Strong partnership working is essential for improving health and wellbeing, especially when challenges are complex and cross organisational boundaries.
A new 2025 report from The Kings Fund shares learning from the Healthy Communities Together programme. Drawing on real experience of setting up and running the programme, the report offers practical insight into what helps partnerships work well at a local level.
Key themes include the importance of trust, shared purpose and clear relationships, as well as the time and support needed to build partnerships that feel meaningful rather than transactional. The learning is particularly relevant for those working across health, local government, voluntary sector and community organisations, where collaboration is central to tackling health inequalities.
This report provides useful guidance for anyone involved in developing or supporting partnership working and offers realistic reflections on both the opportunities and the challenges involved.
The full report is freely available online: How To Support Partnership Working | The King’s Fund