Creative Champions

Healthy Communities Together was a four-year experiment in a different way of working together for fairer health in Gloucestershire. It brought the voluntary and community sector together with the NHS and local government, on the belief that real progress on health inequality depends on trust and genuine partnership rather than any one organisation acting alone.

As the work developed, its focus shifted from reducing health inequalities to building trust for fairer health, a strengths-based approach that put people and relationships at the centre. Rather than a traditional board or steering group, the partnership was held by a Stewardship Group of community and public sector leaders, creating the conditions for better collaboration, problem-solving and shared thinking and learning across the system.