A special event brought together staff from Hampshire County Council and the University of Winchester to promote the power of strategic partnerships in solving public health issues.
The event celebrated the success of the BRIDGE (Building Relationships, Inspiring Development, Growing Excellence) project.
This joint initiative focuses on building stronger, reciprocal connections between academics and health and wellbeing professionals.
Almost 50 staff from both organisations gathered at the University’s Business School recently to learn about the impact of collaborative working, share examples of good practice, and look towards future alliances.
Lightning talks celebrated the importance and success of key initiatives in joint research, collaborative curriculum development, innovative teaching opportunities and suicide prevention work.
The event showcased four key themes driving the partnership:
Establishing Reciprocal Student and Staff Placements – providing mutual learning and understanding across education and wellbeing settings.
Teaching and Curriculum Support – ensuring the next generation of the workforce is co-developed and fit for the future.
Collaborative Research – co-producing evidence about what really works in practice.
Anchor Institution Support – working together for shared leadership and community benefit.
This win–win model of partnership was praised by attendees as a blueprint for cross-sector collaboration.
Building on this momentum, a series of next steps were agreed, including the creation of shared Steering Groups and Communities of Practice to bring together colleagues from both organisations, fostering ongoing learning, collaboration, and innovation around areas of mutual interest.
At the start of the event the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester, Professor Sarah Greer, welcomed the visitors from Hampshire County Council and cited EM Forster’s famous epigraph ‘Only Connect’.
“There’s something incredibly powerful about connecting as people together - when we connect, we create fantastic ideas and a shared commitment to realising them.”
Dr Rachel Harrison, Senior Lecturer and NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Research Lead, said: “This project is a living example of what’s possible when people are given the time, space and trust to learn about each other’s worlds. Together, we are growing a culture of mutual benefit, rooted in real-world impact.”
Simon Bryant, Director of Public Health for Hampshire commented, “Our partnerships with organisations across Hampshire are key to creating lasting change. By building trust, surfacing shared priorities, and working together in new and innovative ways, we can shape a healthier future for everyone.
"These collaborations help us prepare the future workforce and support local communities by bringing to life evidence-based practice in real-world settings, making sure the wellbeing of Hampshire’s residents is at the centre of everything we do.”
Pictured top at the inaugural meeting of the BRIDGE project are (from left): Dr Rachel Harrison, Senior Lecturer and NIHR Research Lead; Johanna Jefferies, Associate Director of Public Health, HCC; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester Professor Sarah Greer; Simon Bryant, Director of Public Health HCC; and Elizabeth Davies-Ward, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at the University.
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