Building a connected community to help more people in Elmbridge live well

Gatherings of people in a community setting

When we started our journey to reimagine community support in Elmbridge, we knew we wanted to reach more people in need, and we knew we needed that support to be financially sustainable.

Now after 12 months of data analysis and the most comprehensive community engagement and consultation in the 51 years of Elmbridge Borough Council, we are bringing a model of community support that reaches more of our community, including older people and those facing financial hardship, social isolation and health challenges that impact their ability to thrive. This is a model that not only connects our community and focuses on community health and wellbeing but that also helps the council reduce costs by around £1 million annually – essential as Surrey moves through local government reorganisation.

We are doing this because the support known as ‘Community Services’ helps less than 1% of the Elmbridge population, but now in 2025 the need is too great to ignore. Nearly 12% of our residents are facing real challenges to living well. We must provide meaningful support to our young people, unpaid carers and low-income families for example, while continuing to meet the needs of those we already support.

This reimagining of community support is already making a difference in other parts of the country, where clear evidence shows that focusing on prevention and connection leads to better outcomes - more people receive support, feel a stronger sense of belonging, and are empowered to thrive. Now is the time for us to work together and create the changes needed to ensure everyone in our community feels valued, supported, and connected.

Outstanding voluntary sector in Elmbridge

We have always been incredibly proud and supportive of local community groups and charities in Elmbridge. Our local voluntary sector is outstanding. For years, they have supported individuals who may have fallen through the gaps in traditional services. By deepening our collaboration with them, we can better understand and remove the barriers that prevent people from accessing the help they need.

The Centres for the Community in Claygate, Cobham, Hersham, Molesey, Walton Weybridge have been part of the community landscape in Elmbridge for decades. They provide activities, a meal and socialising for primarily elderly residents. We know they are cherished by those who attend, and we know they are valued by our volunteers. At the same time, the needs of our community have grown and evolved.

Today, many of our borough’s community hubs (often supported financially by Elmbridge Borough Council but not run by Elmbridge), are stepping up to meet these changing needs.

These hubs are vibrant, inclusive spaces that go beyond traditional support. With community fridges, gardens, wellbeing activities, advice and counselling services and social sessions, they offer practical help and emotional support. They welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, helping them feel connected, supported, and well. We want to build on this strength, ensuring every resident has access to the kind of support they need.

We listened and now are acting

In recent months, we’ve heard directly from our community - young people unsure of their next steps after education, unpaid carers overwhelmed by the weight of their responsibilities, and families on low incomes seeking moments of joy with their children, free from the constant worry about money. We have listened carefully, and now we are taking action.

On 14 July Elmbridge Cabinet will consider an extensive and far-reaching reimagining of community support in Elmbridge, which will including the following:

Approve the ‘Connected Communities’ model to extend the reach of community support services and ensure ongoing financial viability.
Approve the following key changes to the service to achieve this approach:
- Establish a team of Local Area Coordinators to provide support to those most in need.
- Commission a local voluntary sector organisation to:
Provide support and training to the voluntary sector.
Increase funding being brought into the borough.
Train local volunteers as community connectors to ensure people are signposted to the support they need.
Move from directly operating the 6 Centres for the Community to enabling the voluntary sector to provide a wider range of community spaces to support more people with a wider range of needs. To include:
To bring together operators of community hubs across Elmbridge to share learning.
Transferring activities from the Weybridge Centre for the Community into the new library community hub, with the council continuing to provide these services.
Establishing an open and transparent process for voluntary sector and community organisations to lease or buy the 6 Centres for the Community to provide ongoing and wider community benefit.
Wind down the Meals on Wheels service over the next 12 to 18 months. Current Meals on Wheels clients to be first priorities for the Local Area Coordinators, to enable them to receive more holistic support and transition to alternative food and wellbeing provision.
Provide funding to allow Elmbridge Borough Council’s dementia care to explore the feasibility of becoming a charity or Community Interest Company and develop a full business plan as appropriate.
Continue to deliver community transport while exploring the potential to align with Surrey County Council’s Surrey Connect model to create a more effective community transport offer.

The evidence underpinning the Connected Communities model provides clear and compelling support for these recommendations to Cabinet. Within the evidence documents, you will read that:

1 in 9 residents is experiencing financial hardship, with numbers expected to rise. This issue affects all areas of the borough.
Isolation and loneliness are widespread concerns across all community groups.
Mental health challenges affect 1 in 4 residents each year.
Homelessness and overcrowding, though less prevalent, have a deep impact on those affected.
Young people, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and unpaid carers (7.3% of residents) face distinct and pressing challenges that require targeted support.

Investment continues

While £1 million in cost reduction is forecast by shifting the focus from running buildings to meeting needs with targeted support, investment remains a priority. £700k of the implementation budget has been allocated to support community groups and charities, enabling them to lease or purchase one of the centres to develop into a vibrant, inclusive and supportive community hub.

Committed to being fully transparent and inclusive

All information and reports related to Connected Communities are available on our website. We are also directly contacting our clients, volunteers, and everyone who took part in the engagement and consultation process. In addition, information leaflets will be available at all Centres for the Community to ensure we fully inclusive.

New chapter of community support

We understand that change can feel unsettling, for our clients, volunteers, hirers, and employees. Please be assured that we will do everything we can to support with this move to Connected Communities. We also ask that consideration is shown to our employees at the Centres.

Connected Communities marks an exciting new chapter in our journey to broaden and strengthen support in Elmbridge for those who need it most. But this is just the beginning. By working hand in hand with the voluntary sector and our residents, we will co-design and co-produce services that truly reflect the needs, hopes, and strengths of our community. Together, we are shaping a more connected, inclusive, and resilient future for the Elmbridge community.

Cllr Gill Coates, Portfolio Holder for Community Care
Cllr Mike Rollings, Leader
Cllr Simon Waugh, Deputy Leader