Looking Back on a Year of Community, Connection and Impact
On 22 October 2026, service users, partners, volunteers, staff and trustees gathered at The Old Rectory in Handsworth for Darnall Well Being’s Annual General Meeting 2025–26. The event was a chance to celebrate what we have achieved together over the past year, recognise the people who make our work possible, and share our ambitions for the future. With 50 people attending and many more sending their apologies and support, the AGM reflected the strength of the community that surrounds and champions our work. A huge thank you to the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness for sponsoring the event!
Making a Difference Together
The AGM showcased the impact we have had across local communities during the past year. Despite continuing challenges across the funding landscape, our team, volunteers and partners have worked together to ensure people can access the support they need to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.
During the year:
- 907 people received direct support, with a further 709 people benefiting from lighter-touch help and guidance.
- We delivered 400 group sessions, welcoming 3,538 attendances, a 32% increase on the previous year.
- We received 709 social prescribing referrals, with 88% of participants achieving the goals that mattered most to them.
- Demand for dementia services continued to grow, with 135 people attending our dementia support groups.
Behind every number is a person, family or community whose wellbeing has been strengthened. Attendees heard how our work continues to help people build confidence, reduce isolation, improve their health and develop meaningful social connections.
Volunteers and Partnerships
A key theme throughout the AGM was the importance of community involvement. Our 35 active volunteers contributed an incredible 1,682 hours during the year, helping to deliver activities, support local people and strengthen community connections. Volunteers also completed 122 hours of training, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to learning and development.
The AGM also highlighted the breadth of our work beyond frontline services. During the year, we supported 225 requests and projects, worked closely with local partners and continued to play an active role in strengthening community infrastructure across Sheffield.
Facing Challenges, Building for the Future
Members received an overview of the organisation’s finances and heard about the steps being taken to secure Darnall Well Being’s long-term sustainability. While we continue to face the financial challenges shared by many organisations across the sector, our Board and Senior Leadership Team remain focused on rebuilding reserves, diversifying income and developing new partnerships to ensure essential community services can continue to thrive.
Trustees and senior leaders reflected on increasing demand for support and the growing importance of trusted, community-based organisations in helping people live healthier, more connected lives.
Celebrating People and Contribution
The AGM provided an opportunity to thank the many people who contribute to Darnall Well Being’s success. Appreciation was expressed to staff, volunteers, trustees, partners, funders and local residents whose support enables the organisation to make a difference every day.
Members also acknowledged changes to the Board, thanking former trustees Janet Harris, Mark Gamsu and Donal Farrell for their valued contributions. The organisation also welcomed new trustee Jo Reynolds and saw Lucie Hutchings re-elected to continue her role on the Board.
Research Showcase
Following the AGM, attendees took part in a lively Research Showcase, led by Dr Aunam Quyoum, our embedded researcher from the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness. Together, we explored Darnall Well Being’s growing involvement in community research and co-production. Presentations from Waqas Hameed, Zoyah Kanwal and Dr Mira Lieberman highlighted our collaborative work with universities, Sheffield City Council and other partners, demonstrating how local voices, lived experience and research evidence can help shape healthier communities and better services.
We also launched our package of research options, to let everyone know how we can support future community research projects.
Final Reflections
Our AGM ended with final reflections from Dr Katie Shearn from the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, in which she highlighted the importance of creating genuine partnerships between universities and communities. She spoke about the need to move away from traditional research approaches where universities lead and communities simply participate, towards models where local people help shape priorities, influence decisions and share power. Katie praised Darnall Well Being’s community-led approach to research, describing it as an example of how lived experience, local knowledge and participation can strengthen both research and communities. She also emphasised the growing national focus on neighbourhoods and place-based working, and outlined her commitment to ensuring that community voices are at the heart of research, policy and investment decisions. She concluded by recognising the value of Darnall Well Being’s work and expressing her enthusiasm for continuing to build opportunities that enable local people to contribute, learn and thrive through research.
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
