Weaving the Web: the podcast series from the National Expert Citizens Group
Welcome to Weaving the Web – the podcast series from the National Expert Citizens Group (NECG).
In this series, we’ll be exploring examples of good practice around our four strategic priorities. These are the issues lying at the heart of what’s known as ‘multiple disadvantage‘ – where someone experiences a combination of several unmet health and social needs – in England and Wales today.
Ep. 1: Can Housing First fix the homelessness crisis?
In our first episode, we explore the first of our strategic priorities: housing and homelessness. We speak to Jo Prestidge from Homeless Link and Georgia Nevitt from St Mungo’s about their work on the pioneering Housing First model – and whether it could be the key to cracking the homelessness crisis.
Ep. 2: A coproduced approach to tackling homelessness
In our second episode focusing on our housing & homelessness strategic priority, we speak to Jim Thomson and Midori Hol from Westminster-based homeless charity The Passage about their coproduced framework for tackling homelessness and how service user involvement can be brought into the mainstream.
Ep. 3: Collaborative commissioning in recovery services
Episode three sees us exploring the second of our strategic priorities: dual diagnosis (also known as co-occurring needs), and taking a look at coproduced approaches to service commissioning. Charlotte speaks to Laurence and Beth from the Essex Recovery Foundation about the groundbreaking approach being taken in Essex, where the local recovery community is working with the council to coproduce healthy systems and healthy outcomes for those in recovery.
Ep. 4: Joined-up solutions to mental health and substance use
Four episodes down – three to go! This time, Charlotte speaks to Alison Bearn, Programme Manager at the London Co-occurring Conditions Programme, about how integrated solutions to mental health and substance use can expand access to support and recovery.
Ep. 5: Reducing reoffending and supporting unmet needs in the community
We’re lucky enough to have three guests for our fifth episode: Chris Pearson, Chief Inspector at Nottinghamshire Police; Bobby Lowen, Programme Director at Changing Futures Nottingham and Matthew Hunt – whose role as Changing Futures’ Severe and Multiple Disadvantage Practitioner embedded within the Nottinghamshire Probation Trust is the first of its kind.
Join us as we discuss Notts Police’s pioneering Operation Brandburg, a diversion initiative focused on early intervention, and Matt’s gamechanging work to link up services across Nottingham to ensure that people on probation can access the joined-up support they need to break the cycle of reoffending.
Coordinated by Revolving Doors, the NECG is the lived experience group for people in the Changing Futures programme, a joint-funded initiative of the National Lottery Community Fund and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. By co-producing solutions with people who have lived experience of multiple disadvantage, we’re here to shape system change and advocate for services that are trauma-informed, accessible and person-centred.
To find out more about the NECG, visit our website or read our latest report, Exploring Solutions to Multiple Disadvantage.
