Locality partnerships

There are six locality partnerships across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, which work closely with the three local authorities to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

What are locality partnerships?

Locality partnerships bring people and organisations together to make health and care better in our communities. We work with local NHS teams, councils, charities and community groups to understand what matters the most to our population.

Our goal is to make it easier for everyone to get the help they need, when and where they need it. Whether it’s improving access to services, supporting wellbeing or tackling health inequalities, we’re here to make sure support is joined-up, local and focused on prevention.

Locality partnerships have spent years working with and understanding the local population health needs. We then design and commission services to meet these needs and improve the lives of individuals in our communities.

Together, we’re building healthier communities by listening, learning and working side by side with the people who live and work in our area.

Who is involved?

Locality partnerships are made up of health, social care and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations and groups, working with local people and communities to improve health and wellbeing.

This can include GPs, councils, social care, community services, mental health support and local activity clubs. People with lived experience, their support networks and carers are also partners in each locality partnership.

Together we work as one team to understand what matters most to our local communities. We then share our expertise, experiences and knowledge to improve services for our population and ensure people are at the heart of every decision.

A visual snapshot of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It is divided into six sections that show the population and number of GP practices in each of the six localities. This information is explained on the individual locality partnership website pages.

Our six localities

Find out more about the work being done in each of our localities by clicking the boxes below.

Inner City and East Bristol

North and West Bristol

South Bristol

South Gloucestershire

Weston, Worle and Villages

Woodspring

Our work

Some of our programmes of work span across all six locality partnerships and we have listed these below.

Falls prevention

Falls can have a serious impact on health and independence but they are often preventable. Across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, we are working together to support people at every stage of their falls journey.

From early risk identification to long-term wellbeing, our falls prevention programme brings together health professionals, community organisations and trained instructors to create a joined-up system of support.

Living well with dementia

Across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, people affected by dementia are shaping a new kind of support that is local, inclusive and built on lived experience.

Our dementia programme connects people, services and communities along every step of the dementia journey, from early awareness to personalised care. This includes:

Training for health and care staff – more than 400 staff from across health, care and community services are being trained to deliver person-centred dementia care that focuses on the individual, not just the condition.
Community outreach – we are working directly with local communities, faith groups and care homes to raise awareness of dementia, reduce stigma and enable earlier access to help and support.
Use of digital tools – we are piloting the use of digital systems to include personalised dementia care plans, making it easier for professionals to co-ordinate care and support.

Together we are building a dementia-friendly area, where everyone feels seen, supported and empowered.

Mental health and wellbeing Integrated Network Teams (MINT)

The MINTs in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire bring together a wide range of partners involved in local mental health provision, including people with lived experience, to help people access mental health and wellbeing support more quickly and closer to home.

The MINT service, which is delivered via a dedicated team in each of the six locality partnerships, is transforming the way that people access clinical, psychological and social support in their community. Alongside this, a range of new specialist mental health services have been established to improve people’s access to evidence-based support.

Evaluation of prevention in communities

We have a new localities Researcher in Residence role within the Integrated Care Board to help us better understand what is working in community-based prevention across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

The researcher will work closely with locality partnerships, adapting their focus based on local priorities. This flexible approach means we can better respond to the needs of neighbourhoods and build a stronger, evidence-based foundation for future care and prevention work.