Shaping neighbourhood health together – an invitation to the VCFSE sector

We’re writing to invite VCFSE organisations in Barking & Dagenham to play a central role in shaping the future of neighbourhood health.

A major national programme is underway, and it recognises something the VCFSE sector has always known: strong communities, trusted relationships and local knowledge are essential to better health and wellbeing.

What is the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP)?

The National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) is a flagship initiative from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, forming a core part of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan.

At its heart, NNHIP is about moving health and care closer to home. Instead of services being centred on hospitals, the focus shifts to neighbourhoods – supporting people earlier, preventing ill health, and tackling the inequalities that shape people’s lives.

In practice, this means:

• Bringing care into communities, not just clinical settings

• Focusing on prevention and early support, especially for people with long-term conditions

• Using data and local insight to identify who needs support sooner

• Working across health, social care, housing, employment and the VCFSE sector

• Designing services with people and communities, not for them

Local areas – known as Places – are supported nationally to develop neighbourhood health systems. These connect GPs, hospitals, mental health services, social care, councils and voluntary and community organisations around a shared goal: helping people live well, independently, and for longer in their own homes.

Each network will bring together VCFSE organisations rooted in that neighbourhood. These networks will:

• Work relationally with each other and the community

• Identify what’s working well locally

• Innovate, test and learn together

• Strengthen collaboration and relationships across the sector

The networks will also feed into and support the four Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) – cross-sector teams bringing together health, care, council and community partners to shape and deliver neighbourhood health.

How can VCFSE organisations get involved?

Three organisations previously took part in the initial South Neighbourhood pilot, which has now concluded.

As we move into the new phase of this work with integrated neighbourhood teams (INTs) being established across the borough, we’re moving to a broader, more democratic approach. This will help identify the VCFSE organisations in each neighbourhood that the sector itself would like to put forward as our representatives.

There are two key ways to take part:

1. Be part of your local BD Collective NNHIP Health Network

We’re inviting organisations who are curious, keen to learn together, build relationships and community insight to join their neighbourhood’s NNHIP Health Network.

2. Represent the VCFSE sector within an Integrated Neighbourhood Team

We’re also looking for organisations who would like to represent the VCFSE sector within each INT.

These organisations will be involved with:

• Building a culture of collaboration and relational working

• Bringing the voice, strengths and ideas of the VCFSE sector into system discussions

Representatives will be selected by the sector itself. Organisations will pitch and be voted in by VCFSE organisations within their neighbourhood, ensuring legitimacy, trust and accountability.