by Emma Lee, CAN Head of Engagement
For infrastructure charities like CAN and the wider voluntary and community sector, this feels like the moment we’ve been waiting for. After years of talking about the need to rebalance health services towards prevention, community-based care, and tackling inequalities, the NHS Long Term Plan finally puts that front and centre. It’s been a long time coming, and it’s exciting to see recognition of what charities and community groups have been doing quietly, brilliantly, and often without much fanfare.
A shift from hospital walls to local wisdom
The plan’s move away from reactive hospital-based care towards prevention and early support is music to my ears. It’s something charities and community groups have been championing for decades. Whether it’s lunch clubs combating isolation, youth groups supporting mental wellbeing, or local charities tackling food insecurity, our sector is already doing it.
Charities like CAN, infrastructure organisations, are key to helping the NHS plug into this community wisdom, build on what works, and make sure the change is real and lasting. Not just shiny policy on paper.
From tick boxes to true partnership
The Long Term Plan offers something new: not just consultation, but co-production. Charities and community groups are being seen not just as useful service providers, but essential partners with unique insight.
This is a game changer. It’s a chance to reshape how commissioning works, how communities are heard, and how power is shared. Infrastructure organisations can help link arms across sectors, lift up smaller voices, and create a platform where everyone, regardless of size, can help lead.
A voice that matters
We know that charities and community groups are often the first to hear what’s going on in people’s lives. Whether it’s young carers, isolated older people, or marginalised communities facing health inequalities, VCSE groups amplify these voices every day. With the NHS now focusing more on equity, there’s a huge opportunity for our sector to help guide the conversation and make sure no one is left behind. There’s a lot of work ahead. To meet this moment, our sector will need support to grow—new funding models, meaningful investment in capacity, and stronger bridges between health systems and community networks.
Infrastructure charities have a unique role to play: making connections, raising standards, and championing commissioning that’s long-term, flexible, and genuinely collaborative. But to do this well, they need real investment. These organisations are the backbone of the VCSE sector—supporting networks, building capacity, and keeping vital grassroots voices in the room. Without sustained funding for infrastructure, we risk fragmenting that support and stalling progress at the exact moment collaboration is most needed. Backing infrastructure isn’t just about organisational resilience—it’s about unlocking the full potential of the sector to deliver lasting health and wellbeing outcomes.
We’ve been waiting a long time for a national plan that understands the value of people, place, and community. The NHS Long Term Plan feels like a genuine step towards a future where healthcare is about more than just treatment—it’s about belonging, prevention, and collective care. And the community is ready. We’re not just passengers on this journey; we’re co-drivers.
