Connected Approach to Neighbourhoods
Derbyshire Voluntary Action Conference 9th September 2025
This year’s Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA) Conference focused on the government’s new model for a Connected Approach to Neighbourhoods and the opportunities it creates for charities, community groups, health partners, and statutory services.
We brought together 117 delegates from the NHS, ICB, Public Health, and the VCSE to explore how neighbourhood-based working can transform outcomes across Derbyshire.
Gathering together leaders, frontline professionals, and community voices to share learning, explore practical solutions; all committed to shaping neighbourhood-based collaboration.
Our report details important data points, themes, and key recommendations throughout the day, as well as acknowledging everyone that made the Conference such a success.
“Real change happens at community level”
Jacqui Willis
CEO Derbyshire Voluntary Action
Key Takeaways
- Strong support across sectors for integrating lived experience in neighbourhood planning
- Clear consensus on the need for sustainable funding and infrastructure to enable multi-agency working
- VCSE seen as essential partners; calls for greater inclusion in decision-making and system design
- Practical challenges identified: data sharing, alignment of priorities, capacity in grassroots organisations
- Commitments from partnerships to follow up workshops, maintain momentum, and embed neighbourhood working into system planning
Over 100 delegates from across the VCFSE, NHS, ICB, local government, and more. We’re thankful to have collected so many of you in a room together to really expand on how the Neighbourhood model can work for Derbyshire, and what we need to do to make it a success for our communities!
Healthcare partnerships
Presentation 1: Community Voice, Community Agency
Introduction:
Luan Wilde, Public Health Lead for Localities and Place
Personal stories from:
Tim Aldwick, Mindscapes
Darrell Price, Pain Inspired
Presentation 2: The Neighbourhood Model
Angela Wright, Assistant Director Place Development & Delivery Jim Austin, Chief Executive, Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS FT (DCHS)
Presentation 3: A Different Way of Working – A GP’s Perspective
Alice Fenton, GP Royal Primary Care & Chesterfield Local Place Alliance Clinical Lead
Presentation 4: Working within a Multi-Agency Neighbourhood Approach – The Value of VCSE
Sharon Gibbs, Senior Commissioning Manager, NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board & Chesterfield Neighbourhood Alliance Lead
Tom Watson, General Manager, South Hardwick PCN
Helping people help communities
