{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T15:47:46Z","timestamp":1790092066017,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]],"date-time":"2026-05-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778457600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Voluntary, Community, Social, and Faith Enterprise (VCSFE) organisations play a vital role in supporting local health and care needs, particularly among underserved communities. However, they can often operate in isolation, making it difficult for vulnerable populations to access coordinated support. Luton Public Health led a pilot called the Collaboration Fund that encouraged joint working among selected VCSFE organisations, delivering services that tackle health inequalities. The evaluation of the Collaboration Fund assessed the impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of this collaborative approach in addressing system approach to improving health outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A parallel mixed-methods design was adopted to evaluate this collaborative approach among VCSFE organisations funded by the Collaboration Fund in Luton. Impact was assessed using quantitative data from five lead organisations. Effectiveness and sustainability were explored by conducting 13 qualitative interviews with project leads and managers. Descriptive statistics and geospatial mapping were used for quantitative analysis, and qualitative data were thematically analysed using Framework Analysis in NVivo v.20.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Findings<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The impact findings highlighted that 7,177 service users accessed services, mainly by women and those living in Luton\u2019s most deprived wards. The effectiveness of working collaboratively improved service delivery through shared resources, co-designed services, and increased community trust and engagement. However, challenges included overlapping roles, limited communication, and a lack of diverse staff among a few of the organisations (One lead organisation and their three partner organisations). Sustainability was impeded by funding constraints, with stakeholders recommending stronger networks, shared outreach platforms, and improved visibility of the local VCSFE services to maintain and enhance collaboration.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The Collaboration Fund enhanced inclusive, community-based services through strong partnerships, multilingual outreach, and creative engagement, improving access and reducing isolation among marginalised groups. Collaboration was most effective when organisations with strong community representation partnered with less diverse ones. Sustaining progress requires continued investment, resource sharing, and strategic support to deliver collaboration and address inequalities.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1763039","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]],"date-time":"2026-05-11T14:22:56Z","timestamp":1778509376000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Challenges and enablers of collaborative working in the voluntary, community, social, faith and enterprise sector: impact, effectiveness, and sustainability"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Britzer Paul","family":"Vincent","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire","place":["Luton, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nasreen","family":"Ali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire","place":["Luton, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chimeme","family":"Egbutah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health, Luton Borough Council","place":["Luton, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karen","family":"Perkins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation","place":["Silsoe, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.5334\/ijic.8922","article-title":"Integrated care and population health management; two sides of the same coin?","volume":"24","author":"Van Ede","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Integr Care"},{"key":"ref2","volume-title":"The UK Civil Society Almanac 2021","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2307\/j.ctt1t89gsc","volume-title":"Partnership Working in Health and Social Care: What Is Integrated Care and How Can We Deliver It?","author":"Glasby","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"Partnership working between voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector organisations and ICSs to improve health and care outcomes [Internet]","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"350","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-018-3161-3","article-title":"The effects of integrated care: a systematic review of UK and international evidence","volume":"18","author":"Baxter","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"ref6","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref7","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref8","year":""},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1186\/s12961-025-01303-1","article-title":"Collaborative networks in community-based health and social care services: insights from Blackpool and the Fylde coast (United Kingdom)","volume":"23","author":"Santa","year":"2025","journal-title":"Health Res Policy Sys"},{"key":"ref10","volume-title":"Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref11","year":""},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"l85","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.l85","article-title":"NHS long term plan: care to be shifted away from hospitals in \u201c21st century\u201d service model","volume":"364","author":"Lacobucci","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1177\/00333549141291S206","article-title":"The social determinants of health: it\u2019s time to consider the causes of the causes","volume":"129","author":"Braveman","year":"2014","journal-title":"Public Health Rep"},{"key":"ref14","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref15","volume-title":"A Guide to Community-Centred Approaches for Health and Wellbeing: Full Report","author":"South","year":""},{"key":"ref16","volume-title":"Partnership working between voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector organisations and ICSs to improve health and care outcomes [internet]","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref17","volume-title":"The Role of Voluntary and Community Sector in Integrated Care Systems","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref18","volume-title":"The NHS and Social Care Workforce: Meeting Our Needs Now and in the Future?","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref19","volume-title":"Health and Social Care Inequalities Projects [Internet]","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref20","volume-title":"Collaboration Fund evaluation report","author":"Britzer","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref21","volume-title":"Coronavirus and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable People in England: 4 April to 23 April 2022 [Internet]","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref22","volume-title":"Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research","author":"Creswell","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref23","volume-title":"2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local