With the confirmation of NHS England funding in late 2022, we were able to roll out a full programme of support with the ambition of seeding new Small Support organisations across England. Over the past three years, we have worked alongside twenty local authorities and a number of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Currently, there are nine new organisations; some are live and supporting people, others have completed CQC registrations and are taking their first referrals. Over the next two years, we are hopeful that we will see a further ten Small Support organisations' ‘go live’.
Building on our foundation partnership with Beyond Limits, C-Change Scotland, and Positive Support for You, we have hosted and supported the establishment of a ’Small Supports Network’, where new organisations and existing Small Support organisations meet, discuss, and provide ongoing peer-to-peer support. All our new Small Support organisations are part of this network and will continue to have access to peer-to-peer support in the long term.
On this page, we share reports documenting the development of new Small Supports in Leeds, the long-term impact on lives and economics (Plymouth), and a report explaining the impact of every £1 sterling invested in a local Small Support organisation. Alongside this are links to a full set of our Lunchtime Sessions and to several other resources.
Evaluation of the innovative Small Supports pilot in Leeds (2022 – 2024)
Deep dive into the Small Supports experience in Plymouth (September 2024)
Small Supports & Local Value: How Investment in Small Supports Positively Impacts the Local Economy (October 2023)
We champion and advocate for Small Support organisations because they work. The reports on this page explain their impact; the voices of people, including family members, are even more important. Over the past year, we have set about documenting the diverse voices of individuals who explain the impact on their lives and those of their family members. Visit our Living Library to hear firsthand what it means to people to have support from a person-centred, local, and small support organisation.
Working with Multi-Disciplinary Teams and Small Supports (5 June 2025)
Fiona Ritchie (NDTi Associate), with Anne Worrall-Davies, Clinical Lead, Learning Disabilities and Autism, Children and Young People, NHS England, and Helen Toker-Lester (NDTi Associate), discussed the opportunity Small Supports present Multi-Disciplinary Teams to deliver a truly person-centred discharge to support that will stick with the person through thick and thin.
Watch the recording here
Human Rights and Small Supports: The foundation of everything we do (22 May 2025)
With Kirsten Peebles and Charli Clement (NDTi and people with living experience) talk about their work in delivering human rights training, the importance of human rights for Small Support organisations and getting it right by each person they support.
Watch the recording here
Reducing Restrictive Practice in the Community – Alexis Quinn with Bill Love (27 February 2025)
With Alexis Quinn from the Restraint Reduction Network. Bill (NDTi) and Alexis talk about restraint reduction and how the person-centred practice of Small Supports organisations and the focus on relationships provide a really strong blueprint for the long-term elimination of restrictive practice.
Watch the recording here
People Speak (6 February 2025)
Instalments from the Living Library with Sam Smith, C-Change Scotland. Listening to what people are saying; a check-in for all of us and the never-ending challenge to challenge, act and support.
Watch the recording here
Building a Bridge: Small Supports (21 November 2024)
This session talked about Small Supports that cross boundaries and services, following young people as they become independent adults.
Watch the recording here
Diving deep into the Ocean City Story (17 October 2024)
This session shared learning from long-term Small Supports activity in Plymouth: case studies, stories and wider impact on cross-city collaboration with Nic Crosby and Mike Richardson (NDTi). This report is authored by Mike Richardson and Dr Victoria Mason-Angelow
*Please note this report features real-life stories detailing instances of substance abuse, sexual abuse and mental health, which some people may find upsetting.
Watch the recording here
Small Supports: Launching The Living Library (4 July 2024)
We hear from Sam Smith, CEO of C-Change Scotland, about stories she has gathered as a first step to bringing a number of stories together about the impact of Small Supports on a person’s life and what that life is now like. Hear what it means to people to have support that is truly centred around the person and what it means to them.
Watch the recording here
What does good look like? (25 April 2024)
Helen Toker-Lester (NDTi and Small Supports team member), talked about the report ‘What does good look like?’ This coproduced report was commissioned from the Building the Right Support (BTRS) Advisory Group, as part of the wider action plan developed by the Building the Right Support Delivery Board. It includes seven key principles that need to be employed to make “good” happen, and has a selection of case studies that demonstrate good practice.
Watch the recording here
Lessons learnt and outcomes shared (14 March 2024 )
Steve Bardsley, from Leeds City Council, and Dave Barras, CEO of Positive Support for You and an NDTi Associate, were interviewed by Fiona Ritchie, also an NDTi Associate. They discussed the work and effort required to establish new support organisations and what this means for people.
Watch the recording here
“A Hole in My Bucket?” – how spending decisions impact wealth and wellbeing of our communities (19 October 2023)
Mike Richardson (NDTi), shared learning from work to investigate the local economic impact of commissioners investing in small bespoke support organisations in their locale.
Watch the recording here
“Never giving up on anyone!” finding & keeping great people working for small supports organisations (21 September 2023)
Helen Bown (NDTi Associate) shared the themes and messages from a review of the “small supports workforce”, looking at what national and organisational data reveals alongside conversations with staff working for three established small supports organisations. This work aimed to identify key factors for attracting and retaining staff who deliver exceptional support for a good quality life. We also examined differences between these approaches and those of traditional social care organisations, sharing findings and exploring major themes revealed.
Watch the recording here
Growing new small bespoke support organisations (29 June 2023)
Dave Barras, Chief Executive of Positive Support for You, and Nic Crosby, Delivery Lead of the Small Supports Programme at NDTi, discussed developing new Small Support organisations. This workshop both introduces the programme of work, and gives you a chance to hear from Dave Barras, who has many years of experience of supporting people in Middlesbrough.
Watch the recording here
For more information, please contact Small Supports here, which includes an invitation to local areas interested in learning more about our ongoing support offer across the UK.
Across the episodes, listeners will hear from leading voices in the development of Small Supports, from the ‘Free Our People’ campaign, human rights, individual planning, and 'What makes good Support!’.
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