This announcement relates solely to the ending of the Community Wellbeing Collaborative (CWC) service funded by BCP Adult Social Care since 2022/23. It does not reflect the broader work that Community Action Network continues to deliver across our communities and partnerships.
I am issuing this statement following the BCP Council decision not to extend the Wellbeing Collaborative contract beyond its current term, resulting in the service concluding on 19 November 2026.
The Council has advised that this decision has been taken in response to significant financial pressures, procurement rules and with a review of all commissioned services which aim to prevent, reduce or delay the need for Adult Social Care. Importantly, the Council has made clear that this decision is not a reflection of the quality, effectiveness or impact of the service delivered by Community Action Network (CAN) and our partners.
CAN proudly led the Wellbeing Collaborative on behalf of BCP Council’s Adult Social Care service, bringing together voluntary, community and public sector organisations to help people leave hospital safely, access support within their communities, maintai independence and improve their wellbeing.
The Wellbeing Collaborative represented an innovative and highly successful approach to partnership working. Through this service, thousands of residents were connected with practical support, community resources and services that have helped them live healthier, more independent and more connected lives. It has demonstrated the value of investing in prevention and the important role that voluntary and community organisations play in supporting people to thrive.
The importance of prevention, community-based support and partnership working is rightly recognised within BCP Council’s own Adult Social Care Prevention Strategy. The Wellbeing Collaborative demonstrates how those ambitions can be translated into practical action, helping people remain independent, connected and well within their own communities, reducing social isolation, supporting safe hospital discharge and helping to prevent the need for more intensive interventions.
Throughout the lifetime of the contract, we have enjoyed positive and constructive relationships with both NHS and Adult Social Care colleagues, united by a shared commitment to improving outcomes for residents. Together, we have shown what can be achieved when public services, community organisations and local communities work collaboratively to address challenges, build resilience and improve wellbeing.
While we recognise the significant financial pressures facing local authorities and understand that difficult decisions must be made, this is deeply disappointing news for CAN, our delivery partners, and wider network of organisations that have contributed to and benefited from the Wellbeing Collaborative.
The Wellbeing Collaborative has been a powerful example of how community-based support can improve thousands of people’s lives while helping to reduce demand on statutory services. We firmly support continued investment in this type of preventative work and for this to be resourced sustainably to support communities and residents.
We are immensely proud of what has been achieved. The difference made by the Wellbeing Collaborative is reflected not only in the number of people supported, but in the stronger communities, partnerships and local networks that have been developed through the programme.
I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to our staff, volunteers,delivery partners (including local businesses), stakeholders and fellow trustees. Their professionalism, dedication and compassion have been at the heart of the Collaborative’s success. They have supported people through periods of illness, isolation, uncertainty and change, often at moments when timely support has made a significant difference.
I would also like to thank our colleagues within the NHS and BCP Council’s Adult Social Care service. We have valued the partnership we have built together and remain grateful for the trust placed in CAN and our partners to deliver this important work over many years.
While this decision marks the end of the current contract, I have asked CAN to explore avenues for future funding, partnerships and commissioning opportunities that could enable elements of this valuable work to continue beyond November 2026.
While there can be no guarantees, we owe it to the communities we serve, our partners and our staff to explore every possible opportunity to retain the expertise, relationships and community capacity that have been developed through the Wellbeing Collaborative. The need for this support has not disappeared, and we remain committed to finding ways to continue making a positive difference wherever possible.
Our immediate focus is our staff, delivering a high-quality service for residents and working closely with BCP Council, the NHS and other partners to ensure a smooth, responsible and well-managed transition over the coming months.
While we are saddened that this chapter is coming to an end, we celebrate the impact and our learning and remain immensely proud of the legacy that the Wellbeing Collaborative leaves behind. The lives improved, the partnerships forged and the communities strengthened through this work will continue to make a difference long into the future.
Statement from Martin Broad, Chair of Trustees, Community Action Network (CAN)
