Local Area Coordination in England and Wales
February 2024
Updates on Local Area Coordination, the work of the Network and
the areas implementing the approach.
In this edition we’ll be covering:
- Hello and Welcome
- ‘Good Housing, a Cornerstone of Community Contribution’
- ‘Mayor’s Award for Shaheen’
- Publications
- Vacancies
- Events, Training & Campaigns
- Useful Blogs
- New Social Leaders
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A note from from Nick Sinclair,
Director of the Local Area Coordination Network
Hello dear reader. Nick here and welcome to this action-packed February edition of our newsletter! Thanks so much to Lily for putting this together so nicely. 
As we move through the second month of the year (where does the time go!!), the energy within our Network feels palpable. This month, Oxfordshire and South Tyneside have been leading some amazing work with local people in their ongoing community-led recruitment of their first Local Area Coordinators, whilst the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster held their inaugural leadership group and identified four local communities to start in.
In addition to this, the LACN team have been diligently planning for the upcoming Regional Gatherings at the end of February and early March. Our Gatherings serve as invaluable platforms for Local Area Coordinator networking, sharing best practices, healthy challenge, and, as always, building our sense of collective understanding.
Beyond that, our commitment to research and learning continues this month as we support the final stages of the ongoing research project led by Hull and Sheffield Universities (funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR)). The insights gained will not only inform our current Local Area Coordination work, but also contribute to the broader knowledge base, reinforcing the effectiveness of the approach and inspiring new areas to work with us in developing it.
As we reflect on the ongoing public service cuts and escalating pressures on society, it is clear that Local Area Coordination remains an essential approach and offer in the communities where it exists. There’s never been a better time for our work, but by that same token there’s never been a trickier time to get it going and to sustain it. We will, however, continue working together as a Network, ensuring that Local Area Coordination remains faithful to its design and principles, and grows as a powerful force in supporting people, families, and communities to identify and live their best lives.
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, and for your continued support.
Nick Sinclair