We call our projects ‘discovery programmes’ because they’re about learning together—trying things out, listening, adapting, and finding better ways forward.
Our approach is simple: we believe in the people we connect with.
We look for the strengths in every person and every place. We’re all learning, and we’re in it together.
Growing friendship as the heart of health
CONNECT
Friendship and trust are key to recovery and wellbeing. Along with the 10 other partners on the Connect programme, we support people who leave hospital or are in tricky situations and don’t have friends or family to help them. Research shows 95% of recovery relies on the support of everyday people—friends and family—not just the 5% that comes from professional services.=
Joining people and systems
Neighbourhood Networks
We led the team who originally set up these networks to connect residents, local groups, public services, and businesses back in 2021. Our aim was help the whole community thrive by tackling the root causes of poor health and inequality.
Our work focused on building trust and connection, supporting residents to take the lead, and recognising that small changes, led by local people, can make a big difference
We partnered with UCL PEARL and others to learn together and make real improvements based on what matters most to the people who live here.
We also helped create the space that shaped the next stage of this work. We brought together over 100 local organisations through three co-design workshops to design what are now known as the neighbourhood networks.
These networks are all about bringing together the people, groups, businesses and organisations that already make our community strong. We are now working together with Elevate Together and Harmony Christian Projects for the next phase of the Neighbourhood Networks. We’ll be exploring and testing ideas with local people to find practical ways to tackle challenges in our neighbourhood—around Valence and Becontree wards.
Creating environments where collaborations can thrive
BD Collective
Between 2019 and 2024, we were the secretariat of the BD_Collective—a group of local organisations working together instead of competing. This brought in over £2.5 million in funding and helped smaller groups get support. We focused on building trust, power-sharing, and putting community needs before organisational interests. Together, we worked to share funding, ideas, and responsibility—building a culture of trust, openness and shared learning.
Now BD_Collective is becoming a Community Benefit Society, and we’re proud to still be active members.