This report provides a record of the Connecting Chorlton, Fallowfield and Whalley Range event in November 2018. The gathering encouraged networking and collaboration between a wide range of statutory and voluntary organisations concerned with promoting health and well-being in its broadest sense, across three wards, in the new Chorlton, Fallowfield and Whalley Range neighbourhood. This initiative was started by the Whalley Range Community Forum.
The event was organised by a small steering group of local activists and workers who were keen to support the development of the new ‘neighbourhoods’ introduced to promote Health and Social Care and the wider ‘Our Manchester’ agenda throughout the city. The gathering also wanted to pilot a model of community-led approach to this development, in the hope, if successful, that such community led approaches may be adopted in other areas of Manchester.
The half day event was held at Manley Park Methodist Church/JNR8 community centre. 67 people attended, with people coming from each ward, and from a wide variety of backgrounds: 51% from voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups, 28% from the NHS and 15% from the Local Authority.
This report gives an insight into the planning process before the event, information on the programme for the event, who attended, and the outcomes of the discussions and what happened next along with a brief overview of the learning from experience.
The energy and enthusiasm generated by the event has generated lots of new connections and activity, including a social prescribing forum, a regular networking lunch, and plans for a more local event in Chorlton.