Caring Communities: From Grassroots to System Change

Background: Healthcare systems across Europe are under increasing pressure due to aging populations, workforce shortages, and rising costs. At the same time, citizen-led initiatives—known as caring communities—are emerging as powerful responses to these challenges. Rooted in local relationships, these communities offer proximity, resilience, and solidarity, often filling gaps that formal care structures cannot reach. They are not just a supplement to professional care, but a movement that redefines how we care for one another.

This workshop builds on the tool 'Caring Communities; support without steering', and the publication 'In the Heart of the Community, which together offer practical and reflective insights for professionals and organizations seeking to collaborate with these initiatives. This session invites participants to explore how they can engage with caring communities in a way that is respectful, sustainable, and transformative.

Audience:The workshop is intended for professionals, policymakers, and organizational leaders in health and social care who are interested in community-based collaboration. Participants should be open to rethinking traditional roles and eager to explore new ways of working that center on trust, equality, and shared purpose.

Approach: This 90-minute session is highly interactive and structured around five key building blocks:

- We See You: recognizing and valuing what already exists in the community.

- Build the Bridge: establishing trust and equal partnerships.

- Keep Going: embedding collaboration in organizational structures.

- Together for the Best Result: identifying shared outcomes and learning from the process.

- Grow the Movement: inspiring others and scaling what works.

The workshop begins with a short introduction by Lian Stouthard (15 minutes) to the theory and context of caring communities. Participants then work in small groups (60 minutes) using worksheets and reflective prompts to assess their current practices, identify opportunities, and formulate concrete actions. The facilitators (Lian Stouthard, Marloes Berkelaar & Sander Merkus) guide the process with examples, questions, and support, ensuring a safe and open space for learning. This workshop has with a strong emphasis on co-learning and peer exchange.

The final 15 minutes are led by Marloes Berkelaar and are dedicated to plenary sharing and dialogue, where groups present key insights and discuss challenges and next steps.

Outcomes: Participants will:

- Gain insight into the logic and strength of caring communities.

- Learn how to connect with communities without taking over.

- Reflect on their own organizational practices and identify areas for change.

- Develop concrete ideas for sustainable collaboration.

- Be inspired to strengthen the movement within their own context and organization.