Posted on: 12 June 2025
One Community has been shortlisted for the prestigious Mental Health Safety Improvement Award at the 2025 HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
Founded by Cate Latto and co-produced with service users, One Community (OC) is a grassroots initiative that supports mental health recovery through creativity, community, and connection. It began at St Charles Mental Health Centre in North Kensington and reaches across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Brent - one of London’s most deprived boroughs.
Cate Latto, said:
“It feels amazing to be shortlisted, I’m so proud and happy for all of us who make up One Community, and have supported and shown up for one another through good days, tough days and all days in between. Our vision and determination to stay connected and grow naturally despite obstacles, we learn and grow together and One Community is way ahead of its time, always has been and continues to be.”
What sets OC apart is its service-user-led ethos, with no referrals or eligibility criteria. Instead, people are welcomed into a vibrant network offering opportunities and spaces to connect that include art, music, gardening, creative writing, and peer-led forums on issues like domestic abuse, suicide and self-harm prevention. Projects such as the ‘Well Written’ theatre showcase and the Bay20 music studio further demonstrate how creative co-production can foster self-expression and resilience.
Sessions take place in accessible, non-clinical community venues like the Bay20 Community Centre and the OC allotment, helping to break down stigma and build bridges between hospital and community life where people are chosing and creating what is meaningful to them.
Many members continue attending sessions long after discharge, often returning as volunteers or peer mentors. Former patients now help shape initiatives like MHCAS (Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service) and the ‘Beautiful People’ workshops, which began on a psychiatric intensive care unit.
One Community is part of a vibrant new Citizen Science programme, spearheaded by Natural England where the voices and ethos are helping to shape resources and access to nature, creating more opportunities to grow the One Community Shannon Ward sensory garden.
Patient feedback has been at the heart of One Community’s development and ongoing impact. Participants frequently describe OC as a “lifeline” and a “safe place”. Descriptions such as “a therapeutic release” and “a beautiful environment where I can feel safe” reflect how deeply the initiative resonates with individuals who often feel isolated or vulnerable during and after inpatient care.
Former patients often continue to engage with OC long after discharge, using it as a means to stay well, and engaged in meaningful activity. This continuity plays a key role in reducing readmission risks and strengthening recovery. Patients report feeling more confident, inspired, and better able to manage their mental health thanks to the consistent support and relationships formed within the OC network.
Staff also frequently share their own positive experiences. Many have commented on how participation in OC activities enhances their relationships with patients, allowing for more natural, empathetic interactions. Feedback includes observations of mood improvements and stronger engagement in clinical sessions.
The initiative is supported by the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation and CNWL NHS Health Charity, with growing partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, the voluntary sector, and academic institutions like the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at University of London and the Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research in Action (CAMHRA).
OC was featured in CAMHRA's submission of evidence to the Parliamentary inquiry on community mental health services, as a case study of 'good practice'. OC is also currently hosting an anthropological research project exploring staff experience of transformation in CNWL.