Access to NHS spaces
We have been working in partnership with SEL ICB to make better use of NHS buildings as spaces that benefit local people. Our aim is to help micro, grassroots and by-and-for VCSE organisations access these spaces for free to deliver activities and support in the heart of their communities. By making better use of NHS estates, we can ensure local organisations have the room they need to provide vital, culturally responsive services and help tackle health inequalities across south east London.
Partner organisations
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Funded by
Championing micro, by-and-for organisations to use NHS spaces for community impact
As the South East London VCSE Strategic Alliance, we champion the role of micro, grassroots, and by‑and‑for VCSE organisations in improving community wellbeing and and tackling health inequalities. Through our SEL VCSE Charter, we are committed to ensuring local groups can access the physical spaces they need to sustainand grow their work. Across south east London, we are working closely with the South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) to make this real.
This work directly supports the strategic objectives of the South East London Integrated Care Board’s Estates Strategy, which recognises the importance of using NHS estate more effectively to benefit local communities and strengthen partnerships with the voluntary and community sector. Enabling community organisations to access and use NHS spaces is a key way to maximise the social value of health estates and support preventative, community-based approaches to health and wellbeing.
Our approach also aligns with NHS England’s Building for Health programme, which emphasises the role of NHS estates in reducing health inequalities, supporting community development, and enabling VCSE use of NHS premises.
A New Way to Book NHS Spaces: NHS Open Space
We are collaborating with NHS partners to make vacant NHS rooms available for free to micro and small VCSE organisations across south east London. These spaces are being listed on NHS Open Space, a simple online tool for booking rooms in health settings.
This approach supports the SEL ICB’s ambition to make more accessible, community-focused, and equitable use of NHS buildings across the region.
If you are a micro by‑and‑for or grassroots VCSE organisation…
Your local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is your first point of contact for:
- Help registering for NHS Open Space
- Guidance on how to book NHS rooms
- Support understanding what spaces are available
- Advice on using NHS settings for your activities
- Help navigating the system if you're new to NHS partnerships
We encourage all micro and grassroots groups to reach out to the By and For capacity building officer at your local CVS for tailored, localised support:
Lambeth - RDavis1@lambeth.gov.uk
Southwark - Alex@communitysouthwark.org
Lewisham - mottie@joinedupthinkinguk.com; ron@lewishamlocal.com
Bromley - GDO@CommunityLinksBromley.org.uk
Bexley and Greenwich - nick@bvsc.co.uk
You can read an overview of the registration process here.
If you have accessed any of the free NHS spaces, please help us understand what difference it made to your work and community impact by completing this short feedback form.
Neighbourhood Health and Community Access to NHS Spaces
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This estates work directly supports the development of Neighbourhood Health by:
- Enabling activities to take place closer to where people live
- Strengthening local relationships between NHS and community groups
- Creating infrastructure for grassroots, culturally responsive support
- Helping prevent ill health through community‑led initiatives
By making NHS premises easier to use, we are strengthening the neighbourhood ecosystem and supporting groups who understand local needs most deeply.
Case Study: The Waldron Health Centre (Lewisham)
A strong example of NHS-VCSE collaboration
The Waldron Health Centre redesign provides a powerful example of what can be achieved when NHS organisations and VCSE partners collaborate.
Partners involved included Lewisham community organisations (such as Social Inclusion Recovery Group, Lewisham Local, Moonshot and Age UK), local residents, arts organisations, Lewisham Council, multiple NHS trusts, Goldsmiths University, and the North Lewisham Primary Care Network.
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Together, they reimagined the building to include:
- A community connection space
- A community kitchen
- Welcoming free‑to‑use rooms for VCSE activities
- Creative and cultural elements developed with arts partners
- New Navigator roles to help VCSE organisations access and use the space
This demonstrates the wider national principle of using NHS estates to support community development, co‑location, and integrated partnership working.
It also reflects how the SEL ICB is working to create modern, accessible, community-aligned estates across the region.
What This Means for the VCSE Sector
This programme creates new opportunities for micro, grassroots, and by‑and‑for organisations to:
- Run activities in high‑quality, local NHS buildings
- Reach communities in trusted settings
- Strengthen or begin relationships with NHS teams
- Deliver prevention, wellbeing, and early‑help work
- Operate at lower cost thanks to free access
Your local CVS is ready to support you to take the first step.
Making better use of our NHS estate is a key part of how we deliver value for our communities. These buildings belong are public assets, and it is essential that they are used in ways that genuinely benefit local people. By opening up our spaces and working closely with VCSE partners - especially micro and grassroots organisations - we can ensure our estate supports connection, wellbeing and access to support in the heart of neighbourhoods. This programme reflects our commitment to using the NHS estate not just as a place for treatment, but as a vital community resource.
Providing free access to NHS spaces for micro, grassroots and by-and-for VCSE organisations is a practical first step in creating the infrastructure our sector needs to thrive. One of the commitments in our South East London VCSE Charter is to strengthen that infrastructure, and we know that access to affordable spaces to operate from is one of the biggest challenges for community organisations. This programme marks the start of our wider work to transform NHS buildings into vibrant, inclusive spaces that truly serve local communities.
