Equity in Action: Shared Leadership

Some of the most transformative work in Wandsworth has emerged where communities and statutory partners have come together to co-design and deliver services, addressing gaps that formal systems cannot fill alone. One example is the work to increase cervical cancer screening among South Asian women. This partnership—bringing together Wandsworth Care Alliance, NHS South West London Integrated Care Board, the council, RM Partners, the Institute for Voluntary Action Research, and local primary care teams—focused on understanding the barriers that prevent women from attending screening and exploring what needs to change to support better engagement. By creating space for honest conversations, listening to lived experience, and unpacking cultural, practical, and emotional factors, the project generated insights that will shape future approaches and help ensure screening uptake improves where it is needed most.

Another powerful example is the Perinatal Mental Health Experience project, led by Wandsworth Care Alliance and Healthwatch Wandsworth. This work responds directly to the complex mental health needs of new and expectant parents. By drawing on lived experience and offering non-stigmatising, peer-led support, the project has created pathways that are more compassionate and effective than clinical referrals alone. Families who may have disengaged from formal services have instead been met with understanding, continuity, and timely support during one of the most vulnerable periods of life.