Wandsworth Care Alliance

Bridging the Digital Divide: Bilal Meah’s Volunteering Journey with Power2Connect

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Bilal is one of the many registered volunteers on our volunteering Wandsworth platform who used the platform and was able to successfully volunteer. Bilal’s volunteering journey in the borough started when he was registered on the platform in 2023 and has now been volunteering for more than a year in the borough of Wandsworth with Wandsworth based charity Power2Connect.

Bilal a university graduate is currently volunteering whilst looking for paid employment and has had experience with volunteering at Kensington library helping people with gadget and technology enquiries. Bilal decided to volunteer with Power2Connect as he was first referred the opportunity by an NHS social prescriber who found the platform and helped him to apply through on the Volunteering Wandsworth platform. Bilal was encouraged to volunteer as a way of being outside and having an activity to do with his time. Bilal knew he wanted to do something that he felt capable of doing and the Power2Connect volunteering opportunity he felt he could do.

“A lot of the issues people have in this volunteering position are simple things like accessing emails or creating accounts to buy train tickets, there isn’t anything that is too technical it’s more day-to-day things for people who have been effectively left behind digital divide”.

Before volunteering Bilal’s past skills included working in retail, dealing with customers, and knowing how to deal with computers and phones. This has helped contribute to the skills and knowledge that Bilal has which help him today in his current volunteering role. Growing up Bilal was interest in computer repairs and building his own computer and has experience in phone repairs. A lot of people want to do basic things, and they need help in those things, and you don’t need very technical knowledge to do that, it’s more about knowing how to prioritise what the persons needs are doing things step by step, so they understand and having patience for that.

How has volunteering helped you or impacted you?   

Bilal has helped someone create an appointment for a GP for example and has also helped a few people with various other needs in need when they come to the Power2Connect digital sessions and he feels good when is able to help.

“Power2Connect are a helpful and supportive team”.

Bilal would recommend Power2Connect as they are a helpful and supportive team and if you a have a problem there is always someone in the team to speak to. Bilal feels supported as he volunteers with the Power2Connect team and enjoys volunteering with Power2Connect so much that he would be happy to have a job with the Power2Connect team.

Discover volunteering opportunities on our platform here.

Thrive LDN’s Great Mental Health Day 2026

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Thrive LDN is a public mental health partnership dedicated to helping all Londoners live happier, healthier lives by promoting wellbeing, reducing stigma around mental health, and connecting communities with support and resources. It brings together a range of partners to coordinate campaigns, training, suicide prevention initiatives, and free wellbeing resources across the capital.

One of Thrive LDN’s initiatives is Great Mental Health Day which is an annual awareness day that aims to get Londoners talking about mental health, celebrate support services available across the city, and challenge the stigma of reaching out for help. This year the day falls on Friday, 30th January, marking the fifth year the event has taken place.

Everyday Spaces

For 2026, Thrive LDN has chosen the theme of everyday spaces, informal, trusted locations where connection and support naturally happen. These could be community kitchens, local craft groups, sports pitches, neighbourhood parks or any welcoming space where people feel they belong. The idea is to highlight that support doesn’t always start in clinical settings; it often begins in the familiar corners of our everyday lives.

Get involved and share

Great Mental Health Day encourages Londoners to take part in events and activities across the city, either by attending local gatherings, hosting inclusive and free events, or using the hashtag #GreatMentalHealth on social media. Thrive LDN provides a supporter’s pack which you can access here. They provide an interactive map of local activities, and free training and webinars to help individuals and organisations get involved and support wellbeing in their communities.

Feedback from previous years highlights how the day has helped people start meaningful conversations, feel supported, and discover local services they hadn’t known about before emphasising the power of connection and shared experience in promoting mental health.

Upcoming wellbeing events

Wandsworth Borough Council has put together a list of Week of Wellbeing events taking place across the borough next week. The programme offers residents opportunities to take part in activities that support mental health, encourage connection, and promote positive wellbeing from workshops and walks to creative and community-based sessions.

Discover the events here.

Where to find support

If you or someone you know might need professional mental health help, there are several accessible services available. It is important to reach out and get help if you are experiencing feelings of anxiety, loneliness or depression. Support is available for whatever you are going through.

This link shares services that are available to residents in Wandsworth: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health/your-health/mental-health/mental-health-services-in-wandsworth/

Urgent Support (Not Life-Threatening)

  • NHS 111: Call 111 or use their online service for urgent mental health advice.
  • Shout (Text): Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential support anytime.
  • Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24/7, free) to talk to someone.
  • Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment Teams (CRHT): These NHS teams provide urgent care in the community.

Spotlight on Bright Path Unity Village CIC: Empowering Young People and Families in Wandsworth

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Bright Path Unity Village CIC is a new, community-rooted organisation based in Wandsworth, dedicated to empowering young people, young parents and families to build stable, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Bright Path exists to uplift voices that are often unheard and to create safe, inclusive spaces where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive. Through mentoring, wellbeing support, life skills development and culturally responsive community programmes, the organisation works alongside residents facing barriers related to education, housing, mental health, parenting, employment and navigating local systems.

