13 June 2025

Our Chief Executive, Geoffrey Ocen, had the honour of delivering a speech at the Royal College of Nursing on behalf of the North Central London Voluntary Sector Alliance for the Neighbourhoods Health Workshop. The event was organised by the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB). In attendance were senior leaders from the North Central London Integrated Care Board, NHS Hospital Trusts, local authorities, and the voluntary sector in the North Central London area. 

Neighbourhood Health aims to create healthier communities, enabling people of all ages to live healthy, active, and independent lives for as long as possible, while enhancing their experience of health and social care services, whilst increasing their agency in managing their own care (Neighbourhood Health Centre guidelines, 2025-26). It focuses on improving the well-being of people in a specific area, with a more integrated approach to care between social and healthcare services, bringing care into the community away from hospitals, and adopting a more holistic approach to health. It places greater emphasis on early intervention, promoting prevention and addressing the wider determinants that affect health. It aims to leverage local assets and work with communities to develop solutions, supporting people to stay well in the first place, rather than just treating them when they develop long-term conditions. 

"The population of North Central London is very diverse and we've learnt that one size definitely does not fit all. So how do we know our population, work with our communities, work with our residents to understand what their health and wellbeing needs are?"

Frances O'Callaghan - Chief Executive, North Central London ICB

In his speech, Geoffrey reminded the audience of the vital role that the VCS sector has played and continues to play in this regard, and this needs to be recognised when developing Neighbourhood Health Centres. 

He outlined how the Bridge is taking steps to deliver care closer to people and bringing expertise to the local community. He emphasised the need to equip people with practical skills to help themselves.

“The new focus on delivering care closer to people is encouraging and represents an exciting opportunity to bring together the unique expertise of the NHS, public health, and the voluntary sector. Prevention, early support, and equipping people with practical skills to take control of their health can help communities not just get better but stay well. This is exactly what VCSE organisations were set up to do – and what we’ve been doing from the very beginning – so the developing neighbourhood health delivery must build on these trusted community assets."

Geoffrey Ocen, Chief Executive of the Bridge Renewal Trust