What’s this all about?
Residents in Seacroft are having their say on the future of local health and care through the Seacroft Speaks Think Tank Project.
Neighbourhood Health brings local people together with partners from across the health and care system, giving residents a chance to understand how services are planned and delivered helping to shape what happens next.
Through regular group sessions, residents have explored how organisations such as the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, primary care networks and local care partnerships work, as well as what a neighbourhood health approach means in practice. The opportunity also provides one-to-one, community-based support. People identified through clinical pathways can be connected with local services that tackle some of the wider issues affecting their health and wellbeing.
Chris Jackson, Operations Director, LS14 Trust / We Are Seacroft Alliance said:
“Good health isn’t just about what happens in a GP practice or hospital. People’s housing, finances, food and relationships all play a part. By connecting people with support in their community, we can help tackle some of those pressures too.”
What difference has it made?
The initiative is helping residents feel more confident, informed and ready to have their say. Participants now have a better understanding of how the health and care system works, how evidence is used and where their own experiences can help influence decisions. Just as importantly, the project is building stronger relationships between local people and health services.
Sammi Abbot, Project Worker, LS14 Trust said:
“We’re seeing a real shift in confidence. Residents are not just being asked what they think - they’re gaining the knowledge and confidence to influence the conversation and help shape services.”
The community-based support has also made a difference on an individual level.
For example, one person identified through the Proactive Care Team was connected with a local food pantry, Money Buddies for financial advice and support with legal issues. Bringing these different strands of help together reduced stress, improved their wellbeing and helped them feel more connected to their local community.
What do people think about it?
Feedback from the work shows that residents feel better equipped to speak with health and care professionals and take part in conversations that might once have felt out of reach. People are becoming more confident in sharing their lived experience and explaining what it means for local services and policy. This is helping to change the relationship between the community and health services - from consultation to genuine partnership.
“People know their own communities best. When we create the space for residents to share their experiences and ideas, we get a much richer picture of what’s really needed locally,” added Chris.
The programme is also helping to grow a stronger network of community connections, with residents, health services and local organisations working more closely together.
What’s next
The next phase will build on what residents have learned so far, with new sessions exploring Neighbourhood Health and giving people a closer look at how services are designed - and how they can influence decisions earlier in the process.
There’s also an opportunity to take this learning beyond the Think Tank group and into the wider We Are Seacroft network, opening up more opportunities for local people to get involved.
Alongside this, there is emerging community-led research into health inequalities and strengthening links with academic partners. The longer-term ambition is to explore how the Seacroft Speaks approach could grow and become sustainable through community anchors, local hubs and longer-term investment.
Chris said: “This is about building something that lasts. When residents have a stronger voice, local organisations work together and communities have the right support around them, we can create better health and care for everyone.”
You can also read the 'Seacroft Speaks is helping residents shape the future of local health and care' case study as a PDF.