Document Category: County-Wide

This document gives practical insights into cradle-to-career (C2C) models and community-based approaches for improving social mobility. It provides actionable steps, case studies, and 15 innovative practices that can be adopted to support under-resourced children and families. By reading, VCFSEs will gain strategies for partnership, community engagement, and sustainable impact, helping them drive joined-up, relational support and systemic change in their local areas. Holyrood School in Chard is one of the case studies

PROMISEworks latest results from a year of imbedding impact and presenting needs analysis.

The Nelson Trust 2025 Impact Report highlights a year of growth, connection, and transformative support for individuals facing addiction and multiple disadvantages. ​ Key achievements include the opening of new Women’s Centres, impactful recovery services, innovative training programs, and successful fundraising events. The report celebrates their 40th anniversary, showcasing milestones like the Coronation Meadow event, the One Wales service expansion, and partnerships with HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. ​ With a focus on holistic, trauma-informed care and community collaboration, the report demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to making meaningful change and outlines its vision for an even greater impact in 2026.

This report, “Stigma in the System,” explores how stigma is embedded in the UK social security system, impacting claimants’ financial security, mental health, and trust in the system. ​ It examines public perceptions, institutional practices, and internalized stigma, revealing how these factors discourage people from claiming benefits they are entitled to. ​ The report highlights the emotional toll of navigating the system and offers recommendations to humanize, simplify, and better resource social security, aiming to reduce stigma and improve outcomes for claimants. Essential reading for policymakers, advocates, and anyone interested in creating a fairer, more supportive welfare system.

The Annual Audit 2025 by Women’s Aid provides a comprehensive overview of domestic abuse services in England during 2023-24. ​ It highlights key findings on service demand, provision, funding, and systemic challenges, including a significant shortfall in refuge spaces, underfunding, and barriers faced by marginalized groups. ​ The report also addresses the impact of rising living costs, international conflicts, and the need for sustainable funding and specialist support. ​ It offers insights into the state of the sector, identifies gaps, and advocates for meaningful change to better support women and children affected by domestic abuse.

PECIAL EDITION #3 Childhood Trauma and Domestic Abuse
This document is a comprehensive research roundup on the impact of trauma and childhood domestic abuse, highlighting key factors that influence children’s mental health and recovery. It explores the emotional and psychological effects of domestic abuse, factors that exacerbate harm, protective elements fostering resilience, and evidence-based interventions like group therapy, art, and play. It emphasizes the importance of supportive relationships, tailored approaches, and intersectionality in addressing diverse experiences. Practitioners, researchers, and policymakers can use this resource to better understand and support children and young people affected by domestic abuse.

This document outlines values and principles for effective multi-agency collaboration to support children, adults, and families. ​ It emphasizes a cultural shift towards “doing the right thing” over “doing things right,” focusing on trust, transparency, and shared responsibility. ​ Key values include accountability, boldness, care, and dynamism, while principles stress flexibility, safety, inclusivity, and collaboration. ​ It provides guidance for professionals to create impactful, person-centered responses, foster positive relationships, and ensure safety and wellbeing. ​ Ideal for those seeking to improve multi-agency practices and prioritize the needs of individuals and families in their work.

A blog post from Somerset Domestic Abuse that outlines what stalking is, its prevalance, the impact it can have and also signposting to places where statistics or support may be available

The Somerset Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021-2024 outlines the county’s approach to tackling domestic abuse, guided by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. ​ It includes key principles, evidence from a needs assessment, achievements, and the impact of COVID-19. ​ The strategy focuses on supporting survivors, addressing perpetrators, preventing abuse, creating a robust system, and targeting underrepresented groups. ​ It highlights priorities, funding allocations, campaigns, and training frameworks for professionals. ​ The document is essential for understanding Somerset’s multi-agency efforts, strategic goals, and initiatives to improve support, raise awareness, and reduce domestic abuse across the community.

Countywide strategy focusing on strengthening community resilience, voice and connection; models localised solutions to health, transport, food and housing needs and amplifies community insights into policy.

Sets out Somerset’s programme for preparing local planning documents that govern housing, economy, community facilities and infrastructure – providing the statutory context for community development and place-based investment decisions.

