We cannot put our head in the sand and keep hoping Government spending will increase to reduce the mounting pressures on public services. We must do everything we can for our residents with what we currently have. In Waltham Forest we are taking a new approach based on strengthening and connecting our communities to be the first line of response.

The problems are vast and include an ageing population, an increase in violent crime, and a rise in homelessness. These problems cut across not only different agencies, sectors and organisations, but also across generations, ethnic groups and cultural divides. How do we begin to tackle these issues?