Their mission

Bright Path Unity Village CIC’s mission is to support young people and young parents in Wandsworth through practical guidance, emotional support and advocacy. Their work is rooted in early intervention, prevention and long-term empowerment helping individuals build confidence, resilience and positive futures.

Their approach blends one-to-one mentoring with creative, youth-led group activities and community-based programmes that promote wellbeing, leadership and connection.

Current projects

Bright Path delivers a range of targeted projects designed to meet the needs of different groups within the community:

  • Empowering young girls – Empowering young women to rise, build confidence and thrive.
  • Next Generation – Supporting young men to challenge harmful stereotypes and develop strength through respect, purpose and accountability.
  • Rebuild – Helping young ex-offenders rebuild confidence, direction and a sense of belonging within the community.
  • Bright guides – A peer mentorship trainee programme that equips young people to lead and support others with compassion and confidence.
  • Bright futures – Supporting young parents to maintain stable family networks and grow in confidence, skills and wellbeing.

Bright Path’s work spans several key areas:

  • Mentoring & Coaching – One-to-one and group mentoring to help young people set goals, navigate challenges and access opportunities.
  • Life skills workshops – Sessions covering financial literacy, employability, digital skills, leadership and personal planning.
  • Wellbeing – Activities such as meditation, journaling, emotional regulation and confidence-building.
  • Young parent support – Peer support groups, parenting workshops, family activities and signposting to services.
  • Advocacy – Accompanying young people to statutory meetings, housing appointments, court hearings and interactions with services.
  • Inclusive practice – Occupational therapy-informed adaptations to ensure activities are accessible for disabled young people and parents.
  • Community events – Youth forums, cultural celebrations and inter-generational activities that strengthen community connections.

What the Community thinks

The impact of Bright Path’s work is reflected in the experiences of those they support:

“Bright Path helped me rebuild my confidence after leaving school. The mentoring sessions showed me I’m capable of more than I thought.” — Young person, 17

“As a young dad, I didn’t know where to start. The parenting group gave me support, practical help and a space where I didn’t feel judged.” — Young parent, 20

“Having someone sit with me in my housing meeting made a huge difference. I finally felt like somebody was on my side.” — Young person, 18

“The workshops helped me manage my anxiety and learn new life skills. I feel more in control of my future now.” — Young woman, 22

Get involved

Bright Path Unity Village CIC relies on community support to keep services accessible and expand their reach. There are many ways residents, professionals and organisations can help:

  • Volunteer as a mentor or peer supporter
  • Deliver skills-based workshops (e.g. CV writing, digital skills, creative arts, wellbeing)
  • Partner with Bright Path on referrals, joint programmes or events
  • Refer young people who may benefit from mentoring, wellbeing support or advocacy
  • Support inclusive practice through SEND or disability expertise
  • Donate or sponsor resources, including space, equipment or materials
  • Attend or support community events

Get in touch with them and learn more!

Bright Path Unity Village CIC
CIC Number: 16739333
Email: brightpath.village@gmail.com
Phone: 07415 958598
Instagram: @Bright_pathcic

Bright Path Unity Village CIC is building a future where young people and families feel supported, heard and empowered, and they’re inviting the Wandsworth community to be part of that journey.

Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) Listening to what really matters report summary

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Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR), November 2025 – Link to full report can be found here.

Listening to what really matters report explores how community-led insights especially from people with lived experience can shape better health and wellbeing outcomes across local areas. The report reflects on the Connecting Health Communities programme (2023–25), a partnership between IVAR, the National Lottery Community Fund and voluntary, community and statutory organisations in four areas: St Helens, Dudley, Cheshire East and Wandsworth.

Key points from the report included:

Partnerships change culture: The programme shows that when voluntary sector groups, residents and statutory partners work as equals, systems start to shift. Professionals learn to move away from transactional practice towards relational, inclusive approaches grounded in trust and dignity.

Approaches based on lived experience drive better outcomes: Each area focused on a different local challenge from loneliness and social isolation to preventative health screening demonstrating that local, community-led insight helps shape responses that are rooted in real need rather than assumptions about needs.

Increasing Cervical Screening Uptake: In Wandsworth, the programme focused on understanding why cervical screening rates were lower in parts of the borough, especially in areas with higher deprivation. By listening deeply to people’s experiences and barriers, partners were able to identify culturally-relevant, community-led responses that can support better access to preventative health checks.

Wandsworth Care Alliance’s Role

Wandsworth Care Alliance was proud to play a participating partner in this project supporting community insight gathering, helping facilitate local conversations and ensuring voices from across Wandsworth were part of the learning process. Through our work with local voluntary organisations, residents and health partners, we contributed to the collective commitment to change how local health and care systems listen and respond.

