Our Shared Agreement Foundation 5: Making the most of what we have available to us
Better relationships grow when we see and value what each person and community can contribute, not just what support they require.
Foundation 5 shifts the relationship from one that focuses only on needs and services, to one that recognises people, families, communities, and professionals as active partners with valuable strengths to bring.
This means that together we:
Are honest about what is and isn’t available
Trust is built through transparency. Honest conversations about resources help people and professionals work together more realistically and collaboratively.
Recognise our own strengths and opportunities
Strong relationships are built when everyone’s skills, experiences, and potential are valued, not just professional expertise.
Recognise support starts with the individual, family and community
Health and wellbeing don’t begin with services. They begin with people’s lives, relationships, and local networks.
Actively support communities to best manage their health and wellbeing
By working alongside communities, we build relationships that are more sustainable, empowering, and rooted in everyday life.
Moving forward together
Foundation 5 invites all of us - people, communities, and health and care staff - to:
- recognise and value the strengths around us
- build connections between services and communities
- support each other to live well, not just receive care
Bringing Foundation 5 to life in Lincolnshire: Peter's story
"I was self-employed and doing OK until my mid-40s when a diagnosis of diverticulitis blindsided me. Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the colon and causes cramps, diarrhoea, constipation, and other not-very-nice symptoms!
It’s just an unpredictable and embarrassing condition. And when it really flares up, I get a fever and vomiting, and I've had to go to A&E.
So, my life suddenly got quite small - I started working from home and stopped going out much. And I was becoming increasingly stressed and anxious, which in turn caused flare-ups.
I was now regularly visiting my GP not only for support to manage the diverticulitis but also for help with my stress and anxiety.
Men's Shed - the power of community
At one of my appointments, my GP suggested the local Men’s Shed as something I might try. He’d referred other patients to it and said it had helped them.
I wasn't sure, but I went along - and it's actually really helped. Just getting out, meeting new people, and talking about things has made a real difference.
Managing my stress and anxiety is a big part of keeping my condition under control and the Shed helps me with that, because I’m not worrying about my health when I’m concentrating on something else. It's a positive focus and a pressure valve at the same time.
I’ve only had a couple of mild flare-ups since I joined the Shed, which is incredible really, given how things were before.
It's given me some control back - over both my physical and mental health. I haven't needed to see my GP for a few months now."
What Peter's story shows us
Peter’s story shows how relationships, community, and existing strengths can transform wellbeing.
Living with a long-term condition left Peter isolated and anxious. But through a simple, relationship-based conversation, he was connected to a local Men’s Shed.
That connection:
- Helped rebuild his confidence
- Reduced his stress and isolation
- Improved how he managed his health
For Peter, this wasn’t just about accessing a service. It was about reconnecting with people, purpose, and community.
It shows how strong relationships - between individuals, communities, and health and care staff - can unlock better outcomes in ways traditional approaches often cannot.
