Nicola Harle – Bringing Communities and Support Together

September 3, 2026

For Nicola Harle, Community Links and Inclusion Co-Ordinator at Target Housing, connecting people with the right support is about making opportunities accessible, welcoming and easier to find.

That approach was at the heart of Target Housing’s recent Community Services Event in Doncaster, organised by Nicola to bring local services together under one roof and help people discover the support available within their community.

Held at South Parade, the event welcomed organisations covering health and wellbeing, employment, carers and families, recovery and other areas of support.

Many organisations took part in the event including Yorkshire Smokefree to provide information about its NHS stop smoking service, while South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service offered home fire-safety advice. The Hepatitis C Trust provided information and testing, and Doncaster Hygiene Bank supplied free hygiene packs which had been put together by Doncaster Cadets.

Employment organisations, carers’ services, recovery support and other community organisations also took part, creating an environment where people could explore different kinds of help in one place.

But Nicola was equally conscious of the importance of making the event feel approachable.

Alongside information and advice, visitors could access free haircuts, nail treatments and face painting, as well as a tombola and clothing bank. These activities helped create a more relaxed environment where people could come through the door, enjoy themselves and make connections with services at their own pace.

It is an approach that reflects the importance of community inclusion within Target Housing’s work.

Support does not always begin with a formal appointment. Sometimes it starts with a conversation, a familiar face or simply knowing that somebody understands what might make taking that first step easier.

One example was former Target Housing service user Donna Jeavon, who Nicola invited to provide free face painting at the event.

Donna can find social situations difficult and said that knowing Nicola would be present reassured her and made it easier to attend and become involved.

For Nicola, creating those opportunities for people to participate – not only as recipients of support but as active members of their community – is an important part of inclusion.

The event also demonstrated the value of partnership working. Bringing organisations together meant visitors could discover support they may not previously have known existed, while services themselves had the opportunity to strengthen local connections. The event material identifies this accessibility and connection as one of the central benefits of bringing services together.

The turnout demonstrated how valuable that approach can be.

Through Nicola’s work, community links become more than connections between organisations. They create practical opportunities for people to feel included, build confidence, access support and become more involved in the communities around them.

And sometimes, as Donna’s experience shows, they create an opportunity for somebody who was once supported by Target Housing to come back and support others.