact@sharedhealth.org.uk

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Sharedhealthgm
Want to appear on 'Hope in the Deep End'? Email us on contact@sharedhealth.org.uk

Welcome to our podcast 'Hope in the Deep End', brought to you by the Shared Health Foundation.

In this podcast series we are exploring all the different complexities of working in areas of deprivation, poverty and entrenched health inequalities. From clinicians to youth workers, we want to inspire, challenge and give inspiration to all those that work in the deep end.

This episode was recorded as part of Shared Health’s annual Doctors in Deprivation Training Day - a day of learning, inspiration and encouragement for GPs and clinical leads working in the Deep End of medicine. If you’re interested in attending our next training day, visit our website.

Andrea Williamson is a GP and Professor of General Practice and Inclusion Health, combining teaching, research and clinical practice.

She teaches and trains about the social determinants of health, Inclusion Health practice and trauma-informed care. She leads on research about "missingness" in healthcare, which she talks about in today’s episode, and is involved in wider research and policy work to improve care for people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage.

Her policy work includes being a founding member of GPs at the Deep End, and a deputy chair of the Health Equity Special Interest Group at the Royal College of General Practitioners. Andrea is also on the Scottish Government National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group, and was the Primary Care member of the NICE Guideline Committee for integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness.

Further information about the research, 'Developing interventions to reduce "missingness" in healthcare': https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/healthwellbeing/research/generalpractice/research/missingnessinterventions/

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Sharedhealthgm
Want to appear on 'Hope in the Deep End'? Email us on contact@sharedhealth.org.uk