MHF is one of DH's 11 strategic partners

The Forum is to be one of the Department of Health's eleven new Third Sector Strategic Partners.

The new partrnership system follows a strategic review of third sector funding and investment and will see the new partners 'working together to improve knowledge and skill in the health and social care third sector'. Partners will be 'at the heart of shaping policy, reflecting the sector's views' and contributing to improving health and well-being outcomes for individuals and communities.

The Strategic Partner Programme will see £5,588,438 invested over the next three years.

'We're delighted to have been appointed as a Strategic Partner,' said MHF CEO Peter Baker. 'This creates a major new opportunity to address gender inequalities in health. With one-third of men still dying prematurely, this is clearly a priority for the Department of Health, the NHS and the third sector. We can now look forward to much more systematic approach.'

Explaining the new system, Care Services Minister Phil Hope, right, said: 'Over the last year, we've been driving much closer partnerships between Government and Third Sector organisations, who have an important contribution to make in achieving better health, care and value for everyone.

'We will be working with the Strategic Partners to jointly plan activity to make sure that health and social care third sector organisations are able to fulfil their potential and ultimately contribute to improved health and well-being outcomes for individuals and communities.'

Department of Health Director of Social Care, Local Government and Care

Partnerships, David Behan added: Third sector organisations have a critical role in improving health and social care services. Working in close partnership with the Strategic Partners we will be able to improve the support available to third sector organisations and ensure that their experience and expertise is used to inform or improve health and social care policy.'

The Strategic Partners are:

• The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)
• LifeLine on behalf of Faith Action Network
• National Heart Forum
• Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)/ National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL)/ Shaping Our Lives National User Network (SOLNUN) (working together in one strategic partner role)
• Age Concern England and Help the Aged
• Men's Health Forum
• National Children's Bureau
• Race Equality Foundation
• Voluntary Organisations Disability Group and National Care Forum (working together in one strategic partner role)
• Regional Voluntary Sector Networks Forum (nine regional organisations

  working together in one strategic partner role led by the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Forum)

• National Council for Palliative Care