Our story

Covid-19 upended life as we know it. The mental health of many people has been impacted by the pandemic, whether through the virus itself, the impact on jobs or the economy, self-isolation or the tragedy of losing a loved one.

Now we are facing other challenges, including the rising cost of living.

Urgent action

 

Recognising the psychological fallout of the pandemic, South London Listens began as an urgent mental ill-health prevention response. We know that by working together, we can prevent people’s lives being affected by mental ill-health. South London Listens is a collaboration of three NHS mental health trusts, local authorities, the Integrated Care Systems across south east and south west London, local Healthwatch organisations, Citizens UK, and community organisations including schools, colleges, universities, faith organisations and small charities.

We are taking a different approach to working with communities on critical issues - none of which come as any surprise. The main difference is that communities are involved and are heavily invested in shaping actions, with clear ownership of how to take them forward together.

Community Summit 2020

South London Listens was launched at a summit in November 2020, by the three mental health trusts in south London.

We gathered the views of thousands of people on the biggest mental health challenges communities face around Covid-19.

 

Listening campaign

 

In November 2020, we launched a four-month listening campaign with our strategic partner Citizens UK, a national community organising charity made up of an alliance of diverse local communities working together for the common good. People were asked to share their views on what they felt was having the biggest impact on their mental health due to the pandemic.

Community Summit 2021

Over the following months, through community meetings and group conversations, we heard from more than 6,000 people across south London sharing ideas for how we can support communities. The listening campaign culminated in a further community summit in June 2021, where people presented their asks for how we can support recovery from the pandemic.

Our Action Plan

Following the community summit in June 2021, we developed an action plan, setting out in detail how we are going to deliver on the pledges we made at the summit.

We launched our two-year plan in October 2021 which will be delivered in partnership by the community and all those who pledged support.

Our progress

One year on from our Community Summit 2021, we shared our progress with our communities in this short video.

Renewed pledges to combat mental ill-health

Communities, local authorities, mental health trusts and NHS Integrated Care Systems have pledged further action to drive the mental ill-health prevention agenda.

At our South London Listens Accountability Assembly in 2022, held on World Mental Health Day, NHS and local authority leaders showcased innovative and ongoing commitments to work around the four South London Listens priorities in each of the 12 South London Boroughs.

Watch a film of our Accountability Assembly.

Our impact

In January 2023, we published our South London Listens Year One (2021/22) impact report.  

The impact report sets out the the significant progress that has been made by all partners in delivering on the pledges that we made to our communities, as outlined at our Accountability Assembly on 10 October, World Mental Health Day 2022.

Our Taskforce

The programme is overseen by the South London Listens Taskforce. Our Taskforce is made up of representatives from the three south London mental health trusts, local authorities and the community. It is chaired by Ann Beasley CBE (Chair, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust), Sir Norman Lamb (Chair, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust), and Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett (Bishop of Croydon).

Our story so far

  • The first virtual summit, leading to the establishment of our first Taskforce, with over 25 organisations including NHS, Local Authorities, Citizens UK and voluntary and community organisations.

  • South London Listens Community Campaign launched – training 300 leaders and listening to over 6,000 people.

  • ‘Problem to issue’ workshops co-chaired by community leaders, NHS and local authorities help define the four South London Listens priorities and co-produce 22 solution focused pledges.

  • Community-led summit inviting decision makers to pledge to community ‘asks’.

  • South London Listens two-year Action Plan launched with robust governance in place to oversee delivery.

  • On World Mental Health Day we held our Accountability Assembly, where NHS and local authority leaders showcased innovative and ongoing commitments to work around the four South London Listens priorities in each of the 12 South London Boroughs.

  • Our South London Listens Year One (2021/22) impact report is published.

    The report sets out the progress made by all partners in delivering on the pledges we have made to our communities.

  • We listened to over 4000 people across south London to refine our priorities and co-develop new solutions - in partnership with the South East London Anchor Programme

  • We listened to over 4000 people across south London to refine our priorities and co-develop new solutions - in partnership with the South East London Anchor Programme

  • Senior NHS and local authority leaders came together to commit to a range of new pledges to action, co-developed with community leaders following the Going Deeper listening campaign. This took place at two community health assemblies attended by over 700 people.