Building Community Wellbeing Centres Together

The Akedia Partnership is the backbone of our plan to bring Community Wellbeing Centres to towns, villages, and cities across the UK. These centres are designed to be vibrant community hubs where people connect, grow, and support each other, with mental health services woven naturally into everyday activities. Creating these centres in every community is a big task, and the Akedia Partnership makes it possible by bringing together the right people and organisations to make it happen efficiently and sustainably.

What is the Akedia Partnership?

The Akedia Partnership is a national private public partnership that speeds up the process of setting up Community Wellbeing Centres. Instead of building each centre from scratch, we’re partnering with experienced organisations—private businesses, local health authorities, and third-sector groups—who bring their expertise to the table. This approach ensures that each centre is tailored to its local community while benefiting from proven business models, training, and support.

Our goal is to make these centres a reality across the country, creating places where everyone feels at home, with activities and services that foster connection, creativity, and wellbeing.

How Does It Work?

The partnership brings together different players, each with a clear role:

• Private Sector Partners: Major brands with experience in areas like gyms, game rooms, cafes, co-working spaces, or education provide initial investment, business know-how, training, and ongoing support. Local entrepreneurs run the day-to-day operations, keeping most of the ownership and profits, while the brand retains a minority stake and branding presence. If there’s no local group ready to take on a service, the partner can fully operate it until a local team steps in.

• Local Health Authorities: They fund the mental health services within the centres, which are managed by a health partner with guidance from Akedia. This ensures mental health support is accessible and integrated with the centre’s community activities.

• Third Sector Partners: Charities and community organisations, like those running addiction clinics or volunteer programmes, work similarly to private partners, bringing their expertise to support local initiatives and needs.

• Akedia’s Role: Akedia oversees the overall management of each centre, including shared spaces and core staff. We provide strategic guidance and regular training to ensure all services work together smoothly, prioritising community needs, health, and safety.

Why Partner with Us?

The Akedia Partnership offers real benefits for everyone involved:

• For Local Health Authorities: An easier way to deliver better mental health and overall health services, integrated into a community setting that reduces pressure on existing systems.

• For Private Sector Businesses:

  • Reach new communities with your brand, while supporting local ownership.

  • Earn revenue through equity without managing daily operations.

  • Boost your brand’s reputation by being part of a project that does good.

  • Gain visibility and deep community engagement.

• For Third Sector Organisations:

  • A central hub to connect with community members and meet local needs.

  • Easier volunteer recruitment and better insights into community challenges.

  • A platform to make a lasting impact.

• For Communities:

  • A sense of ownership and pride in a centre that reflects local needs.

  • Easy access to a range of well-run services, from fitness to learning to mental health support.

  • A welcoming space that makes mental health support feel approachable and stigma-free.

What Impact Will This Have?

Community Wellbeing Centres, powered by the Akedia Partnership, aim to make a measurable difference. We expect to see:

• Mental Health: Fewer hospital admissions, shorter wait times for therapy, less reliance on medication, and more community knowledge about mental health support.

• Physical Health: Lower rates of obesity, addiction, and substance misuse, with improved fitness across all ages.

• Community Cohesion: Stronger neighbourhoods, more social interaction, increased volunteering, and less isolation in all age groups.

• Education & Economy: Higher literacy, more training opportunities, increased local employment, and a boost in cultural creativity.

Get Involved

Your organisation shares our vision? Get in touch and we’ll arrange a meeting to discuss how your organisation can contribute and benefit and explore a Joint Venture Agreement.

community@sensefuture.org