Allyship Programme: April 2025 Report

The Allyship Programme continues to bring people together across the Leeds Health and Care System – connecting leaders with community organisations to build relationships, share learning and tackle health inequalities.

Since launching in 2021, 63 people have been matched, including senior NHS and Council leaders alongside colleagues from VCSE organisations. These connections have opened space for honest conversations, empathy, and joint action.

What the report tells us

The April 2025 report highlights the programme’s benefits and future potential. Three core aims guide the next stage:

• Encouraging impactful matches – making the most of each relationship.

• Sharing learning more widely – ensuring insights benefit the whole system.

• Extending the programme – exploring how Allyship can support other boards and sectors.

The ultimate goal is to:

• Better connect different parts of the system in a relational way.

• Create opportunities to highlight the realities for communities facing health inequalities.

• Look differently at how we address barriers to access.

Stories from Allies

The report includes reflections from participants about what Allyship has meant for them:

• Corrina Lawrence (Feel Good Factor) worked with Rob Webster (NHS West Yorkshire ICB) on her ambitions for future leadership, with Rob visiting Chapeltown to understand her organisation’s work.

• Ellie Rogers (Leeds GATE) partnered with Cllr Venner, leading to a regular forum to unblock key issues for the gypsy and traveller community and giving young people leadership opportunities at Civic Hall.

• David Smith (Crossgates Good Neighbours) and Cllr Arif spoke about how Allyship helped them work on the Bus Fair Campaign, influencing conversations with Tracy Brabin around transport accessibility.

Other matches have resulted in health campaigns, new connections, and a stronger understanding of community realities.

Key themes from feedback

• Trusted relationships have been built, enabling more open and honest conversations.

• Matches have collaborated on specific projects and campaigns, making real change.

• Allyship helps shift power imbalances, giving more influence to voices not always heard.

• There are opportunities to connect Allyship with other programmes like the Big Leeds Chat, Marmot City, and the Healthy Leeds Plan.

Looking ahead

Forum Central and partners are exploring how to strengthen and expand the programme. This includes clearer expectations for matches, ways to share learning, and options for involving more people across the system.

The Allyship Programme is resourced through West Yorkshire’s Power of Communities funding, with around £20k supporting the work since 2021. While the programme can be challenging to evaluate, its impact on relationships, empathy, and understanding is clear.

Read the full report