People and property, an empowering partnership

FTSE 250 company, Assura plc, a specialist property company which develops, invests and manages over 600 primary care buildings across the UK, has announced a new partnership with the Bromley by Bow Centre.

As part of the partnership, Assura has invested in one of the buildings at the Bromley by Bow Centre site, which will continue to house the Bromley by Bow GP Practice. In addition, the partnership will see Assura support and strengthen the ongoing work of our charity whilst we continue to meet the most pressing needs of a community experiencing high levels of deprivation.

Law firm Stephenson Harwood, provided pro bono advice to The Bromley by Bow Centre in relation to the realisation of the partnership. The firm has a long-standing relationship with our charity, including providing financial support and a suite of pro bono legal advice, covering employment, commercial and outsourcing, and finance.

Karen Nolan, Social Impact Lead for Assura explains, “Assura are really focused on increasing the positive social impact created through our partnerships and developments. I have been familiar with the excellent, community-focused work of the Bromley by Bow Centre for many years and I am excited to see how we can support and learn from each other over the coming years.

“This collaboration of people and property, private and voluntary sector, will allow the integrated work of the Centre to be shared even further, providing best practice to other healthcare teams across a UK wide portfolio”

“Assura’s investment enables us to maintain our core focus; maintaining a thriving charity at the heart of its community, delivering quality local services”

Elly De Decker, Chief Executive for The Bromley by Bow Centre comments, “The Bromley by Bow Centre has long understood the link between health and social issues and offers a tangible solution by bringing together healthcare and social support into a holistic, integrated approach.

“The partnership with Assura is an ideal fit for both organisations. Assura develops and manages high quality, sustainable medical centres that provide crucial infrastructure for the local health economy. Their investment enables us to maintain our core focus; maintaining a thriving charity at the heart of its community, delivering quality local services.

“At the same time, this new partnership underpins our ambitious plans for the future to further build on our world-renowned, radical, sustainable approach to community health that addresses the impact of poverty and social factors driving ill-health in the most challenged neighbourhoods.

As a charity it’s sometimes difficult to access the professional support required to be able to realise the type of partnership we now have with Assura. We are very grateful to our long-standing pro-bono partners Stephenson Harwood for their invaluable support throughout the process.

For further information elly.deDecker@bbbc.org.uk