On 17 March 2026 we held a Neighbourhoods for Living Well event in partnership with the National Innovation Centre Ageing (NICA). The event brought together over 100 people interested in living well in North East neighbourhoods.

Workshop summaries

Three workshops took place on the day. Themes included:

• Relationships, community and prevention
• Bringing choice, creativity and community to life
• Rethinking and reimagining places, spaces, services and support for a brighter future

Workshop 1: Relationships, community and prevention

This session explored Local Area Coordination (LAC) as a relationship-based, strengths-focused approach that supports people to live well within their own communities. The session was delivered by Hazel Cuthbertson, Local Area Coordination Manager, and Marny Tewari, Local Area Coordinator, from South Tyneside Council, combining strategic context with frontline experience.

The presentation reinforced the importance of moving away from service-led, financially driven responses towards an approach rooted in relationships, community strengths and early intervention. LAC is not an additional service, but a different way of working that aligns with statutory prevention duties and values around inclusion, wellbeing and belonging.

Key learning

• Relationships are central – long-term, trusted relationships enable early support, reduce crisis and build confidence and independence.
• Communities are assets, not gaps – neighbourhoods already hold skills, connections and informal support that can be strengthened.
• Prevention works best early and locally – spotting change early reduces reliance on statutory services while improving wellbeing.
• Citizenship and contribution matter – people are supported to contribute locally, building purpose and resilient communities.

There is strong evidence of impact – improved outcomes for people and families, stronger communities and reduced system costs. We also heard about Karen’s journey through this short film Local Area Coordination – Karen’s Story, which brought LAC to life. Karen’s experience highlighted how relational, flexible support helped her rebuild confidence, reconnect locally and regain control over her life.

Key takeaway

Local Area Coordination shows that good lives are built through relationships, belonging and community, with services playing a complementary – not central – role.

Workshop 2: Bringing choice, creativity and community to life

This workshop explored how Direct Payments can be a powerful tool for living a good life, not just a way of funding care. The session was jointly delivered by Vici Richardson, CEO of Disability North, and Helen Allen, Programme Director at Community Catalysts, bringing together perspectives on lived experience, practice insight and system change.

Through personal stories, the session highlighted how traditional, task-focused care can unintentionally shrink people’s worlds, focusing on survival rather than what matters to them. In contrast, Direct Payments – when used in the spirit intended by disabled people who pioneered them – enable choice, control and dignity, helping people shape support around their lives, interests and communities.

Key messages

• Start with a good life, not services – asking what makes a good day, a good week, a good life
• See people as decision-makers, not passive recipients of care
• Recognise that Personal Assistants and Community Micro Enterprise can support thriving, connection and belonging, not just basic tasks
• Challenge assumptions that Direct Payments or PAs are only for younger people or “simple” situations
• Understand that choice only works when there are real options, including community-based alternatives.

The session also included a short presentation from Julie Barnett of Strolls With Poles.  She offered a practical example of how community micro-enterprises can provide flexible, local, wellbeing-focused support that people can choose using Direct Payments. It illustrated how small, community-rooted options can expand people’s worlds while making better use of available resources.

Key takeaway

Direct Payments work best when they are supported with the right advice, creativity and community options. Used well, they help ensure care and support wrap around the person and their life – not the other way round.

Workshop 3: Reimagining places, spaces, services and support

This Back to the Future Neighbourhoods workshop decided to break the mould of the usual roundtable discussions by exploring the issues affecting neighbourhoods, with the aid of a board game.

In groups of 6-8, people played the Back to the Future Neighbourhoods game set in 2046. The challenge was to identify and prioritise the key ‘foundations’ for successful, thriving neighbourhoods – drawing on the insights and expertise of the players who represented a range of organisations, sectors and communities.

In a race against time the players quickly discarded existing systems and services that don’t work as they should for local people and prioritised those that work well. Using Community Chest cards, players reimagined and co-designed better versions of the key community foundations that would serve a diverse neighbourhood of the future.

Key messages

• Strong demand for lifelong education provision – from early years through to extended education pathways and skills training, provided through education hubs.
• Health services should be integrated, preventative, and local with a focus on holistic health (mental and physical care) and social care delivered through health hubs combining multiple services in one place.
• Transport and mobility are critical foundations – reliable public transport and safe walking and cycling routes were most repeated items. Green spaces and environmental sustainability are also priorities.
• Affordable, inclusive, and high-quality housing is essential across generations.
• Strong shift towards integrated neighbourhood hubs and multi-functional third spaces which were seen as central anchors of neighbourhood life. Local economy and everyday amenities are key with a recognition that cafes and pubs are part of the social infrastructure.
• Safety and emergency services remain fundamental with some services co-located in community hubs.
• Appetite for new community-led delivery models (cooperatives, shared ownership).

Key takeaway

The dominant vision is for ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’ that are walkable, well-connected and service rich with central community hubs, supported by affordable housing, integrated services and a strong social and environmental infrastructure. There is a drive to innovate by trying new models of service delivery with a place for digital innovation around information sharing.

If you would like further information about any of the topics delivered in the workshops please contact: emma.geldart@communitycatalysts.co.uk

More information about the National Innovation Centre Ageing (NICA)