Partnerships in practice: how to strengthen the role of community-led organisations in neighbourhood health

This report shares learning from an 18-month action research programme on how the NHS and local government partners can change how they work with local communities and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

Run by the NHS Alliance and Local Trust, and supported by the Innovation Unit, six of the Big Local legacy areas in some of England’s most deprived neighbourhoods each received funding to test community-led approaches to health and to build partnerships with statutory services. 

The report finds five key shifts that are needed for statutory partners and community-led organisations to work together to create sustainable, long-term health and wellbeing in every neighbourhood.

1. From individual relationships to institutional commitment.
2. From separate needs assessments to shared intelligence.
3. From a statutory agenda to a shared agenda.
4. From funding short-term activity to long-term investment.
5. From proving to improving.

The report is intended to inform:

• other community-led organisations, by giving voice to the challenges faced by the sector and highlighting examples of good practice
• statutory sector partners, by sharing insights on how they can support effective partnership with community-led organisations, and VCSE more broadly
• policy makers, by offering a greater understanding of the strengths and contribution of community-led organisations, how systems can better support them and work in partnership to drive improvements in community health and health equity.