Neighbourhood health in practice

Healthwatch Greenwich highlighted the Blackheath and Charlton Primary Care Network Community Café as an example of neighbourhood health in practice. Held twice a month, the café brings together residents, GP practices, volunteers and community organisations in an informal community setting. Attendance grew from a small group in 2025 to around 40 to 60 people per session, with residents able to access social activities, health advice, basic health checks, support with the NHS App and signposting to local services. 

The café was found to be helping reduce loneliness and social isolation by creating opportunities for people to build friendships and become part of a supportive local community. Residents described developing meaningful social connections, while volunteers reported gaining a renewed sense of purpose through supporting others. The café also promotes intergenerational engagement through partnerships with local schools. 

Healthwatch observed examples of the café supporting earlier identification of health concerns and making it easier for residents to access practical support. One attendee with high blood pressure was identified and referred for further assessment during a health check. Residents were also able to access support with employment, wellbeing services and digital healthcare in a single location, reducing the need to navigate multiple organisations separately. 

The report concluded that the café demonstrates how primary care, community organisations and volunteers can work together to create accessible, relationship-based support. Healthwatch identified trust, connection, navigation, early intervention and a focus on reducing inequalities as the key factors behind the model's success, while recommending further evaluation to understand its long-term impact and identify which groups may still be underserved.