Experts to discuss how to reduce inequality
Free event will explore disparities in healthcare, housing and access to justice
A panel of experts will take part in a roundtable event in Cambridge to discuss inequalities in healthcare, housing and access to justice in the East of England and the UK as a whole.
The event, which will take place at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, is free to attend and is aimed at fostering discussion between practitioners and academics about how to reverse the trend that is seeing inequality widen across the country.
In 2020, Cambridge was named the UK’s most unequal city, with the 20% of lowest earners taking home just 2% of the city’s income.
In the UK as a whole, inequality is rising. Income inequality rose by 1.3 percentage points from the financial year ending 2021 to the same time in 2022, a figure largely driven by a reduction in disposable income for the poorest households. Among the richest, disposable income rose.
The discussion is being hosted by Dr Imko Meyenburg of ARU and the speakers include:
• Ramydevi Ravindrane, NHS public health registrar;
• Angus Nurse, Professor of Law and Environmental Justice at ARU;
• Dr Collin Constantine, College Lecturer and Official Fellow of Economics at Girton College, University of Cambridge;
• Gary Cass Mst (Cantab), CEO Hertfordshire Building Control, Build Insight and the Building Control Company.
Dr Meyenburg, of ARU’s Centre for Inclusive Societies research group, said:
“In areas such as health, housing and access to justice, the gap between rich and poor is widening and this has huge consequences for society. In the poorest areas it restricts people’s life chances and can lead to people dying earlier. Cambridge is an acute example, named in 2020 as the UK’s most unequal city.
“This discussion will examine the issues of inequality and how academia and public services such as the NHS can play their part in reversing the current trend.
“We are pleased to welcome expert speakers in their respective fields to what should be a lively discussion and debate, to which all are welcome.”
The event will take place from 5pm-7pm on Monday, 20 November at ARU’s East Road campus in Cambridge. It is free to attend, but places must be booked at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/centre-for-inclusive-societies-and-economies-varieties-of-inequalities-tickets-737868664037