Supporting partnership working in local communities

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

Depression & Anxiety Bulletin

The current bulletin for Depression & Anxiety, produced by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust, is now available to view and download. 

In this edition:

  • Youth Matters: A new national strategy and a critical moment for young people’s mental health
  • Mental health services in the UK in 2025: what the latest NHS Benchmarking survey tells us
  • Mental health support in prisons must recognise the impact of childhood trauma, says Centre for Mental Health
  • Third of UK citizens have used AI for emotional support, research reveals

For support accessing any of the articles within the bulletin please contact: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

depr_anx_bulletin_6jan26Download

Gambling awareness update and new research insights

Several new reports published in 2025 offer important insight into gambling related harm and how services, communities and systems can respond more effectively.

A synthesis report from GambleAware shares learning from a three year national marketing campaign focused on reducing stigma around gambling harm. The findings highlight the value of open conversation, non judgemental language and clear routes to support in helping people feel able to seek help earlier.

Another report from the Tavistock Institute showcases impactful practice across joined up local systems. Drawing on nine case studies from England, Scotland and Wales, it demonstrates how stronger partnership working can create more integrated and accessible support for people affected by gambling related harms.

Research led by the University of Brighton focuses on gambling and gambling harms within LGBTQ plus communities. The findings explore how experiences of discrimination, mental health challenges and substance use can intersect with gambling behaviour, and underline the importance of inclusive and culturally sensitive support.

Finally, the State of the Nation report from GambleAware brings together evidence on gambling harms among children and young people in Great Britain. It highlights patterns of risk, the influence of digital environments, and the need for prevention, education and early intervention.

Together, these resources offer valuable learning for anyone working in mental health, public health, education or community services, and reinforce the importance of compassionate, evidence based approaches to reducing gambling harm.

All reports are freely available via the GambleAware publication library: Publication Library – Gambling Research, Evidence & Statistics

Dementia Bulletin

With thanks to our colleagues from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust please find the latest bulletin attached. Some articles are freely accessible, others require an Open Athens account.

In this issue:

  • Study finds 10% of over-70s in UK could have Alzheimer’s-like changes in brain
  • Teaming up with British Deaf Association to support Deaf people affected by dementia
  • 6 Symptoms of Depression That May Raise Your Alzheimer’s Risk
  • Your Driving Habits Could Predict Cognitive Decline

For support accessing any of the articles, please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

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Securing the NHS Workforce for the Future

The King’s Fund has published a detailed set of recommendations to help secure the future NHS workforce. The work recognises that people are the NHS’s greatest resource and that real progress depends on strong plans, good leadership and meaningful engagement with staff.

The report highlights key areas such as improving staff health and wellbeing, fostering compassionate leadership, and giving staff a voice in decision making. It also calls for workforce planning that is realistic about training times, shifts in where care is delivered, and the skills needed for new technologies.

For anyone interested in how the NHS can build a skilled and resilient workforce that delivers better care, this long read offers practical insights and thoughtful proposals.

Read the full piece from the King’s Fund here: Securing The NHS Workforce For The Future: Our Recommendations For Action | The King’s Fund

Library Christmas Opening Hours

We would like to wish all our friends, family and colleagues a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope, whether you are working the holiday season or not, you get to enjoy some quality times with your loved ones.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2026.

Just to remind you that the Lantern Centre is closed between 12pm on 24th December – 1st January 2026. The Library will operate a limited virtual service on non-bank holidays between this period and re-open as normal on Friday 2nd January 2026.

Christmas opening hours 2025Download

Community Health

December Bulletin

You can view the latest Community Health Bulletin, completed by our colleagues at Mersey Care, here: https://www.evidentlybetter.org/community-bulletin/2025/12/16-december-2025/

In this edition:

  • Medicines in community mental health services
  • Co-occurring mental health and substance use: delivery framework
  • Youth Matters: A new national strategy and a critical moment for young people’s mental health
  • ‘Life being stressful is not an illness’ – why this BBC headline misses the point
  • Review launched into mental health, ADHD and autism services
  • New research collaboration to tackle ethnic inequalities in perinatal severe mental illness
  • Plus much more

Dementia

December Bulletin

The latest dementia bulletin from Mersey Care Evidence and Library Service is available to view: https://www.evidentlybetter.org/dementia/2025/12/10-december-2025/

In this issue:

  • Physical Activity Over the Adult Life Course and Risk of Dementia in the Framingham Heart Study
  • Crossing the brain’s protective barrier – the next generation of dementia treatments
  • UK charity records original music by people living with dementia
  • Brain-healthy gifts to bring home this Christmas
  • Plus much more