Listening to Our Community: Out and About at Sufra NW London

Blog - 15 September 2026

This week, our Healthwatch Brent team were out and about - and first stop was the incredible Community Hub at Sufra NW London Foodbank! We had the huge privilege to see the amazing work of Sufra's volunteers at action and chance to speak directly with local residents about their experiences with health and social care services.

A huge thank you to Zehn and the incredible team at Sufra for hosting us and giving us the opportunity to connect with so many members of our community!

What We Heard

During our conversations, residents shared valuable insights into the daily challenges they face in Brent. Key themes raised included:

  • Rising concerns around homelessness and housing security.
  • A severe lack of affordable NHS dental care, making essential treatment difficult to access.
  • Barriers to claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and navigating benefit systems.
  • Struggles finding employment alongside the ongoing pressure of the cost-of-living crisis

Celebrating Good Practice

Alongside these challenges, we were delighted to hear positive feedback about local GP services—particularly the vital work of social prescribers. One resident shared their inspiring story with us:

"My social prescriber is amazing. I had a leg injury and was forced to take months off my hospitality job. She helped me navigate the NHS, told me about resources and support I could tap into, and listened to me. I am recovering well and look forward to getting back to work soon."

Hearing real stories like this highlights just how impactful holistic, person-centred care can be when people need it most.

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How Your Feedback Drives Change

Every conversation matters. As always, all the feedback gathered will be anonymously collated and shared with key health and social care decision-makers in Brent. By highlighting both the gaps in provision and examples of good practice, we work to inform positive, meaningful change across our borough.

We look forward to returning to Sufra NW London soon to continue hearing resident voices and working alongside their fantastic team.

🗣️ Have Your Say

Your experience can help shape the future of local health services. If you have feedback on GP surgeries, hospitals, dental care, or social care in Brent, we want to hear from you:

Your voice matters! #BeHeardInBrent

We anonymously collate all feedback to help key decision-makers improve services across Brent.

How does sharing your views make a difference? 

You might think your feedback doesn’t have the power to change how health and social care services run. We want to show you how that isn’t the case.

Find out more

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