This interactive workshop shone a spotlight on the power of local collaboration in delivering preventative and sustainable models of care that are rooted in community need and voice.

Through a series of case studies and real-life examples, attendees explored how RPB-funded initiatives are enabling partnerships between statutory services, the third sector, and local people to co-design and deliver services that improve well-being to reduce demand on acute services, and build long-term resilience.

The session featured voices from community organisations, frontline staff, individuals with lived experience and Citizens, offering an inspiring look at what’s possible when communities are empowered to shape their own support. From social prescribing and integrated community hubs to volunteer-led outreach and culturally sensitive services, this workshop showcased what’s working—and what’s next, In addition to common principles and learnings that can enable scaling of similar work.

Delegates had the opportunity to reflect on how these models can be scaled, adapted, or supported in their own areas of work, and contribute to a wider conversation about the role of community in the future of care.

All attendees found the session extremely useful. The workshop included group activities and interactive discussions. Participants found particular value in using the dementia-friendly audit tool, gaining insight into how people living with dementia feel after diagnosis, and exploring how some family members perceive caregiving as a natural part of their daily lives rather than as unpaid care work.

Several important points were raised during the session:

1. Ensuring that all three key areas of focus—the audit tool, lived experience of dementia, and perspectives on caregiving—are interlinked with broader community initiatives.
2. Considering the sustainability and scalability of these efforts, and how to better connect with others in the community who may still be working in silos.
3. Taking a proactive approach to understanding individual well-being to help prevent avoidable hospital admissions, especially in cases of cognitive decline.
4. Highlighting the need for increased funding for dementia-related services and a stronger investment in raising awareness of existing community resources.
   There was also a brief discussion on how to improve knowledge and support for unpaid carers, who are continuously seeking solutions and ideas for the challenges they face. Lastly, attendees touched on the importance of co-production—ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table when shaping ideas and deciding how to move this work forward.

The workshop was facilitated by Versha Sood, Improvement and Development Manager for Dementia, Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board and Lani Tucker, Health and Social Care Facilitator, Glamorgan Voluntary Services, along with social prescribing colleagues and partners from the Dementia Friendly and Carer Friendly Networks.