A complete toolkit that explores what co-production is, information on 5 key themes – collaboration, diversity, respect, empowerment and involvement. This document has links to further documents and resources that may be useful for those who are exploring their co-production journey and how to include people from their community within their organisation(s) or service(s).

A learning guide for anyone involved in commissioning or funding decisions who wants to apply a co-governance approach. Includes examples and links to further resources to learn more.

A learning guide for anyone wanting to use a co-production approach within research or evaluation activities. Includes key recommendations, an example and further resources that may be useful

A learning guide for anyone who wants to ensure their co-production work involves a diverse range of voices where everyone can participate

A learning guide for growing sustainable groups, designed for anyone who wants to support a community group to grow and develop in a way that is sustainable and not reliant on external funding

A learning guide to create a co-production culture. If you’re part of an organisation that wants to foster a culture of co-production – where people’s lived experiences are listening to and valued – this is the guide for you. An explanation of what it means to create a co-production culture and examples of how this has been achieved elsewhere

A learning guide exploring the key principles of co-production. For anyone looking to move beyond the definition of co-production and dig deeper into the principles and values that underpin the approach.

A learning guide from Stronger Together about co-production. It provides an overview of co-production and the benefits of using the approach, with resources and examples provided

A co-production toolkit from Ageing Better. This toolkit user guide outlines the different tools available for co-producing work in communities and is designed for those completely new to coproduction or those who wish to gain confidence. With different resources available for different audiences, this document outlines what co-production is, the values and principles, who benefits and what topics are covered by the resource library.

A learning guide for Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), for anyone looking to support others in your community to set up activities using their existing skills, strengths and networks. Especially useful for those working in service delivery or development roles, or those who are part of their local community or have lived experience.
Outlines what ABCD is, examples of how it can be applied, top tips and links to other, relevant learning guides.

Understanding Integration: How to Listen to and Learn From People and Communities is a practical framework that can be used to help support systems listen to and learn from people and communities about their experiences of integrated care. Designed for anyone working within a local health and care system, it is intended to encourage NHS, local authorities and other local partners to work, listen and learn together.

A document from 2021, outlining the 8 principles and implications of place based working, in the context of the emerging Integrated Care Boards (at the time). The document is a practical framework to help partners embed community development with strong links to community cohesion. It emphasises the importance of the lived experiences of people in communities, co-production and place-based delivery. It offers a variety of tools, case studies and prompts that VCFSEs can adapt to improve community outcomes.

The Somerset VRP Annual Report outlines multi‑agency work to prevent and reduce serious violence through early intervention, data‑led action and community partnership. Key activity includes governance for serious youth violence, Safer Somerset Priorities tactical meetings, police Early Intervention Team work, behaviour‑change education for pupils, town‑centre youth safety programmes, online harm reduction, and commissioning of high‑impact interventions such as A&E navigators, sports mentors and school‑based “teachable moments”. The VRP prioritises knife crime, street‑based violence and sexual violence for 2025–26, with a strong focus on safeguarding, prevention and community safety.

Somerset’s refreshed Joint Forward Plan sets out how the Integrated Care System will deliver the county’s Health and Care Strategy from 2024–2029. It focuses on five priorities: restoring financial sustainability, developing the workforce, improving system flow, strengthening integrated neighbourhood teams, and transforming population health. The plan responds to significant financial pressures, growing demand and inequalities, and places strong emphasis on prevention, partnership with the VCFSE, data-driven decision making and supporting people to live healthier, independent lives.

The 2024–25 Annual Report outlines progress against the Police and Crime Plan’s five priorities: strengthening neighbourhood policing; reducing violent crime (including male violence against women and girls and serious youth violence); preventing crime through partnerships; supporting victims; and improving policing standards. Key achievements include 10,000+ hotspot foot patrol hours, expanded violence‑reduction programmes, improvements in victim services, and enhanced scrutiny, training and community engagement. The report highlights collaboration with local authorities, VCFSE organisations, and national partners to build safer, more confident communities.

The Somerset Council Plan 2023–2027 sets out the vision for building a fairer, greener, healthier and more resilient Somerset. It focuses on four priority areas: tackling the climate and ecological emergencies; improving health and wellbeing; reducing inequalities; and strengthening Somerset’s economy and communities. The plan emphasises prevention, community involvement, partnership working, improving access to services, supporting education and skills, enabling sustainable growth, protecting vulnerable residents, and promoting cultural, economic and environmental resilience. It also highlights the role of Local Community Networks, sustainable transport, green technologies, inclusive services, decent housing, and supporting local jobs and opportunities.

The Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board Strategic Plan 2025–2028 sets out priorities for protecting adults with care and support needs by improving community engagement, addressing homelessness-related safeguarding risks, strengthening responses to domestic abuse and exploitation (including all‑age exploitation), enhancing transitional safeguarding, and improving the application of the Mental Capacity Act. The plan emphasises co‑production, early intervention, practitioner training, multi‑agency pathways, and partnership working with community groups, third sector organisations, and the Safer Somerset Partnership.

The Somerset Children and Young People’s Plan (2024–30), shaped by the voices of 6,000 children and young people, sets a shared vision for a safe, child‑friendly Somerset where all young people are happy, healthy and prepared for adulthood. Developed by partners including Education for Life Board, Public Health, Connect Somerset, Safer Somerset Partnership and the ICS Children, Young People & Families Partnership Board, it outlines priorities spanning education, healthy lifestyles, mental health, community safety, relationships and adulthood preparation. For VCFSE groups, it highlights collaboration opportunities, early‑help roles, community‑based support and ways to shape services through youth voice.

The Improving Lives Strategy (2019–2028) sets a shared vision for improving health, wellbeing and life chances across Somerset by tackling the wider social determinants of health. Developed by the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board and partners including Somerset County Council, NHS organisations, the historic district councils, Avon & Somerset Constabulary and Healthwatch, it focuses on prevention, fairer life chances, stronger communities and healthier, more independent living. For VCFSE organisations, it outlines partnership roles, opportunities to influence priorities, shape prevention work, strengthen community resilience and collaborate across sectors to support disadvantaged groups and deliver local impact.

The Integrated Health and Care Strategy for Somerset (2023–2028) sets out a shared vision to improve health, reduce inequalities and redesign services through prevention, early support and integrated system working. Developed jointly by Somerset Council, NHS Somerset, the Somerset Integrated Care Partnership and the Somerset Health & Wellbeing Board (with strong involvement from the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector) it positions VCFSE organisations as key partners in shaping neighbourhood‑based care, supporting disadvantaged communities, and strengthening prevention, wellbeing and local engagement.

The Safer Somerset Partnership is a statutory group working to reduce crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour and re‑offending across Somerset. Its community safety plan aligns with the Improving Lives strategy, Fit for My Future strategy, Children and Young People’s Plan and the Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board strategic plan, and complements the police and crime plan for Somerset. Covering June 2022 to March 2025, it focuses on high‑impact issues such as anti-social behaviour, hate crime, serious violence (including violence against women and girls), victim protection, youth crime and county lines.

Before/during/after flooding guidance and practical community preparedness content supporting cohesion and resilience.

Evaluation of Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP)’s project – Beat the Street – which was run in Shepton Mallet & Wells in 2023. This is an evidence-based, mass participation programme that enables long-term behaviour change and improved partner working. It connects individuals with their local environment and supports people to make simple modifications to everyday behaviour. Includes a mix of qualitative and quantitative data and what behaviours have been changed as a result.

Evaluation of Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP)’s project – Beat the Street – which was run in Yeovil in 2022. This is an evidence-based, mass participation programme that enables long-term behaviour change and improved partner working. It connects individuals with their local environment and supports people to make simple modifications to everyday behaviour. Includes a mix of qualitative and quantitative data and what behaviours have been changed as a result.

Evaluation of Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP)’s project – Beat the Street – which was run in Bridgwater in 2020. This is an evidence-based, mass participation programme that enables long-term behaviour change and improved partner working. It connects individuals with their local environment and supports people to make simple modifications to everyday behaviour. Includes a mix of qualitative and quantitative data and what behaviours have been changed as a result.

Evaluation of Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP)’s project – Beat the Street – which was run in Taunton in 2021. This is an evidence-based, mass participation programme that enables long-term behaviour change and improved partner working. It connects individuals with their local environment and supports people to make simple modifications to everyday behaviour. Includes a mix of qualitative and quantitative data and what behaviours have been changed as a result.

