Our impact
Working together for better mental health in South London.
South London Listens is a unique partnership programme using community organising to tackle the root causes of poor mental health.
We bring together the NHS, local authorities, and over 150 community organisations to listen, act, and drive change.
Since 2020, we’ve worked with tens of thousands of people across South London to co-develop solutions that remove social and economic barriers to good mental health — from housing and wages to access to services and youth support.
We’re shifting the system:
From sickness to prevention
From service-led to community-powered
From inequality to equity
Our journey so far
South London Listens began as an urgent response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our first listening campaign reached over 6,000 people and led to the 2021–2023 Action Plan. In 2023, we launched a second phase — ‘Going Deeper’ — hearing from over 4,000 more people and refining our priorities.
We’ve held seven assemblies and summits, trained more than 900 community leaders, and co-developed over 30 pledges with our partners.
What makes us different
We don’t just consult — we listen deeply. Since 2020, over 10,000 people across South London have shared their experiences. Their voices shape our priorities, pledges, and programmes.
We focus on:
Prevention over crisis response
Equity over uniformity
Leadership from the grassroots up
By listening and acting, we bring the NHS Long Term Plan to life across South London.
Who we are
South London Listens is led by a taskforce chaired by:
Ann Beasley CBE, Chair, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
Jane Bailey , Chair, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Rt Rev Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon
We are supported by:
NHS South East and South West London
All three South London mental health trusts
Local authorities across South London
Citizens UK and community leaders
What’s next
We’re continuing to grow the movement — deepening our work on housing, youth mental health, migrant access to care, and fair work. In Autumn 2025, we’ll bring partners together to share progress and agree next steps.
