The Community Health Advocates project is part of VAC’s Health Inequalities work to address issues which contribute to poor health outcomes for Camden residents. VAC recruits and trains local people to volunteer in Camden GP practices. These Community Health Advocates promote community based services and activities that contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
Oxford Brookes University: Using Neighbourhood Planning to Engage Communities and Tackle Inequality
Oxford Brookes University and VAC have been working together to explore how the neighbourhood planning process in Somers Town is enabling communities and local stakeholders to work together to ensure local planning meets community need in Somers Town.
Holborn Community Association: Advice on Neighbourhood Planning and Engaging the Community
Following VAC’s succesful neighbourhood planning project in Somers Town, Holborn Community Centre approached VAC for some advice on how to start the neighbourhood planning process in Holborn. Nahida Chowdhury, leading the project, talks to VAC about how they used VAC’s help to start involving their local community in the process.
Sing Along Fun at Millman Street
Millman Street Resource Centre offers a wide range of social activities like Tai Chi, computers, art and crafts, singing, gardening, yoga and much more to the over 55’s.
Camden Community Festivals: Lady Somerset Road Street Festival
Anna Wright, local resident and festival coordinator for the Lady Somerset Road street festival talks to VAC about why community festivals are so important at bringing communities together.
Michael Parkes: Volunteering for VAC on the Neighbourhood Planning Project
Michael Parkes is a retired surveyor and town planner who has been volunteering with VAC since 2011 on the Neighbourhood Planning Projects in Somers Town and Bloomsbury. Here Michael talks to us about what volunteering for VAC has meant to him.
Somers Town Community Centre: Neighbourhood Planning & Community Engagement
In 2011 VAC and Somers Town Community Centre began looking at the new Localism Act to see how planning policy could affect real change in the way that communities are able to shape and design their local neighbourhood. The project soon took off and here Sarah Elie talks to us about what difference this has made to the Somers Town community.
Camden Council: Community Researchers Enterprise and setup of Healthwatch
Matthew Upton is the Strategic Lead for Engagement and Consultation for Camden council and has been working with VAC on the Community Researchers Enterprise and the setup of the Healthwatch organisation. Here Matthew gives his perspective on how collaborative working with VAC has been beneficial for the council – and in particular local Camden communities.
NHS Camden CCG: Health Inequalities / Strategic Partnerships
“One of VAC’s strengths is their stability and knowledge. They’ve been here a long time, they’re well-known. They don’t have a big turnover so people know them. Therefore you get the benefits of trust; you get the benefits of reach.”
Camden Community & Police Consultative Group: Community Safety
Peter Ward talks to Len Lauk about the support that the Camden Community & Police Consultative Group has received from VAC over the last 14 years.