Our involvement helped:

  • Amplify community voices especially from groups under-represented in health conversations
  • Share insights with statutory partners to shape more responsive, culturally-aware practice
  • Build local capacity for community-led engagement and co-design of health services

This report shows that:
– Health and care systems work best when they are informed by lived experience
– Real partnership between community organisations, statutory partners and residents leads to more equitable outcomes
– Listening, not just consulting is essential for designing services that people trust and use

At Wandsworth Care Alliance, this approach reflects our ongoing commitment to amplifying local voices, deepening community engagement and championing partnerships that help shape better health, wellbeing and inclusion for everyone in the borough.

You can read the full report by IVAR here.

Use Your Voice to Better Your Care – Healthwatch Assembly November 2025 Recap

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We assembled with Wandsworth residents and our community partners to discuss our main focus, amplifying the patient voice. Read on for a recap of our latest Healthwatch Wandsworth Assembly.

Our Partners:

This assembly, we spoke about our main focus, the patient voice and shared some of our upcoming and ongoing work within the community. We also heard from our voluntary and community sector colleagues at Ruils, Rethink, and the Wandsworth Primary Care Patient Participation Forum who told us the ways in which they are working to make the patient voice heard. See below for more info:

Howden Insurance Brokers – Tooting 

We were graciously hosted by our neighbours at Howden Insurance Brokers – Tooting, who provided a wonderful space, welcomed us with a glass of bubbly (or soft drink!) and provided delicious food from Taabir Asian Cuisine. Howden Insurance regularly supports local community organisations and shares our mission of championing local voices and experiences to improve health and social care.

Contact:

Tel: 0208 037 9720 

Web: https://howdeninsurance/

Ruils – Independent Living:

Ruils is a user-led charity supporting Disabled children and adults and people with long term health & mental health conditions to live independently, be part of their community and to live life to the full. 

We heard about their newly launched disabled people’s forum to support people to take control of their own care.

You can sign up here for more info and to join the forum.

Contact:

Tel: 020 8831 6083

Email: info@ruils.co.uk

Web: https://ruils.co.uk/

https://youtu.be/GGbCAKre9qA

Rethink Advocacy:

Wandsworth and Richmond advocacy service providing comprehensive advocacy support to people facing challenges, discrimination, or complex decisions about the care they receive. Our advocates support people so they have a say in important and often difficult decisions about their treatment and care. This includes support with arrangements that could impact on their independence and quality of life.

Contact:

Telephone: 0300 7900 559

Email: advocacyreferralhub@rethink.org

Web: https://www.rethinkadvocacy.org.uk/

Wandsworth Primary Care Patient Participation Forum:

Primary care patient group that seeks to empower patient groups to collaborate with key players in primary care. They meet every two months and are looking for representatives from each Patient Participation Group (PPG) to tell them what they’re doing and what is happening in their practice.

Contact:

Email: info@wandsworthpatientforum.org.uk

Music by Assorted Beat:

Assorted Beat is a collective of musicians who have been playing together in various ways for 10+ years. The name ‘Assorted Beat’ pays homage to our heritage and love for a variety of styles and flavours of music. We love to vibe together, let our creatives juice flow and most of all have fun with our music.

Instagram: assorted_beat_music

Facebook: Assorted Beat Music

Updates from us:

Patient and Advice Liaison Service Survey:

We are interested in understanding what Wandsworth residents know about the NHS’ Patient and Advice Liaison Service (PALS). 

We have heard so far that people have had issues accessing PALS. So, we launched a project to gather patient experiences with the aim of feeding this back to the NHS to build understanding of what patients don’t know about the service and how we can boost confidence in PALS.

Take our survey and let us know your thoughts on PALS

Refugee and Asylum-Seeker Women’s Health Project 

Refugee and asylum-seeking women experience worse health outcomes. This is due to many factors, however we understand that when patients speak limited to no English this can impact their ability to access women’s health care service and receive appropriate treatment. 

We are working with Happy Homes Community to speak to Urdu-speaking women to find out how language has impacted their ability to access women’s health services. We will be facilitating a workshop on Thursday, 29th January 2026 at 11am to 1:30pm. If you or someone you know would like to share their experience and learn more about how they can use their voice to improve services for women, please contact:

Email: rhiann@wandcareall.org.uk

Tel: 07396820233

Or for Urdu 

Email: foziabajwah@yahoo.co.uk

Co-Production Charter:

The Wandsworth Borough Council have asked us to support the regeneration of a co-production group that lost momentum during the pandemic. 

We have produced a draft charter, which people can still comment on and influence.

Give feedback on our Draft Co-Production Charter | Healthwatch Wandsworth

We also heard from you:

We asked attendees to share how much they knew about the organisations in attendance and we heard that, although most people had somewhat heard of them, they still came away from the assembly with more knowledge of the health and social care advocacy work happening in our borough to platform residents. 

We are also delighted to hear generally positive feedback with most people saying the assembly gave them an opportunity to share their experience and ask questions. The food, drink and music were also well received. 

Learning is also important, and we heard that some attendees would have liked to hear a bit more about our future actions and strategies. We will take this on board and use this as an opportunity to make our next assembly even better. 

Look out for more information on our first assembly of 2026!

Latest Updates

Community Voices in Wandsworth