The South London Listens Citizens
Health Assembly, October 2025
Held at St George’s Cathedral and attended by nearly 1,000 people represented one of the largest demonstrations yet of community mobilisation across the South London Listens movement. The event, developed through strategic partner Citizens UK, brought Be Well hubs, NHS organisations, local authorities and communities together to reaffirm commitments to tackling systemic inequalities, including housing, wages, health access for migrants and mental health support.
The Assembly showcased how community leadership can drive action on the factors that shape health and wellbeing.
As Humaira Saleem, Community Leader and Assembly Co-Chair, reflected: “We have today witnessed the extraordinary power of connection, the strength that emerges when communities stand together as one.”
Among the leaders present was Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon and Taskforce Co-Chair, who captured the heart of the movement, saying:
“This assembly enables people to have agency and be changemakers in their lives, co-creating the solutions that will bring change to the lives of all these people and the communities of South London.”
Senior NHS leaders were also in attendance, listening directly to communities and hearing first-hand about the progress already being made to collectively tackle systemic inequalities. Ann Beasley, Co-Chair of the South London Listens Taskforce and Chair of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, captured the atmosphere and sense of momentum in the room, saying:
“The energy in the room was palpable – as was the appetite to make change.”
Andrew George, Co-Chair of South London Listens and Chair of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, reflected on the importance of the work, saying:
“This work is vital to Oxleas because it places communities at the centre of shaping the services they rely on. By listening and working in genuine partnership, we can better address inequalities and build trust, ensuring care is more responsive, inclusive and rooted in people’s lived experiences.”
