Wessex Health Partners announces our first strategic partnership within the voluntary and community sector
We have entered a strategic partnership with local charity Help & Care, pledging to uphold a shared vision to improve lives through meaningful research, policy, and person-centred health and care.
Help & Care is a well-established charity with 40 years’ experience supporting people across Dorset, and more recently in Hampshire. Its team is committed to working alongside communities, organisations, and policymakers to create real, lasting change.
By joining forces, the aim is to collectively strengthen our ability to place community insights and lived experiences at the centre of health and care research and innovation, hepling influence policy and service development.
Christine McGrath, Managing Director of Wessex Health Partners, said: “Help & Care’s deep-rooted connections with communities and longstanding commitment to advocacy and empowerment make them an invaluable partner. By working together, we can accelerate positive change and ensure advances in healthcare truly benefit those who need them most.”
“We are thrilled to formalise this collaboration with Wessex Health Partners,” said Mark Sharman, Chief Executive Officer of Help & Care. “Together, we can harness our shared commitment to equality, inclusion, and innovation to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. This partnership will enhance our ability to support individuals and communities through research-driven solutions and collaborative working.”
The partnership will focus on key areas of cooperation to:
• Co-develop research and innovation initiatives that address pressing health and care needs within local communities
• Enhance research collaborations by connecting healthcare providers and universities with community organisations
• Engage and empower communities by ensuring their experiences and voices shape future health and care policy-making through involvement in research and innovation
• Drive policy change and influence by advocating for evidence-based improvements in health and social care
Kathryn Loughnan, Director of Partnerships, Research & Influence at Help & Care, said: “This collaboration is a major milestone for the voluntary and community sector. Working together, we have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between research, policy, and real-life experiences. Our deep-rooted connections with communities mean we can ensure research truly reflects people’s needs and leads to meaningful improvements in health and wellbeing.”
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