Community Links, together with our partners at Aston Mansfield and Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge, work alongside multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) within the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) as Community Connectors. Taking a social, community and user-focused approach, our programme is built on forging positive, trusting relationships between Connectors and service users to complement the clinical interventions that take place within primary care networks or PCNs (clusters of GP practices). Service users will have a single or range of diagnosed conditions, are referred via ELFT community integrated mental health teams, and will therefore have a range of needs, including symptoms of anxiety or depression, or have a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The Community Connectors program has successfully integrated into the MDTs within primary care networks, providing comprehensive support to service users. By connecting individuals to various resources, from creative arts workshops to domestic violence peer groups, as well as housing, welfare, and employment advice, the program has been able to address the multifaceted issues affecting service users’ mental health. The collaborative effort between Community Links, Aston Mansfield, Mind, and the ELFT has established a network of trust and support within the community”.

This is not a self-referral service, if you are struggling with your mental health please speak to your GP.

Stats:

  • Community Connector team supported 1,050 service users across Newham between July 2024 and 2025.
  • 30% of referrals received were to support people with making meaningful connections in the community and a further 30% were to support with housing circumstances.

Groups:

Community Connectors run groups with our partnership organisations in Newham as part of the Community Capacity Building Project being led by ELFT. Currently we have four groups on offer to individuals:

  • Craft Group at Community Links 2PM-3:30PM on fortnightly Tuesdays
  • Mindfulness at Community Links 11-1PM on Wednesdays , beginning in August (only open to CIMHS service users currently)
  • Book Club at Aston Mansfield at 11AM – 1PM on Thursdays
  • NeurodivergX at Stratford Advice Arcade 11AM-12:30PM on Thursdays