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What does good health signify for you? Is it the ability to visit a GP when necessary, having a secure and comfortable home, feeling connected within your community, or having the time and support to care for yourself and loved ones? These questions formed the core discussion in *Dare to Dream: A Journey to Health Utopia*, an interactive performance that united communities from Liverpool, Sefton, and Knowsley. The event explored various perspectives on health, healthcare, and visions for a better future.
Held between 16 and 18 September, these performances were developed alongside local people who shared their personal experiences with health and care. Rather than being passive spectators, attendees were encouraged to actively participate, offering opinions and reflecting on potential improvements they wished to see in health systems and community wellbeing.
One of the key insights from the event was the recognition that health extends far beyond medical visits. Factors such as living conditions, financial stability, safe housing, social connections, and opportunities for physical activity and enjoyment all play a critical role in influencing wellbeing. Therefore, creating a healthier city cannot be solely achieved by health services. It involves fostering neighborhoods where residents can engage socially, access nutritious food, enjoy green spaces, and receive necessary support to thrive.
The event also provided a platform for attendees to openly discuss their healthcare experiences. While common frustrations like waiting times, service accessibility, and navigating digital platforms were highlighted, there was a strong desire for healthcare systems to treat individuals as people rather than just numbers. Listening to community members’ lived experiences is vital, as these insights reveal barriers that statistics alone might overlook.
Another important theme centered on prevention, emphasizing support systems within communities that help people maintain health before illness arises. This includes making physical activity easier, ensuring access to affordable and healthy food, supporting mental wellbeing, and offering social opportunities. Prevention is not about instructing people on what to do but about setting up environments that make healthy choices accessible and natural for everyone.
A significant aspect of *Dare to Dream* was empowering locals to influence decisions about health and care. People who use these services, along with community groups, possess invaluable knowledge about what functions effectively and where improvements can be made. Meaningful involvement of communities in shaping services ensures that decisions reflect genuine experiences and everyday concerns.
Visions for an ideal health future varied among participants. For some, it meant improved healthcare access; for others, it involved stronger communities, better housing, enriched green space, or more opportunities for sports, arts, and social engagement. Above all, many emphasized the importance of having a voice and feeling heard. The project created a forum where ideas could be exchanged, questioned, and developed collaboratively.
*Dare to Dream* is part of ReCITE, a program led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, bringing together community members, researchers, health organizations, and creative partners from Liverpool, Knowsley, and South Sefton. Liverpool City Council partners with this initiative, working to explore how creative and community-led approaches can address health inequalities and foster trust. Through storytelling and creative engagement, ReCITE seeks new ways to overcome barriers and generate solutions by connecting those with lived experiences and professionals alike.
Ultimately, this collaborative approach supports Liverpool’s broader goal of building a fairer, healthier city where everyone has a chance to live well and contribute to decisions affecting their lives. *Dare to Dream* stands as a reminder that building a healthier future is not something done to communities but created together with them
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More
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