Today, a ‘Get Well Soon’ balloon the size of a double-decker bus dominated the Manchester skyline as Health Equals highlighted the scale of health inequality in the UK, with a stunt developed by creative agency Don’t Panic.
We’re often told ‘health’ is the outcome of genetics and personal choice – healthy eating, exercise, well-being – but research repeatedly tells us that’s only part of the story, the agency said.
The world around us shapes our health on a daily basis and determines the wellbeing of society overall – from quality homes that are warm and safe, to stable jobs, clean air and neighbourhoods with green space.
In many constituencies across the UK, these building blocks are overlooked and deprioritised, resulting in a host of health inequalities that resign millions to a life lived in bad health.
‘Get Well Soon’ campaign
With the health of the nation in dramatic decline, there’s an urgency to table this conversation in a way politicians and the public will struggle to ignore.
And with the Conservative Party Conference underway in Manchester, floating the 15ft balloon above Exchange Square felt like the perfect opportunity to jumpstart the conversation – and urge policy makers to help Britain ‘Get Well Soon’.
The balloon will then be taken to the Labour Party conference, taking place in Liverpool on the 9th October.
Georgia Stephenson, Creative at Don’t Panic, said: “The size of the balloon is about the scale of the problem – millions of us are not as healthy as we could or should be. We’d do a bigger balloon if we could!”
“Your standard get well soon balloon is a cute, light hearted gesture to put a smile on your poorly mate’s face.
“But the harsh reality is that millions of us in Britain aren’t as well as we could or should be due to factors all around us.
“That calls for a seriously scaled up balloon, one that’s big enough to send the whole nation the get well soon message.
“Our politicians have the power, so we needed a grand gesture, something instantly recognisable, to get our message across.”
On the ground, Health Equals members and Don’t Panic’s team will be handing out seasonal flowers complete with labels, detailing the shocking 16-year variation in life expectancies across the UK to highlight the long-term impact of health inequalities, and leave a lasting impact on passers-by.
Don’t Panic are working with Health Equals on building a wider campaign platform that will allow the organisation, which is a coalition of 27 charities, think-tanks and businesses, to engage policy makers and the public in a new narrative around health.
They will be calling for a new Bill of Health to be put at the heart of manifestos ahead of the 2024 General Election, tackling inequalities across the five building blocks of health (employment, education, housing, transport and environment) and exploring what that Bill should look like if it is to effectively reduce health inequality and enable everyone to live longer, healthier lives.
Nicole Welsh, Senior Communications Manager at Health Equals, said:Â “The knowledge and experience of Health Equals’ member organisations is derived from years of work in the areas covered by the building blocks of health, and we believe that we can make a difference.”
“Don’t Panic has created a stunt that will make policymakers sit up and take note; a giant ‘Get Well Soon’ balloon was just what the doctor ordered.
“This conversation is just beginning and if we can get MPs on board, a new Bill of Health could impact the lives of everyone in the UK for the better.”
The Don’t Panic team was Rick Dodds, Georgia Stephenson, Katie Richardson, Rheia Chand, Jane Marshall, Ellie Moore and Zoe Hare.
They worked with Gavin Walker &Â Joy Saloman-Corlobe at Creative Exhibition on production, who ensured the balloon could be repurposed as horse bedding after use, and that the flowers were sourced locally and degradable after use.
This stunt, and the campaign for a Bill of Health, follows the successful Lives Cut Short campaign, which highlighted the regional differences in life expectancy through out of home and digital activations across the UK.