By Andrea Holloway, CAN Community Connector

Building Wellbeing and Opportunity in the Heart of Boscombe

On Thursday, January 29th, the CAN team joined over 160 residents and partners at Thrive 2026, held at the vibrant Auger Collective in the Sovereign Centre. It was a day dedicated to wellbeing, opportunity, and—most importantly—meaningful connection.

Our team (Andrea, Poonam, Martin, and Ellen) had the privilege of speaking with over 65 individuals. The energy in the room was palpable, and the queries we received highlighted just how vital localised, face-to-face support remains in our sector.

A Hub of Information

From signposting benefit and victim support to sharing resources from Our Dorset, Minstead Trust, and Leonardo Carer Support, we were kept busy! Our Ridgewater Housing booklets proved to be an essential resource for many navigating housing challenges.

We also saw a significant surge in interest regarding volunteering. We were able to demonstrate our Kinetic Volunteering Hub in real-time, connecting aspiring volunteers directly with opportunities to give back.

One of the highlights of Thrive is the chance to connect with our peers:

• Healthcare & DWP: We met with GP surgery staff and Disability Employment Advisors from the Bournemouth Job Centre, discussing how CAN’s resources—like our upcoming updated information booklets—support their frontline work.

• Professional Networking: We spoke with professionals about the Service Finder tool and even followed up with a UHD Hospital Governor to provide specific data requested during the event.

• Future Voices: Poonam was interviewed by AUB Journalism students, sharing the “why” behind CAN’s mission to an emerging generation of storytellers.

Creating a Welcoming Space

In the afternoon, Martin and Ellen focused on supporting those seeking mental health and neurodiversity advice, providing warm handovers to Steps to Wellbeing and Access Wellbeing.

Beyond the stats and signposting, what mattered most was the atmosphere. Our team strived to create an environment where people felt heard. Seeing visitors leave feeling “uplifted” and “better” after a chat is exactly why we do what we do.

Thrive 2026 was a powerful reminder that when we work together, our community doesn’t just survive, it thrives.