GP Services have a particularly powerful role to play in the health of our communities. However, we are acutely aware of the fact we only have the ability to affect certain aspects. Patients’ financial stability, housing, educational and job opportunities, family support networks and other social care arrangements all have important influences in their lives.

We believe that working with Social Enterprises allows us a route into delivering a more holistic and cohesive model of care. Examples include our work with the following three organisations:

• Chapel Street– we are delivering a GP service to the patients of the Cassidy Road Estate in Fulham alongside a Community Development Worker. We have created a “Family Hub” model at the practice. This means we identify and work with vulnerable people within the context of where they spend most of their time, within the family unit itself. We also work with Chapel Street on the provision of an exceptional rounded Primary Care Service, which we feel can serve as the focus for regeneration within a challenged community.  
   
• Turning Point – we are about to start a new service in Westminster to provide a GP Service visiting Homeless Hostels in Westminster, where there are particularly large numbers of patients struggling with substance misuse issues. We are also working towards developing other projects with Turning Point.  
   
• Poplar and Limehouse Community Interest Company (CIC) – our team from Docklands Medical Centre are working with this CIC to provide GP services to the patients of the All Saints Practice on the Robin Hood Gardens estate in Tower Hamlets.  
   
• Foodbank -– Hurley Group has recently signed up to become distributors of Foodbank vouchers. Foodbank is a store where food donated by the community is banked and can be drawn on by people in crisis. It provides free emergency food for three days, which is the period assessed as the minimum time it takes for statutory services to assist.

• Apprenticeships – City Gateway:  In July 2010, the Hurley Group partnered with City Gateway Apprenticeship Scheme. City Gateway is a charity dedicated to bringing hope to the local communities of Tower Hamlets that haven’t benefited from the area’s wider economic development. The Apprenticeships are courses for disengaged 16- 24 year olds, which help prepare them for successful careers. They gain on the job experience while to receiving professional training towards a Level 2 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Customer Service, IT & Business Admin, and Sport as well as a number of other key skills qualifications.
  - Spearhead: We are working with Spearhead who specialise in helping talented young people from different backgrounds find suitable employment. We currently have two successful ‘Spear Graduates’ working with the Hurley Group. In addition to helping with the training programme they provide, we also assist in helping them find work by taking part in mock interview sessions.