Community Links, together with our partners at Aston Mansfield and Mind, have seconded sixteen colleagues to work within the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) as Community Connectors. Working within multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) based in primary care networks (PCNs) across Newham, our Community Connectors provide wraparound, person-centred support to individuals living with serious mental illness (SMI), including conditions such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
This programme, established through the One Newham voluntary sector alliance, is grounded in building trusted relationships with service users and across the community and offering holistic, community-focused support to complement clinical care. By connecting service users with both therapeutic services and practical resources—from creative arts workshops to domestic violence peer groups, and housing, welfare, and employment advice—. Community Connectors address the interconnected challenges that impact mental health. With nearly 10% of participants actively seeking work and around 30% requiring housing support, the ability to provide professional support plays a vital role in preventing crisis and supporting long-term well-being.