The Renewal Trust is a Nottingham-based charity nurturing happier, healthier, more connected communities. CEO, Cherry Wells, explains how partnerships are bringing national resources to local spaces while benefiting everyone involved.
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We see many national organisations that want to make a difference locally, but struggle to reach people in a meaningful way. As a charity anchored in our local neighbourhoods of St Ann’s and Sneinton, we’re helping to bridge that gap. We have long-term, deep-rooted community relationships and an understanding of local cultures, barriers, and needs. Plus, the ability to adapt and flex quickly and provide a holistic, person-centred approach.

For example, we recently partnered with British Triathlon and British Cycling to launch community cycling and multisport programmes including beginner sessions and inclusive activities tailored to our neighbourhoods. The partnership is enabling us to deliver local sessions of national quality while training local people to build long-term capacity. In turn, it’s helping British Triathlon and British Cycling to build genuine connections with local communities and break down barriers to access.

Beyond delivery, partnerships also give us the opportunity to influence national policy with local insight, real life stories and evidence of impact. We work closely with In Kind Direct and recently contributed to their national research report exploring hygiene poverty through the eyes of children and young people. Nic Williams, our Community Lead, presented to Parliament and talked about the impact of hygiene poverty in Nottingham, including the ‘hidden poverty’ affecting working families struggling to make ends meet.

We prioritise partners who respect local knowledge, treat us as equals and want to make a genuine difference. National partners who are willing to change and adapt their programmes to meet the needs of local communities, and nurture long-term relationships rather than parachuting in support. For example, we’re working with the National Literacy Trust to help families access reading resources through events and activities in a welcoming, inclusive, local setting.

Without local knowledge, communities can be seen through limited lenses and labelled as ‘deprived’, without recognising the depth of creativity, aspiration and confidence here. Working with national partners enables us to bring diverse opportunities of the highest quality to our neighbourhoods, and gives us a national platform to broaden perceptions and challenge negative stereotypes.

Alongside bringing investment and expertise into local places and spaces, working in partnership with national partners is also helping us respond to UK-wide challenges like health inequalities and the financial cost of living crisis – with solutions that work for our communities. Everything we do is shaped by the people who live here.

As a trusted community delivery partner, we help the NHS reach people who may not engage with traditional service approaches, and support people with long-term health conditions. Similarly, we’re helping Alzheimer’s Society to connect with people who could benefit from early support including carers, by hosting and facilitating dementia-friendly activity and awareness sessions in our familiar community spaces.

Trust is imperative in both directions alongside clear communication and honesty about what works, and what doesn’t. True partnerships take time, care and shared values but by combining our strengths, local charities and national organisations can reach those most in need and transform people’s lives.

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