As we look forward to 2026, we’d like to share a message reflecting on 2025, a year of collective successes and challenges.
We know this can be a tough time of year for many, for health and care colleagues, carers, and anyone giving and needing support. We know the work you do, in supporting people’s health and wellbeing, is deeply valued by the city and our communities. We see the care, compassion and energy you bring, even when things are difficult.
Despite financial pressures, we continue making the case for the resourced and valued third sector and partnerships that our city needs. We remain focused on addressing health inequities and helping to build a strong, sustainable third sector in Leeds.
2025 Highlights
2025 has been a busy year for the Forum Central partnership, with many highlights. We have continued to deliver support for the sector’s specialist networks and ensured that the sector has a strong voice in strategic spaces.
Beyond our core offer we have delivered:
- Events We hosted or contributed to – including Self Care Exchange, International Day of Disabled People, International Day of Older People’s and spotlighted more brilliant work across the sector.
- Health and Care leaders welcomed Sara Munro, Ed Whiting, Jim Barwick and enabled our members to engage with them as leaders
- Papers produced: thought pieces for the sector and info on Neighbourhood Health, the NHS 10-year plan, funding flows and system finance and The Budget.
- Supporting access to funding, including the Hey Neighbour grants, Community Power Fund, Community Vaccine Champions Grants, Household Support Fund, International Day of Older People microgrants and Trailblazer (Healthy Working Life) programmes. We enabled community groups to lead hyperlocal work tackling loneliness, improving wellbeing, and supporting people with long-term health conditions into employment.
- Leeds’ successful selection as a first-wave site in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, ensuring Forum Central contributes to shaping neighbourhood models and ensuring the third sector’s role in integrated teams is recognised
- Embedded the Leeds ICB Third Sector Position Statement with Tim Ryley, advocating for long-term investment in the VCSE sector and work to embed the Keep it Local principles in commissioning and strategy and parity of uplifts and funding
- Co-delivering our third State of the Sector report with Voluntary Action Leeds, showing the ongoing impact and resilience of our sector, increasing contributions to health and wellbeing, despite significant challenges and the scale, diversity and impact of over 3,000 third sector organisations in Leeds.
- Gathering vital insight through the quarterly Cost and Operating Pressures Survey, which evidences ongoing challenges facing VCSE organisations and informing decision-makers locally and across West Yorkshire.
- Continuing to driveMen’s Health Unlocked, bringing partners together through Northern Man Festival and our International Men’s Day event at Kirkgate Market. We supported community-based activities like the Pie Club and also visited Number 10 for the launch of England’s first Men’s Health Strategy.
- Launching the Compassionate Leadership Programme in partnership with the Leeds Health and Care Academy – building inclusive leadership skills across the Third Sector and social care workforce.
- Continuing to deliver the Travel Connections programme. This is a three-year partnership with Leeds Older People’s Forum and the Motability Foundation, enabling more people to travel independently, including older people, disabled people and people living with dementia.
- Continuing to deliver Enhance, in partnership with Leeds Community Healthcare Trust and third sector organisations, to provide person-centred, holistic support for people at home receiving community-based healthcare, and delivering health hubs in third sector venues.
- Ongoing Community Mental Health Transformation, with a network of grassroots organisations delivering community-based mental health support across Leeds.
- Hosting network meetings across Mental Health, Learning Disability, Physical and Sensory Impairment, Sexual Health, and Older People – offering space for connection, collaboration and shared insight.
- Supporting events and campaigns, including Synergi: Remembering What’s Forgotten – dedicated to honouring the legacies of Heather Nelson and Annette Morris; Carers Week, Men’s Health Week; Mental Health Awareness Week and the Equalities Assembly – amplifying lived experience and community voices.
- Marmot, Community Power and Leeds Poverty Truth Commission
We also recognise and celebrate the achievements of organisations that made the difficult decision to close during 2025, including The Market Place and Zest – Health for Life.
The Market Place supported thousands of young people over more than three decades, providing safe, non-judgemental spaces for mental health, advice and sexual health support. Their work changed lives. The voices of those they supported speak to a legacy of care, dignity and hope that will continue long after their doors have closed. Zest leaves a powerful legacy of community-led wellbeing work in Leeds rooted in food, connection and joy. Through years of collaboration with communities, partners, staff and volunteers, they helped create lasting change and a more compassionate, healthy city.
In both cases, trustees took difficult and responsible decisions in the face of ongoing financial pressure, acting early and with care to protect people, partnerships and legacy.
We know many organisations are still under pressure. If you need help, please reach out to us or to peers through our networks. You’ll also find toolkits, funding opportunities and useful links in both the News and Resources sections on our website.
We look forward to continuing to work alongside you in 2026 as we welcome the new year with renewed hope and energy.
With very best wishes for the holidays and the New Year,
From everyone at Forum Central
