Organised and delivered in partnership with colleagues from the Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust, and hosted by ELBA’s partner Man Group, the event brought representatives from our business partners together.
The East London Business Alliance (ELBA) is a charity that connects businesses with local communities to support social regeneration in east London. Its mission is to create positive change in London by using the resources and influence of the private sector.
Julie Hutchinson, ELBA's Chief Executive, chaired the event. Speakers in senior roles from across ELFT included Edwin Ndlovu, Chief Operating Officer, Alison Cottrell, Non-Executive Director and Paul Binfield, Director of People Participation, as well as Barts Health’s Group Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Ann Hepworth.
The two anchor health organisations brilliantly set the context, highlighted statistics, emphasised the crucial role of service users in all delivery, offered examples of how corporate experience supported the sector, and shared the huge challenges. Against the backdrop of huge financial strain and cost reduction policies, they stressed that the need from beneficiaries was rising so dramatically that an additional east London hospital would need to be built if more was not done on prevention and collaboration across the sectors.
A lively and interesting panel discussion and questions from the audience covered a lot more underlying topics including youth mental health and unemployment. The need was clear. Business has a big role to play.
ELFT’s Director of Population Health, Laura Austin Croft, said: “By presenting population health data on social determinants of health, such as poverty and employment, we shared current challenges facing east London communities but also the opportunities to work together to improve lives, such as through supported employment, work experience and money advice.”
ELBA is further developing the ask for support from business. It is hoped that more discussions, collaborations and volunteering will happen.
For those wanting to hear more or receive summary information from the event, contact Louise.Muller@elba-1.org.uk.