There are times when asset based thinking can help significantly to prevent situations that may affect individuals and communities negatively. How you engage, who you engage with and how that engagement can lead to sustainable and long term relations is critical to get asset based models that deliver successfully. On occasions people would be able to engage in very specific areas of work, part time or for a very limited time; often life changes and if the engagement was based only on very few people, it may lead to abandonment of the project, activity or support service.

Ageing Better Middlesbrough were committed to prevent loneliness and isolation of the most vulnerable in their community. Soon they realised that the initial but also the long-term engagement were very important to have the right people, building trust with communities but also with the volunteers working in the project. For communities supporting each other was also important to transmit that they were not the government, and the engagement can lead to better outcomes for all. The Leicestershire Communities Approach, advocates that, ''we don't have always'' all the answers and those solutions can be found ''outside in the community''. This may entail to have a relationship with the local council where support to achieve greater levels of engagement may be offered or specific information given to communities so they can decide what outcomes they want.

Asset based Thinking and doing as a Community Connector is an example of how working in partnership has made a difference to the community, focusing in collaboration as a way to get outcomes and generate trust.