Worcestershire VCSE Alliance
VCSE organisations play a critical role within local health and care systems both as service providers, in engaging communities and giving people a voice.
The Alliance supports Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to become partners within the Integrated Care System (ICS). By working together we aim to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Worcestershire and reduce inequalities.
Learn about the Alliance
Forming an Alliance
VCSE organisations, with around 3000 in Worcestershire, play a critical role within local health and care systems as service providers, engaging communities, and giving people a voice, their strong links into communities ensuring they have a crucial role in keeping people connected and healthy.
The Alliance was set up in July 2022 to support Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to become partners within the Integrated Care System (ICS) to help the improve health and wellbeing of people in Worcestershire and reduce inequalities.
Worcestershire County Council agreed to fund a VCSE Strategic Lead to establish and develop a Worcestershire Alliance. Further funding from Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, NHS England and National Institute for Health and Care Research have enabled the Alliance to develop key areas of work.
From July 2022 until April 2024, the Alliance consisted of Founder Members from across the county whose organisations support health and wellbeing in communities. Thanks to the commitment and vision of these Founder Members in developing the groundwork for an Alliance, we are now able to widen engagement and extend membership of the Alliance Forum.
Vision
Working together to help make Worcestershire a better and healthier place to live and work
Worcestershire VCSE Alliance – its key parts
Alliance Forum
The Alliance Forum is a membership of VCSE organisations that are committed to working together to help make Worcestershire a better and healthier place to live and work.
The aim of the Alliance Forum is to create a unified and stronger voice for the VCSE sector, working more effectively with public sector partners.
Alliance Board
The Alliance Board is currently made up of 11 VCSE leaders from the original Alliance Founder Members.
The Alliance Independent Chair leads the board’s strategic work to build effective partnership working with the public sector partners and within the Integrated Care System (ICS).
Learn more about the Alliance Board (to follow)
Alliance Representatives
The Alliance facilitates VCSE sector representation across a range of boards and committees, where Representatives aim to influence decisions about services and support for local people and their communities.
Representatives bring skills and experience in the relevant area of the subject meeting they are appointed to, as well as a personal commitment to contribute as part of a collaborative approach to the future needs of Worcestershire.
Alliance Board
| Name | Organisation | Name | Organisation |
| Pete Sugg | Young Solutions | Lee McKenzie | Sandycroft Centre |
| Rachel Jones | Act on Energy | Paul Raper | Simply Limitless |
| Clare Thomas | Age UK Wyvern | Chris Roberts | Citizen’s Advice (Redditch and Bromsgrove) |
| Steve Brewster | Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire | Gary Roskell | BARN (Bromsgrove and Redditch Network |
| Kate Harvey | Onside | ||
Growing the Alliance
The Alliance will be established in 3 phases
Phase 1:
Founding Phase – July 2022 to late 2023
Led by 25 co-opted VCSE leaders and a management group
Key objectives :
To establish governance and priorities
To embed principal ways of working
To identify initial VCSE workstreams
To design and launch ‘Understanding and Strengthening the Worcestershire VCSE’ research
To carry out a review of developments so far, and implement any recommendations in Phase 2
Phase 2:
Development Phase – Late 2023 to early 2024
Led by 25 co-opted VCSE leaders and a management group
Key objectives :
To embed the learning and implement recommendations from the review of the work to date
To design and implement a wider VCSE engagement structure, including membership and a range of countywide events
To continue Understanding and Strengthening the Worcestershire VCSE project to inform a VCSE strategy with delivery plans will be designed based on the findings
Phase 3:
Implementing the VCSE Strategy – Summer 2024 onwards
Led by Independent Chair and Alliance Board
The Alliance will work with the VCSE sector and partners to implement the strategy through a range of delivery plans.
Funders List
Funding for the establishment and coordination of the Alliance has been provided by Worcestershire County Council and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, and NHS England.
Other workstreams receive funding from different bodies, depending on their service area.
