BE MORE BREAKFAST NETWORKING DECEMBER 2024 - SURREY HEALTH INNOVATION TAKEOVER
The meeting was all about sharing the story of our health innovation work in Surrey over the past seven years. We've been working with partners across the system to to tackle health inequalities, bring communities together, and create lasting change.
Here are the highlights:
What was the project about?
We brough together a partnership which combines expertise in community activation, co-creation, health improvement, entrepreneurship, health systems, and place-making to foster healthier, more connected places. This 360 Degree Approach builds on 40 years of experience working directly with communities across the UK. Our goal? Addressing health inequalities and making a practical impact on health outcomes in communities underpinned by a transformative people led approach.
Projects in Action
We shared some inspiring stories from Surrey, showcasing our "let’s start with people" approach. For instance:
Weybridge Health Hub: Starting with a diagnostic phase (lots of listening and chatting with stakeholders), they created plans for a more welcoming and community-focused health facility.
Staines Health & Wellbeing Centre: This became one of NHS England’s pioneering projects, rethinking what health services can look like when grounded in local needs.
Brooklands Innovation Academy: A collaboration that’s boosting STEAM education and career opportunities for young people.
What’s unique is how these projects don’t just focus on buildings or services but also build relationships and networks that last.
Key Messages
It’s all about the people: They emphasized the importance of relationships, trust, and finding “stones that roll” – passionate individuals who drive change in their communities.
Moments of change matter: These “critical change moments” are small but powerful opportunities, like meeting someone at the right time, that can snowball into larger transformations.
Flexibility wins: They work with communities to prioritize what’s important locally, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.
Lively Discussion
The group had a great conversation about what they’d learned:
Fear vs. flexibility: COVID-19 showed how systems could adapt quickly when needed, but many of these changes haven’t stuck. Why? Fear of change and loss of identity within institutions.
Leadership that empowers: There was a call for bold, trusting leaders who can balance the need for structure with the freedom to innovate.
Community trust: Projects thrive when there’s trust between organisations and the people they serve. Building this trust takes time and consistent, visible results.
What Stood Out
The meeting wrapped up with participants sharing how energised they felt. Many noted how the work was a fresh reminder that change isn’t about big processes—it’s about starting small, listening, and empowering people to lead.
It was an inspiring session packed with practical insights, personal reflections, and plenty of hope for what’s possible when communities and organisations truly collaborate. Connect with us to learn more.