The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust has celebrated the success of its multi-day Health on the Shelf event at Merry Hill, which engaged more than 400 residents and brought together over 30 health, voluntary, and community organisations in one accessible location.

Hosted in partnership with Merry Hill and a wide range of NHS, council, voluntary sector, and charity
teams, the event aimed to increase awareness of local wellbeing services, promote early prevention, and make it easier for residents to access support.

This year’s event also showcased a strong cross-sector partnership, further strengthened by contributions from students from the Dudley Group and the University of Birmingham whose support enhanced screening, signposting, and public engagement. Their involvement not only ensured visitors received high-quality, friendly advice but also provided students with valuable hands-on experience.

The initiative achieved overwhelmingly positive feedback from both visitors and stallholders, with 100% of attendees stating they would attend a similar event in the future.

Among the key outcomes:
• Over 200 blood pressure checks completed, with 33 individuals identified as potentially at risk and supported with tailored advice.
• High engagement from older adults, but strong turnout also seen in the 18–24 and 25–34 age groups.
• Nearly 1 in 4 visitors came from outside Dudley Borough.
• Excellent cross-sector networking, with stallholders reporting improved partnership connections and high awareness of their services.

Merry Hill were delighted to host Health on the Shelf and provide the space free of charge for an initiative that delivers such clear value to our community. They stated, “Seeing hundreds of visitors engaging with health and wellbeing services right in the heart of the centre was incredibly rewarding, and the feedback from shoppers and retailers alike has been overwhelmingly positive. Events like this show how important it is to bring support directly to where people already are, and we’re proud to play our part in helping improve local health outcomes. We look forward to welcoming the team back next year and continuing this successful partnership.”

Commenting on the event’s success, Diane Wake, group chief executive of The Dudley Group NHS
Foundation Trust, said: “Health on the Shelf has shown the power of bringing personalised,
accessible health support directly into the places people already visit and feel comfortable. The
engagement this year was outstanding, and I am immensely proud of our teams, partners, and the
students who contributed so enthusiastically. Together we demonstrated what joined-up,
compassionate care looks like in practice, and we remain committed to building on this success for
our communities across Dudley and beyond.

Sarah Baig, development and governance lead for Pharmacy Team as The Dudley Group said: “Being
involved in this event was truly a privilege. We were able to connect with people in meaningful ways
about their health—from blood pressure and lifestyle to managing long-term conditions. The students were fantastic, adding energy, curiosity, and a sincere desire to support the community. Events like this really matter; they bring healthcare to those who need it most and make an impact at scale. I found it inspiring to be part of such a collaborative effort and to witness the positive outcomes for patients.”

Attendees described the event as “very informative,” “extremely useful,” and “staff were lovely, very helpful and knowledgeable.” Many reported learning about services they had never known existed—ranging from mental health support and bereavement services to stroke awareness, child health resources, and carer support.

Following the success of this year’s event, the Dudley Group will explore opportunities to continue and further expand Health on the Shelf in the coming year, including increased promotion, broader community reach, and enhanced stall alignment to meet emerging local health priorities.