This event contributed to creating a picture of how communities across Scotland are responding to the pandemic’s challenges and supporting local people’s health and wellbeing, and help us map the road ahead for community organisations to take the lead and meet local health and wellbeing needs.

When lockdown first hit, it brought on an immense set of challenges for statutory services and communities. To meet these challenges, community groups and third sector organisations sprung into action and rapidly adapted to meet local people's wellbeing needs, from support with obtaining food and medication to nurturing social connections and emotional resilience.

Working in partnership with Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Improvement Hub and Outside the Box, Nesta’s People Powered Results team have been listening to community groups and third sector organisations across Scotland to shine a spotlight on the role and value community organisations play in supporting local people's health and wellbeing and to understand how we can enable communities to take the lead and meet local wellbeing needs in the future.

This open and interactive virtual event was designed to:

• contribute to creating a picture of how communities across Scotland are responding to the pandemic’s challenges and supporting local people’s health and wellbeing,
• share what’s helping and getting in the way of communities taking the lead and meeting local health and wellbeing needs,
• articulate what we all need from each other to support communities to take the lead in meeting local health and wellbeing needs

The event brought together a diverse range of voices to review learning from insights gathered through 5 virtual workshops across Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Inverness and West Scotland and build on these to reflect on what we all need from each other to make this vision a reality.

The event used creative facilitation methods to encourage participants to think differently about key issues and be ambitious about mapping the road ahead.

Who was it for:

• Local community groups and organisations across Scotland who took part in the initial 5 workshops and want to continue taking part in the conversation
• Local community groups and organisations across Scotland who want to join the conversation
• Leaders and commissioners in Scottish Health and Social Care Partnerships and Local Authorities
• National bodies across Scotland involved in health and wellbeing

This event was a chance to:

• Hear about other community organisations’ experience across Scotland of responding to the pandemic and meeting local health and wellbeing needs
• Contribute to building this collective picture of how communities are taking action and responding to support local health and wellbeing needs
• Share what you think is helping and getting in the way of community organisations and the third sector taking the lead and what you think is needed to support this in the future