The August meeting of the NW London Co-design Advisory Body (DAB) brought together members, voluntary sector leaders and NHS colleagues to discuss how grassroots partnerships are tackling health inequalities and building stronger, more connected communities.
The session featured two presentations from David Truswell, director of the BME Health Forum and Evelyn Cecil, chief executive of Hillingdon Mind.
David outlined the Forum’s model for improving engagement and reducing health inequalities by working in partnership with Global Majority-led organisations. In the past two years, the Forum has secured more than £370,000 to build 15 partnerships with 25 organisations, improving health outcomes for thousands of Londoners through culturally competent services, targeted outreach and advocacy for systemic change. He stressed the importance of tackling barriers such as language, digital exclusion and lack of trust, and called for more direct NHS support to help small voluntary groups thrive.
Evelyn highlighted Hillingdon Mind’s 40-year history as the borough’s leading mental health charity, supporting more than 5,000 people annually. She described services ranging from employment support and psychotherapy to ecotherapy and creative arts groups, all co-designed with service users. Evelyn raised concerns about digital exclusion, highlighting its impact on people with mental health needs who are navigating benefits systems. She emphasised the charity’s work to empower smaller community groups through mental health first aid and peer support training.
Lively discussion followed, with DAB members raising the mismatch between national digital strategies and what is delivered locally and stressing the need for practical solutions that include older people, those with limited English and people living with dementia or sensory impairments.
Closing the meeting, Professor Bob Klaber, DAB chair from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust praised the “beautifully rich” discussion and said there was a clear challenge for NHS leaders to be more open, curious and responsive to what communities are telling them. “The point of DAB,” he said, “is to get out, listen and act.”