Health Literacy UK is the UK’s leading health literacy organisation, established in 2008 thanks to funding from the Department of Health. Raising the profile of health literacy across the UK and establishing it as a key determinant of health, has been central to our work since 2008.
What we do;
- Provide expertise on health literacy throughout the United Kingdom
- Influence national policy to ensure that the importance of health literacy is well
- recognised within the health and care system nationally and locally
- Develop new ideas to improve community health outcomes
- Undertake, and support, research that contributes to what works in everyday practice
- Host a network of practitioners, policy makers and other parties with an interest in health literacy
- Host regular conferences, seminars and webinars in order to disseminate the latest ideas and to explore how to put policy into practice.
We have provided expert input into Skilled for Health, the national health literacy resource, and worked with the Royal College of GPs and NHS England to develop a five-year health literacy plan, launched in 2014. This work produced a national
collaborative, a health literacy toolkit and a refresh of the Skilled for Health resources. We have also provided expert input into the national Readability Tool.
We restructured from an unincorporated association to a Community Interest Company in March 2025, (HLUK CIC company number – 16297717) reflecting our community-based values and giving a stronger platform to pursue our vision: a society where everyone has access to high-
quality, health-literate conversations and information, in person and digitally, to support informed decisions about health and well-being. Central to this is a health and care system that recognises health literacy as a shared responsibility, and that people, particularly those in areas of high health inequality, often need active support to understand the risks and benefits of the choices they face.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss anything to do with health literacy!
HLUK CIC company number – 16297717