The Caring Communities Commission has spent the past three months engaging local communities. It wants to learn how health, social care and wellbeing can be transformed.
Interactive sessions were held in Colchester and Basildon. Care groups, hospices, charities, trusts and others explored challenges and opportunities for change.
Around 100 attendees answered questions such as:
· What are the main barriers to accessing voluntary and community services?
· How can different organisations work together to better support communities?
· What existing things are working well within communities to support better wellbeing?
· What more can organisations do to support communities and residents?
Drop-in sessions were also held in Chelmsford and Harlow Shopping Centre. They gave residents the chance to share their experiences of public services.
The 12 commissioners include leaders from the NHS, Salvation Army and other organisations. They will now look at all the feedback and publish steps for change in the new year.
Their report will focus on building capacity and strengthening connections in local communities.
You can share your experiences of public services with the commission by 6 January 2025.
Contact the Caring Communities Commission to hear about future engagement opportunities.