Worcestershire VCSE Alliance
The Alliance mission is to build a stronger VCSE sector working together effectively to deliver excellent services aligned to need.
We work alongside statutory agencies using our influence and insights to bridge the gap that exists between voluntary and public sectors, helping to improve public services to better meet the needs of our local population.
In its current phase, the Alliance is made up of 25 voluntary and community sector leaders. This phase is being used to establish governance and priorities, embed principal ways of working and identify initial VCSE workstreams.
The 2nd phase will begin in July 2023. Progress to date will be reviewed, a new wider engagement structure will be introduced and a VCSE strategy and delivery plan will be designed.
Learn about the Alliance
How did we get here?
With around 2700 organisations, the VCSE sector, with its strong links into communities, has a crucial role to play in keeping people connected and healthy.
The launch of the NHS Integrated Care System (ICS) in July 2022 saw strategic guidance to work with their VCSE sector in the form of an alliance.
Worcestershire County Council agreed to fund a VCSE Strategic Lead to establish and develop a Worcestershire Alliance.
Further funding from the Health and Care Trust and NHSE have enabled the Alliance to develop key areas of work.
Vision
Working together to help make Worcestershire a better and healthier place to live and work
Aim
A stronger VCSE Sector working together effectively to deliver excellent services aligned to need
VCSE Alliance Model
District Collaboratives
Each area has a collaborative which includes representatives from:
- Primary Care Networks (PCNS)
- VCSE
- County and District Councils
- Others
Alliance members will provide representation on:
- Integrated Care Partnership
- Health & Wellbeing Board
- Worcestershire Executive Committee
- And over 15 other related forums
Alliance members provide:
- Perspective
- Representation
- Voice & advocacy
- Intelligence
- Dissemination
- Brokerage
Learn more about how the Alliance shares information, experience and intelligence to influence change.
Alliance Staff
Management Group
Julia Neal – Alliance Vice Chair
Chief Executive Officer
Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire
Phase 1 Alliance Members
| Organisation | Name | Location | Service Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire | Steve Brewster | Countywide | Physical Activity and Wellbeing |
| Act on Energy | Rachel Jones | Countywide | Information and advice. Capital funding for energy efficiency measures |
| Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire | Julia Neal | Countywide | Older People |
| Bromsgrove and Redditch Network (BARN) | Gary Roskell | Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District | Community and Voluntary Support |
| CAB South Worcestershire | Annie Robson | Malvern and Wychavon | Information and advice |
| CAB Bromsgrove and Redditch | Chris Roberts | Bromsgrove and Redditch | Information and advice |
| Community First | Jane Bamber | Rural/Countywide | Community and Voluntary Support |
| Droitwich Spa CVS | Tonia Enderbury | Droitwich Spa – Wychavon | Community and Voluntary Support |
| Evesham Volunteer Centre | Helen Gray | Evesham and the Rural Vale – Wychavon | Community and Voluntary Support |
| Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce | Dawn Hardman | Countywide | Business |
| KEMP Hospice | Caroline Beech | Wyre Forest | End of Life Care and Bereavement Support |
| Malvern Community Action | Kate Walton | Malvern | Community and Voluntary Support |
| South Warwickshire & Worcestershire Mind (SWWMind) | Jan Dugdale | Countywide | Mental Health |
| ONSIDE Advocacy | Kate Harvey | Countywide | Advocacy and Wellbeing |
| Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre | Karon Swinburn | Pershore and District | Community and Voluntary Support |
| Sandycroft Centre | Lee McKenzie | Redditch | Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| Simply Limitless | Paul Raper | Kidderminster – Wyre Forest | Health and Wellbeing |
| St Pauls Hostel | Jonathan Sutton | Worcester | Homelessness |
| St Richards Hospice | Mike Wilkerson | Countywide | End of Life Care |
| Worcester Community Trust | Jonathan Newey | Worcester | Community Development |
| Worcester Community Action | Sally Ellison | Worcester | Community and Voluntary Support |
| Worcester Mela / Perryfields Association | Jabba Riaz | Worcester | Community & Children and Young People |
| Worcestershire Association of Carers | Karen Edwards | Countywide | Carers and Mental Health |
| Worcestershire Community Foundation | Lucy Wells | Countywide | Funder |
| Young Solutions | Pete Sugg | Countywide | Children and Young People |
Growing the Alliance
The Alliance will be established in 3 phases
Phase 1:
Founding Phase
Led by 25 co-opted VCSE organisations and a management group.
This period will :
- Establish governance and priorities
- Embed principal ways of working
- Identify initial VCSE workstreams
- Design and launch ‘Understanding and Strengthening the Worcestershire VCSE’ research
- Carry out a review of developments so far, and implement any recommendations in Phase 2
Phase 2:
Development Phase
July 2023 to July 2024
From July 2023 onward we will be embedding the learning and implementing recommendations from the review of the work to date
A wider VCSE engagement structure will be launched, including membership and a range of countywide events
Understanding and Strengthening the Worcestershire VCSE’ project will continue and a VCSE strategy with delivery plans will be designed based on the findings
Phase 3:
Implementing the VCSE Strategy
July 2024 to July 2025
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.
