Core20PLUS5 is a national NHS England and NHS Improvement approach to support the reduction of health inequalities at both national and system level. The approach defines a target population cohort – the ‘Core20PLUS’ – and identifies ‘5’ focus clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement. You can find out more about the national Core20PLUS5 approach on the NHS website.
Core20PLUS5
Our hyperlocal approach to Core20PLUS5
Addressing inequalities across clinical priorities, inclusion health and multiple deprivation is challenging. Our approach is to work closely with our thirteen Community Partnerships. We will align Core20PLUS5 and these locally determined plans to reduce inequalities. These locally derived priorities will look slightly different for each Community Partnership depending on the needs of their local population. We are also supporting the Children and Young People Core20PLUS5 by commissioning some new support services.
The Core20PLUS5 funding for Bradford District and Craven is being managed by the Reducing Inequalities Alliance (within Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership) but will be implemented via Community Partnerships working together within a locality model.
What we've learnt so far
The Core20PLUS5 model provides a powerful demonstration of how devolved, evidence-informed, and community-driven commissioning can reduce inequalities and strengthen local systems. It aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan’s ambition to shift focus from treatment to prevention and from hospitals to communities.
Learning from our hyperlocal approach to Core20PLUS has been captured via:
Stories from our local projects
Supporting women and strengthening families: The power of Maternity Circles
When pregnant women feel isolated, they can miss out on vital health support — not only for themselves, but for their babies too. In Bradford District and Craven, we are…
Helping communities Breathe in Bradford: Supporting people with respiratory conditions to stop smoking
Tackling smoking where it's needed most In areas where smoking is deeply embedded in communities, change isn’t just about willpower — it’s about understanding communities, providing support, and building trust.…
Children and young people
NHS England also have a framework for children and young people:
You can find out more about this approach on the NHS England website.
We will be working towards understanding the needs of our children and young people in our district and the priority areas defined.
In Bradford District and Craven, we have chosen to enhance the children and young people’s mental health priority with a focus on prevention of the impact of adversity and trauma:
- Prevention and early help for children and young people to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences
You can find out more about Bradford’s approach to Adversity, Trauma and Resilience here: Bradford ATR (bradfordatrpartnership.co.uk)
Core20PLUS5 tools and resources
- Reducing Inequalities Toolkit
- ‘What works’ evidence packs
- Core20PLUS5 logic model in BDC
- Core20PLUS5 in Bradford district and Craven evaluation plan
- Core20PLUS5 – what we will do document
- Community NHS health check guidance for use in Bradford District and Craven
- Core20PLUS5 Progress Report no. 1 March 2025
- Core20PLUS5 Learning Week 2025 session recordings
Data and intelligence packs for all 13 community partnerships are available on request. Please email ria@bradford.nhs.uk
View more key inequalities documents and guidance here.
Our Core20PLUS5 Learning Week
Our Core20PLUS5 Learning Week highlighted learning and impact from our hyperlocal approach to the Core20PLUS5 programme and thanked projects for their involvement.
Recordings of all sessions can now be viewed on our YouTube channel or by clicking the links below.
- Core20PLUS5: What we’ve learnt in BDC
- A focus on ‘Core20’: Reaching those living in 20% most deprived households
- A focus on the ‘PLUS’: Improving healthcare for our most marginalised groups (often termed “inclusion health”)
- A focus on the ‘5’ clinical priorities to reduce inequalities
- Core20PLUS5: Impact and what’s next?