Help & Care is delighted to announce a new strategic partnership with Wessex Health Partners, the region’s academic health science alliance dedicated to accelerating improvements in health and care through research, innovation, and training.
This collaboration reflects a shared vision of improving lives through meaningful research, policy influence, and person-centred health and care solutions.
As a well-established charity with 40 years of experience supporting people across Dorset and Southern England, Help & Care is committed to working alongside communities, organisations, and policymakers to create real, lasting change. By joining forces with Wessex Health Partners, we are strengthening our ability to bring people’s voices into the heart of health and care innovation, ensuring that services reflect real needs and aspirations.
Help & Care is the only voluntary and community sector partner of this kind within the Wessex region, reinforcing its pivotal role in shaping health and care research partnerships. This unique position elevates Help & Care as the go-to organisation for voluntary sector-led research collaborations, ensuring that community insights and lived experiences are central to policy and service development.
“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.”
Through this partnership, Help & Care and Wessex Health Partners will focus on key areas of cooperation, including:
- Co-developing research and innovation initiatives that address pressing health and care challenges within local communities.
- Enhancing collaboration across sectors by connecting healthcare providers, universities, and community organisations to work together on shared research and innovation.
- Engaging and empowering communities by ensuring their experiences and voices help shape future health and wellbeing policies through involvement in research projects.
- Driving policy change and influence by advocating for evidence-based improvements in health and social care services.
Kathryn Loughnan, Director of Partnerships, Research & Influence at Help & Care, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating, “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.”
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 that healthcare advancements truly benefit those who need them most.”
For more information about this partnership and upcoming initiatives, please contact: Kathryn Loughnan, Director of Partnerships, Research & Influence at Help & Care at marketing@helpandcare.org.uk