Glue: connecting the right people for greater change

Birkenhead is at the forefront of transformational social impact, powered by partnerships between statutory and voluntary organisations. We are proud to be making steps to not just show our work on a local level, but a national one. We invited innovative partners and visitors to Open Door to show them the development of our work, and to provide a space for crucial conversations to take place.

What the day brought
A clear theme was the strength of relationships here: partnerships built on trust, co location that breaks down silos, and commissioners who are willing to take positive risks with the voluntary sector. People spoke about the importance of community ownership, brave leadership and a shared appetite for experimentation. Birkenhead’s “secret sauce” seems to be a blend of long term commitment, genuine coproduction, and a culture where residents, practitioners and commissioners work side by side with a sense of purpose and persistence.

There was also a strong call for better ways to resource innovation. Attendees highlighted the need for joint commissioning across Public Health, ICB/NHS and local authorities, shared outcomes across central government, and simpler, more accessible routes into funding, with platforms like the Kindred Pathfinder offering a glimpse of what that could look like. People were clear that innovation doesn’t flourish by accident; it needs the right conditions, shared spaces for honest conversation, and commissioning models that reward collaboration rather than compliance.

When discussing how radical and effective interventions can scale, the message was equally consistent. Longer term funding models, generous data sharing, and a commitment to behaving like true partners were seen as essential.
Participants emphasised valuing relationships over outputs, avoiding short termism, and investing in coaching, peer learning and leadership development. There was a strong belief that what works in one place can be adapted elsewhere, but only if we share openly, align political narratives with frontline reality, and build continuity into the system.

What’s next?
Reflections on the day itself reinforced the power of co designed, welcoming and engaging spaces. People noted the importance of proactive planning, clarity around access and comfort, and the impact of breaking traditional norms, including NHS teams are positioned outside the NHS estate. Many commented on the effectiveness of “health by stealth”, spaces that feel human first, clinical second. The energy and honesty of this first visit showed what’s possible when people come together with curiosity and ambition. We’re excited to continue the conversation and see where it leads next.

Thank you to those in attendance:
Ali Wagner, Director, Dancefloor Intimacy
Becky Brown, Programme Manager, Cheshire and Mersey ICB and LA’s
Carol Roach, Joint Commissioning Lead CYP, Wirral Council and ICB
Chris Shaw, National Community Development Consultant
Craig Pennington, Director, Future Yard
Erika Rushton, Director, Kindred
Jennifer Kelly, Funding Officer (NW) National Lottery
Joe Micheli, Office for the Impact Economy, Cabinet Office
Julie Graham, Public Health Principal, Wirral Council
Natalie Covino, Policy and Partnerships Officer, UCL Policy Lab
Keisha Tomlinson, Alliance Manager, Branch
Kelly Court, Programmes Manager, Community Foundation Lancashire and Merseyside
Richard Selwyn, Transformation Director, Wirral Council
Ruth Dixon, Regional Grants Manager, Steve Morgan Foundation
Sophie Clarke, Managing Director, Juno
Suzie Henderson, Creative Director, Storyhouse
DCMS Youth representatives
DCMS Policy unit representatives

Open Door Charity hosts:
Lee Pennington, Founder/Charity Director
Alex Shears, Deputy Charity Director
George Hawkins, Joy Project Director
Georgia Penny, Director of Services
Dave Hatton, Partnerships Manager