Authorities in England and Wales [Internet]","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref24","volume-title":"Luton Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2020 [Internet]","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S4","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2012.05.014","article-title":"Fair society, healthy lives","volume":"126","author":"Marmot","year":"2012","journal-title":"Public Health"},{"key":"ref26","volume-title":"Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On","author":"Marmot","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref27","volume-title":"Reducing health inequalities in Luton: a Marmot Town [Internet]","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref28","volume-title":"Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods","author":"Patton","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"652","DOI":"10.1177\/1744987120927206","article-title":"Purposive sampling: complex or simple? Research case examples","volume":"25","author":"Campbell","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Res Nurs"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"971","DOI":"10.1001\/archfami.9.10.971","article-title":"Using geographic information systems to understand health care access","volume":"9","author":"Phillips","year":"2000","journal-title":"Arch Fam Med"},{"key":"ref31","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref32","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203413081_chapter_9","volume-title":"Analyzing Qualitative Data","author":"Ritchie","year":"1994"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2288-13-117","article-title":"Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health research","volume":"13","author":"Gale","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMC Med Res Methodol"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-023-10435-5","article-title":"\u201cI\u2019ll meet you at our bench\u201d: adaptation, innovation and resilience among VCSE organisations who supported marginalised and minoritised communities during the Covid-19 pandemic in northern England \u2013 a qualitative focus group study","volume":"24","author":"Scott","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"ref36","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1512","DOI":"10.1177\/1557988315617825","article-title":"\u201cIf we want to get men in, then we need to ask men what they want\u201d: pathways to effective health programming for men","volume":"11","author":"Lefkowich","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am J Mens Health"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6963-8-141","article-title":"What works with men? A systematic review of health promoting interventions targeting men","volume":"8","author":"Robertson","year":"2008","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e087810","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2024-087810","article-title":"Voluntary sector specialist service provision and commissioning for victim-survivors of sexual violence: results from two national surveys in England","volume":"14","author":"Damery","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref40","author":"Marmot","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref41","author":"Mendizabal-Espinosa","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100672","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eclinm.2020.100672","article-title":"Ethnic inclusivity and preventative health research in addressing health inequalities and developing evidence base","volume":"31","author":"Osuafor","year":"2020","journal-title":"E Clin Med"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1002\/casp.2437","article-title":"Stigma towards psychosis: cross-cultural differences in prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination in white British and South Asians","volume":"30","author":"Ahmed","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Community Appl Soc Psychol"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1111\/hex.12464","article-title":"Exploring the relationship between stigma and help-seeking for mental illness in African-descended faith communities in the UK","volume":"20","author":"Mantovani","year":"2017","journal-title":"Health Expect"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-021-03350-8","article-title":"Effectiveness of arts interventions to reduce mental-health-related stigma among youth: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"21","author":"Gaiha","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S115","DOI":"10.1111\/1753-6405.12448","article-title":"Improving health service access and wellbeing of young aboriginal parents in an urban setting: mixed methods evaluation of an arts-based program","volume":"40","author":"Jersky","year":"2016","journal-title":"Aust N Z J Public Health"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1007\/s10903-019-00915-4","article-title":"Are trained medical interpreters worth the cost? A review of the current literature on cost and cost-effectiveness","volume":"22","author":"Brandl","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Immigr Minor Health"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10709","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-023-11578-y","article-title":"The impact of translation apps on translation students\u2019 performance","volume":"28","author":"Alotaibi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Educ Inf Technol"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"647","DOI":"10.1111\/puar.12432","article-title":"Designing and implementing cross-sector collaborations: needed and challenging","volume":"75","author":"Bryson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Public Adm Rev"},{"key":"ref50","volume-title":"Managing to Collaborate: The Theory and Practice of Collaborative Advantage","author":"Huxham","year":"2005"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1398","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.2007.125757","article-title":"Building and maintaining trust in a community-based participatory research partnership","volume":"98","author":"Christopher","year":"2008","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"key":"ref52","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1136\/qshc.2005.016527","article-title":"Experience-based design: from redesigning the system around the patient to co-designing services with the patient","volume":"15","author":"Bate","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual Saf Health Care"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1080\/03003930.2012.676439","article-title":"You\u2019re just treating us as informants!\u2019 Roles, responsibilities and relationships in the production of children\u2019s services directories","volume":"38","author":"Walsh","year":"2012","journal-title":"Local Gov Stud"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1763039\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]],"date-time":"2026-05-11T14:23:00Z","timestamp":1778509380000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1763039\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]]},"references-count":54,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1763039"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1763039","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,11]]},"article-number":"1763039"}}