The One Communities

Better and more equitable health and wellbeing for the people and communities of Northern Devon

Recognising that health services have only a 10% overall impact on residents health and the people that best understand communities are those that live and work in them, the One Communities bring together local organisations and groups to work on the things that matter to the local community.

One Northern Devon supported the development of the One Communities across Northern Devon (North Devon & Torridge). These cross-sector, place-based partnerships bring together those involved in prevention and the wider determinants of health and wellbeing (social, economic and environmental factors) to help build safer, fairer, more cohesive and resilient communities.

History of the One Communities

One Ilfracombe came from a ‘whole-place (funded) pilot’ in 2013, exploring how the public sector could join together to get more value for money. The aim was to combine ‘bottom-up and top-down’. To get together all the stakeholders that invest in a town to agree priorities, working to the collective objectives of investor organisations and including community insight via co-engagement activities to reduce duplication and engagement fatigue. 

Approach

Using a strengths-based approach, each One Community is supported by a Community Developer and a volunteer Chair, together they work with members of the One Community and wider populations to:

  • Learn and identify what’s available locally

  • Consider any gaps in local provision

  • Understand ‘what matters’ to the local community by engaging with residents

  • Find ways to work together to increase the impact of place-based initiatives

The Seven One Communities

One Atlantic is a community group consisting of private, public, charitable and third sector organisations. Their main focus is the health and wellbeing of the local communities in Bideford and the surrounding areas.

Chair: Seeking Chair

Community Developer: Trudi Mackie-Brown – Trudi@ttvs.org.uk

Find out more on the One Atlantic website 

See One Atlantic’s Community Development outputs/outcomes

One Barnstaple is a partnership of local voluntary, community and public service organisations in Barnstaple, led by local GP Dr Simon Jones. In May 2019, launched with a 3 day event showcasing the fantastic community and voluntary sector organisations within the town. Representatives from One Barnstaple partner organisations attended the event to ask residents their opinion of Barnstaple and what they thought could be improved. Over 500 responses have been received so far, and these will be used by the One Barnstaple partnership to form a one year plan alongside public health data.

Chair: Jane Petch – jane.petch@librariesunlimited.org.uk

Community Developers: Ella McCann – ella.mccann@barnstapletowncouncil.gov.uk

Find out more on the One Barnstaple website

See One Barnstaple’s Community Development outputs/outcomes

H&DCF was built on the links made between OND and the Holsworthy Mutual Aid Group and the work previously carried out by the Holsworthy Community Involvement Group (HCIG). One of the recommendations from HCIG was to create a One Community in Holsworthy. The Community Developer for Holsworthy was working to support the mutual aid group since March 2020 and carried out a large amount of engagement within the community. 

Chair: Geoff Cusick – geoff.cusick@rotary.cusick.org.uk

Community Developer: Alison Skinner – alisons@ttvs.org.uk

Find out more on the H&DCF website

See Holsworthy and District Community Forum’s Community Development outputs/outcomes 

One Ilfracombe is a not for profit company which brings together services, businesses and the community for better health, economic prosperity and a higher quality living environment for the people of Ilfracombe. Over the last 8 years One Ilfracombe has developed and delivered many projects to improve the wellbeing of its residents. These have included the Community Connector social prescribing service, mental health and dementia awareness, The Town Team, out of the blue cadet programme, as well as many others.

Working with their Primary Care Network One Ilfracombe have also expanded their local Community Connector Service to provide 10 Wellbeing Co-ordinators to deliver services in Ilfracombe, South Molton and Lynton & Lynmouth working in local GP surgeries alongside employing their own Community Development Officer.

One Ilfracombe was also at the forefront of establishing a community response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The system that they created was then delivered to other areas in North Devon and replicated elsewhere on a national level.

Chair: Dr Sarah Williams (Living Well group Chair) – sarahwilliams23@nhs.net

Programme Manager: Steve Seatherton – steve.seatherton@northdevon.gov.uk

Community Developer: Mary Midson – marymidson@nhs.net

Project Officer: Charmain Lovett  – charmain.lovett@northdevon.gov.uk

Project Officer: Neil Ingram – neil.ingram@northdevon.gov.uk

Find out more on the One Ilfracombe website

See One Ilfracombe’s Community Development outputs/outcomes

Live well in Braunton is a community partnership started by Dr Susanna Hill, Lorraine Loveden, Roger Byrom and others in 2017. The aim of the group is to improve connections within Braunton which they have done by launching a website which provides links to all community organisations in the village. The group has published a directory with copies located at the GP surgery and venues in Braunton. Live Well in Braunton have recently received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to employ a Community Developer and Social Prescriber.

Chair: Dr Susanna Hill – s.hill4@nhs.net

Community Developer: Andrea Mules – connect@livewellinbraunton.co.uk

Find out more on the Live Well in Braunton website

See Live Well In Braunton’s Community Development outputs/outcomes

One South Molton aim is to bringing residents and service providers together who know the local area best, to work on things that matter most to their community. Only recently formed (early 2020) the group have rapidly formed to support South Molton and Community as part of the Covid-19 response.

Chair: Adam Crispin – adam.crispin@homeinsteadnorthdevon.co.uk

Community Developer: Emily Abbott emily.abbott@northdevon.gov.uk

Community Developer: Verity Hanson verity.hanson@northdevon.gov.uk

Find out more on the One South Molton Website

See One South Molton’s Community Development outputs/outcomes

The Torrington 100 group received funding from the improved Better Care Fund (Health and Social care funding) to employ two part time community developers. Torridge Volunteer services (TTVS) and The Plough Arts Centre are facilitating the project which aims to support Torrington’s satellite village communities as well as Great Torrington itself with an arts and culture based scheme. The group are also collaborating with Torrington Futures group and Care Forum to develop a website and database. Torrington 100 was originally the steering group for this project but are currently looking at evolving the group to have a wider focus around the health and wellbeing of Torrington.

Chair: Adrian Avery – Adrian.Avery@torridge.gov.uk

Community Developer: Amanda Smithson Amanda.s@ttvs.org.uk

Find out more on the Torrington 100 website

See Torrington 100’s Community Development outputs/outcomes