The Connect Somerset Impact Report 2024 showcases how VCFSE organisations play a central role in Somerset’s early‑help system. Connect Somerset is a partnership of Somerset Council, the NHS, education and community services. Overall, the report demonstrates how VCFSE involvement enhances early intervention, community resilience and accessible local support – providing useful insight into how the sector contributes to, and benefits from, joined‑up local systems.

Government guidance on CICs: things to consider, asset lock, dividend caps, statutory obligations etc. Useful for charities exploring diversification.

Annual report covering 2024-25. Includes strategy, details of “Wilder Somerset 2030” and the steps being taken to develop and thrive in inclusion, income generation, being an authentic voice and leading change.
Somerset Wildlife Trust report on their goals, outlining the steps taken towards them and also what they plan to do next. Includes “A movement for nature”, volunteer development, and community engagement across Somerset’s landscapes.

The Somerset profile from the Annual Museum Survey. This data is from 2020 and provides snapshot metrics of Somerset museums (visits, income, staffing, volunteers); baseline context for local heritage planning.

Up-to-date interactive reports can be found on the Museum Development website

The Museum Development programme supports museums in the South West. Page 24 details the context of support provided to the Somerset museum landscape. There are useful examples of work that has happened elsewhere in the region, statistics from the Annual Museum Survey and detail of how equality, diversity and inclusion work has been supported.

Annual review of the 2023-24 year for the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue. The closure of the Octagon occured during this time and there is detail of the wider community engagement work that occured. Including but not limited to Yeovil Literary Festival, leading the Music Hub and the growth of the Arts Engagement & Outreach programme. Work areas included children and young people, art for health and wellbeing and supporting education with opportunities for pupils and training for teachers.

Year‑in‑review of performances, screenings and participation; includes in‑house pantomime production and engagement outcomes. Details community events such as playdays and projects that have been run for health and wellbeing, access and inclusion and the environment.

A report from NHS Somerset (Integrated Care Board) that outlines the collaborative working happening in Somerset to support the veteran community.

Ten council case studies; practical learning on governance, pathways and commissioning to support local Armed Forces communities.

Lived‑experience insights and recommendations on healthcare access for serving families, veterans and reservists in Somerset.

Council progress update, governance/Officer Champions, and duty context across housing, health and education relevant to the Armed Forces community.

Round‑up of national and local developments, funding and events for the Armed Forces community, including partnership opportunities for groups.

Updates on Somerset’s Armed Forces Covenant delivery, champions, and statutory duty changes, plus local initiatives and hubs that charities can link with.

Explains access routes and support via Transition, Intervention and Liaison (TILS) and Complex Treatment Service (CTS) including South West contacts.

People-centred neutering model addressing barriers, partnership working and behaviour-change to improve cat welfare in priority communities.

Somerset river habitat audit with recommendations for riparian management; useful for fisheries, land managers and community groups.

Woodland management and nature‑based wellbeing outcomes in the Blackdown Hills; relevant to forestry practice and land stewardship.

Sets out a county-wide framework for recruiting, supporting and celebrating volunteers across 70+ roles. Clarifies standards, safeguarding, data protection, and the Central Volunteer Team’s processes.

There has been a growing concern within the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector that smaller or newer providers are disadvantaged in
NHS procurement processes, particularly when commissioning children and young people’s mental health services. Somerset Integrated Care Board (SICB) invited the Partnership Manager for Children and Young People’s Mental Health (CYPMH) to participate in a subsequent procurement exercise. This collaboration aimed to increase transparency, offer the VCFSE sector a clearer understanding of how NHS procurement operates, while also identifying opportunities for improvement.

This report presents the findings from activity conducted in 2024 by a multi-agency group aimed at understanding the lived experiences of children, young people, parent carers, and those who support them in accessing help for managing their emotions and mental health.
The report builds upon existing intelligence, incorporating local and national data, including insights from prior surveys. By centering the lived experiences of those involved, it
identifies barriers to accessing support and highlights areas for improvement.

The Power Threat Meaning Framework is an over-arching structure for identifying patterns in emotional distress, unusual experiences and troubling behaviour, as an alternative to psychiatric diagnosis and classification. The project team’s aim was to produce a foundational document which sets out the philosophical, theoretical and empirical basis for such a framework and describes how it can serve as a conceptual alternative to psychiatric classification in relation to emotional distress and troubled or troubling behaviour.

