Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA), on behalf of the NHS South West London Integrated Care Board, delivered the Neighbourhood Engagement Fund 2026 to ensure local residents had a direct voice in shaping the future of health and care services across Wandsworth.
Through grants awarded to 11 voluntary and community sector organisations, more than 480 residents from diverse communities took part in conversations about their experiences of accessing health and support services. Engagement activities were delivered across Wandsworth’s four neighbourhoods: Battersea, Balham, Tooting and Furzedown, Earlsfield, Southfields and Central Wandsworth, and Putney and Roehampton.
The report highlights what residents value most about local health and care services, including community organisations, social prescribing, pharmacies, and practical social care support. It also identifies key challenges such as difficulties accessing GP appointments, long waiting times, digital exclusion, language barriers, limited mental health support, and the need for greater trust and collaboration between services and communities.
A clear message emerged throughout the engagement: residents want services that are easier to access, more inclusive, and designed with communities rather than for them. Participants called for stronger community-based support, improved accessibility, increased co-production, more support for children and families, and greater investment in wellbeing and prevention.
The findings provide valuable insight for local health and care partners as they develop a neighbourhood-based approach to delivering services closer to the communities they serve. Most importantly, the report demonstrates the vital role of local voluntary and community organisations in connecting with residents, understanding their needs, and helping shape a healthier and stronger future for Wandsworth.
Read the full report here.