For more than 13 years, our organisation has proudly delivered the Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire service, making sure local people’s voices help shape health and social care across our county.
Today, we’re beginning an exciting new chapter. Our charity has changed its name to Community Voices Matter, while continuing to deliver the Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire service exactly as before.
You may be wondering why we’ve made this change.
Earlier this year, the Government announced proposals to abolish Healthwatch England and transfer the functions of local Healthwatch organisations to Integrated Care Boards and local authorities. While those proposals are still being developed, our Board believed it was important to ensure our organisation was prepared for whatever the future may hold.
After careful consideration of our mission and the changing national landscape, our Board agreed that now was the right time to adopt a name that reflects who we are, what we stand for and the future we want to build.
Why Community Voices Matter?
Many people know us simply as “Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire”. In reality, Healthwatch is the statutory service we deliver on behalf of Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. Behind that service is our independent charitable organisation, which has now become Community Voices Matter.
We chose this name because it captures what has always been at the heart of our work.
Every day we hear stories from people about their experiences of health and social care. Sometimes those stories celebrate excellent care. Sometimes they highlight where services need to improve. Every story matters because every voice has the power to influence change.
We believe that communities deserve an organisation that listens without influence, speaks with honesty and ensures that people’s lived experiences are at the centre of decision-making. We are especially committed to amplifying the voices of people and communities who are too often unheard or underrepresented.
Our new identity reflects those values while giving us the flexibility to continue championing independent voice, whatever the future holds.
At Community Voices Matter, we’re Listening for Change, because better services begin by listening to the people who use them.
What hasn’t changed?
Although our name has changed, everything that matters remains exactly the same.
- We are the same charitable organisation.
- We have the same Board of Trustees and dedicated staff team.
- We continue to deliver the Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire statutory service.
- We remain independent.
- We remain committed to listening to local people and using their experiences to improve health and social care.
For people who use our services, it’s business as usual.
Our Healthwatch website will continue to operate, and you can still use it to find information, share your experiences and access Healthwatch services.
As part of our new identity, our email addresses have changed to @community-voices.co.uk, although our existing @hwnn.co.uk email addresses will continue to work during the transition. Whether you contact us through Community Voices Matter or Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, you’ll still be speaking to the same friendly team.
Looking ahead
While our roots remain firmly in health and social care, Community Voices Matter represents an exciting opportunity to build on everything we’ve achieved over the past 13 years.
We will continue delivering the trusted Healthwatch service while exploring new opportunities to strengthen community voice, develop new partnerships and support organisations to listen more effectively to the people they serve.
Independent voice has never been more important. As public services continue to evolve, local people deserve an organisation they can trust to listen, challenge constructively and champion positive change.
Over the past year, we’ve worked alongside colleagues across the country to demonstrate the value of independent patient and public voice. Whatever happens nationally, our commitment to the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire remains unchanged. We’ll continue listening, raising concerns where needed, celebrating good practice and using evidence from local people to influence better services.
Be part of our next chapter
If you’ve worked with us before, thank you. Your support has helped us make a real difference over the past 13 years, and we hope you’ll continue that journey with us.
If you’re new to Community Voices Matter, we’d love to get to know you. Whether you’re part of the NHS, local government, the voluntary and community sector, a care provider or simply someone who wants to improve health and social care, there are many ways we can work together.
Most importantly, if you’ve ever wanted to tell someone about your experience of using health or social care services, we’d love to hear from you. Every conversation, every story and every piece of feedback helps us build the evidence needed to influence change. Your experience could help improve services for your family, your neighbours and future generations.
Change can sometimes create uncertainty, but I want to reassure everyone who has supported us over the years that we’re not going anywhere. If anything, this new identity strengthens our ability to stand alongside local communities for many years to come.
Whether you’ve shared your story with us before or you’re meeting us for the first time, thank you for putting your trust in us. Together, we’ll continue making sure community voices are heard where decisions are made.
Sabrina Taylor
Chief Executive Officer
Community Voices Matter – the home of Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