This is an overview. A full 400+ page report is available from the British Psychological Society.

Healthwatch Somerset explores the quality of the transfer of care process in Somerset and use the experiences of people who have been discharged from hospital to inform the organisations involved to support change and improve the process.

In January 2022, we released a commentary about the Lack of NHS Dentists in Somerset highlighting the concerning shortage of accessible dental care in the county, and the
pressing issue of limited access to NHS dentists which was causing widespread public concern. The inability to secure dentist appointments has led to frustration, disproportionately
affecting vulnerable groups like parents seeking care for their children, pregnant women, and those reliant on benefits for whom private dental care is financially unattainable.

The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people (CYP) has been investigated both nationally and regionally. There is a wealth of data and
many reports that demonstrate the effects on CYP over the course of several years.

In 2022 Healthwatch Somerset worked with NHS Somerset ICB to create a series of case studies, to support a business case for change, by interviewing people who had lived
experience of an acquired brain injury (ABI) and neurological rehabilitation.

A look at booking an appointment with your GP in Somerset

It is evident over the past year that the public profile of Healthwatch Somerset has been raised because we have seen an increase in the number of people we have heard from and been in contact with. This public feedback and involvement, along with other sources of evidence, has helped us deliver impactful work this year and formulate a work plan for the
coming year.

Unlocking the power of people-driven care – Healthwatch Somerset has had another busy year with a myriad of issues being shared with us. The main concern has been around the lack of NHS dental services in Somerset. We are very fortunate that even though staff numbers are small we have a dedicated team, enabling us to produce the impressive volume of work in 2024/2025. We are increasingly asked to represent Healthwatch on various committees, and our role as an independent advocate is valued.

This review outlines our wide range of services and projects delivered in 2022. It explains our impact as we fulfil our charitable objectives to be responsive to needs and improve the lives of children, young people, their families, and local communities.

Delivering inspirational mentoring to Somerset’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.

For many of the groups we support, a grant from The Somerset Fund made a huge difference, enabling them to keep going despite these uncertain times.

Hidden Somerset is a series of short reports looking at aspects of life in Somerset that are often hidden from view. By lifting the lid on the experience and insights of frontline grassroots charities that work at the heart of our communities, we aim to stimulate debate and understanding across a wider audience, helping to inspire new and more impactful philanthropy.

Hidden Somerset is a series of short reports looking at aspects of life in Somerset that are often hidden from view. By lifting the lid on the experience and insights of frontline grassroots charities that work at the heart of our communities, we aim to stimulate debate and understanding across a wider audience, helping to inspire new and more impactful philanthropy.

Hidden Somerset is a series of short reports looking at aspects of life in Somerset that are often hidden from view. By lifting the lid on the experience and insights of frontline grassroots charities that work at the heart of our communities, we aim to stimulate debate and understanding across a wider audience, helping to inspire new and more impactful philanthropy.

Hidden Somerset is a series of short reports looking at aspects of life in Somerset that are often hidden from view. By lifting the lid on the experience and insights of frontline grassroots charities that work at the heart of our communities, we aim to stimulate debate and understanding across a wider audience, helping to inspire new and more impactful philanthropy.

this report tells us how our funding
could support adults with learning disabilities and
autism to live fulfilling lives in their own
communities. Our aim when we commissioned this
research was to build our understanding of what
works well, what needs attention, and how positive
changes can be sustained within communities.

Throughout this review, you’ll
find several stories highlighting
how carefully directed funding,
channelled through Somerset’s
brilliant local charities and social
enterprises, can transform lives and
build stronger communities.

This report draws on community consultation to tell us how our funding could support older people across Somerset

The Somerset State of the Sector report for 2024 was commissioned by Spark Somerset and builds on the work of similar reports published in 2017 and 2020.1
It examines the size and shape of the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in Somerset.

SASP helps people find ways to move more that work for them to promote good health and happiness and are pleased to be working with hospitals across Somerset with this new service.

At SASP, we are in the unique position of working across all levels of the system to reduce inequalities in physical activity across Somerset.

The 2023/24 fiscal year was a year of transition for CCS with internal reviews, contingency planning, and development of our new Strategy, aligned to our new Vision, Mission and Values.

Citizens Advice Somerset impact report for the period 1st of April 2023 to 31st March 2024