Cohesive Society Introducing Online Booking for Seamless Access to Our Services—Expanding to Leicester, Birmingham, and London in 2026
For several years, Cohesive Society has been committed to delivering responsive, community-centered services that meet the everyday needs of some of the most diverse and disadvantaged groups in Northamptonshire. From benefit advice and housing support to translation services, mentoring, well-being activities, job-skills programmes, arts initiatives, and community development projects, our organisation has grown rapidly because of one simple principle: making support accessible, respectful, and dignified for every person who walks through our doors.
As our presence has expanded across Northampton’s multicultural communities, we have seen a significant surge in demand for our services. While this growth has been a testament to our credibility and the trust we have built, it has also revealed a challenge that many of our service users have encountered firsthand. Since May–June 2025, we have observed that a large number of prospective clients, supporters, and individuals seeking urgent help have been unable to see us simply because our in-person appointments were fully booked in advance. Despite our best efforts to create space, extend support hours, and introduce additional sessions, the footfall and caseload continued to grow at a pace that required a technological solution.
Today, we are pleased to announce a significant step forward in our mission to deliver fair, equitable, and timely access to all: Cohesive Society will soon launch a complete online appointment booking system for our Northampton office. This digital platform will allow individuals to conveniently book sessions with us for any of our services, ensuring clarity, certainty, and a smoother experience for everyone involved.
This development is part of our broader organisational vision to modernise our service delivery, remove barriers to access, and make the process of seeking support as user-friendly and straightforward as possible.
Why We Are Introducing Online Booking
Over the past year, the volume of people approaching Cohesive Society CIC has increased dramatically. Many individuals travel significant distances, often taking time off work, arranging childcare, or walking long distances because they trust us to provide the support they cannot find elsewhere. Yet, too often, they would arrive only to discover that our appointments for the day were already full. This was not just inconvenient; it meant that urgent cases—benefit claims, appeals, health-related form submissions, housing matters, or welfare emergencies—were being delayed.
We recognised that this issue needed a structural solution rather than short-term adjustments.
The upcoming online booking platform will directly address these challenges by enabling:
1. Guaranteed appointment confirmation.
Clients can secure a specific date and time online, eliminating uncertainty and long waiting hours.
2. Wider access for all service users.
Individuals with mobility issues, work commitments, or caregiving responsibilities can book appointments at times that best suit them.
3. Better planning and resource management.
Our advisers, volunteers, and staff can prepare more effectively for each appointment, leading to higher-quality support.
4. Reduced queues, overcrowding, and drop-ins.
This helps maintain a calm, organised environment within our office, ensuring dignity and comfort for all.
5. Greater transparency and fairness.
Everyone has an equal opportunity to book an appointment without relying on chance, walk-ins, or timing constraints.
What Services Will Be Bookable Online?
Almost all primary support services offered by Cohesive Society CIC will be bookable through the new digital system, including:
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Benefit claims and benefit-related advice
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Housing, homelessness, and welfare support
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Translation and form-filling assistance
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Job skills and employment guidance
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Mental health signposting
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Community outreach services
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General advice and advocacy appointments
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Project-specific support sessions (e.g., Walking Club, English classes, visual arts programmes)
The system will be simple, mobile-friendly, and designed for people of all ages and digital abilities. Those who need help navigating the platform can still contact our team by phone, and we will assist them with completing the online booking.
Strengthening Accessibility Through Innovation
Introducing online booking is more than a technological upgrade; it is part of our broader commitment to making community support accessible, inclusive, and future-focused. As a community organisation working at the frontline of poverty, discrimination, language barriers, and socio-economic disadvantage, we understand that accessible systems are essential to building equity.
This platform will allow us to reach:
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Newly arrived migrants and refugees
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Elderly individuals who depend on structured appointment times
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Those working long hours or juggling multiple jobs
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People with disabilities or limited mobility
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Individuals from BAME communities who face language barriers
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Vulnerable residents who rely on scheduled, reliable assistance
By modernising our appointment system, we reaffirm our commitment to removing practical barriers and rebuilding trust in community support services.
Looking Beyond Northampton—New Satellite Clinics Coming in 2026
Our long-term ambition has always been to expand our support beyond Northampton and reach communities across the Midlands and Greater London who urgently need benefit advice and welfare support. After careful assessment and repeated requests from community members living outside Northamptonshire, we are pleased to announce our next phase of growth.
From next year (2026), Cohesive Society CIC aims to open satellite operations in Leicester, Birmingham, and London.
These additional branch clinics will initially operate one day a week, exclusively through pre-booked appointments, and will focus on the most in-demand service:
Benefit Claiming and Benefit Advice
This targeted approach ensures that we deliver expertise where it is needed most. Benefit claims remain one of the most complex, confusing, and anxiety-inducing areas for vulnerable residents. Many individuals do not know how to prepare paperwork, challenge decisions, or speak for themselves during assessments. Our trained advisers will deliver the same high-quality support we offer in Northampton to these major cities, helping more families, individuals, asylum seekers, refugees, and low-income households gain the confidence and tools they need to navigate the benefits system.
Further details—including locations, operating days, and booking availability—will be announced in due course. These clinics are the first step toward a broader vision of regional impact and integrated community support across several cities.
Our Commitment Continues
At the heart of every development at Cohesive Society CIC lies the same mission: to support, uplift, and empower the communities we serve. Introducing online booking and expanding into new cities are natural extensions of the trust people place in us and of our responsibility to respond thoughtfully and strategically to evolving needs.
Every step we take is guided by real stories—people who come to us with challenges, hopes, and aspirations. Whether it is a mother seeking help with Universal Credit, a senior citizen navigating pension queries, a migrant facing language barriers, or a young person seeking job skills, our work reflects the realities of everyday life. Our mission is to stand beside them, offering clarity, compassion, and practical solutions.
Final Thoughts
The launch of the online booking platform and our planned expansion into Leicester, Birmingham, and London represent a new chapter for Cohesive Society CIC. It showcases our evolution from a locally focused initiative to a regional service provider with a growing influence and responsibility.
We invite our community, supporters, partners, and beneficiaries to join us in embracing this new chapter. As always, we remain committed to transparency, accessibility, and excellence in service delivery.
More details will be shared soon. Until then, we thank you for your continued trust, encouragement, and partnership as we work to build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities across the United Kingdom.
If you would like, I can also create:
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A shorter social-media announcement
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A website banner text promoting the online booking launch
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A press-release-style version for stakeholders and funders
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A version formatted directly into Word (docx)
Just let me know, and I will prepare it.
