Connecting and Strengthening the VCSE Sector

A health visitor talking to a sick senior woman

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.

Happy grandmother and daughter taking care of plants

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

Alliance Model for Website

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

Esther Passingham headshot 26102022

Esther Passingham

VCSE Strategic Lead for Worcestershire

LinkedIn

Kay Bruton

Kay Bruton

Communications and Engagement Officer

LinkedIn

Sophie Headshot

Sophie Wheeley

VCSE Mental Health Services Programme Manager

LinkedIn

Management Group

Pete Headshot

Pete Sugg – Alliance Chair

Chief Executive Officer
Young Solutions

LinkedIn

Julia Neal Headshot

Julia Neal – Alliance Vice Chair

Chief Executive Officer
Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire

LinkedIn

Kate Harvey Headshot

Kate Harvey

Chief Executive Officer
ONSIDE

LinkedIn

Tonia Headshot

Tonia Enderbury

Chief Executive Officer
Droitwich Spa CVS

LinkedIn

Phase 1 Alliance Members

OrganisationNameLocationService Area
Active Herefordshire and WorcestershireSteve BrewsterCountywidePhysical Activity and Wellbeing
Act on EnergyRachel JonesCountywideInformation and advice. Capital funding for energy efficiency measures
Age UK Herefordshire and WorcestershireJulia NealCountywideOlder People
Bromsgrove and Redditch Network (BARN)Gary RoskellRedditch Borough and Bromsgrove DistrictCommunity and Voluntary Support
CAB South WorcestershireAnnie RobsonMalvern and WychavonInformation and advice
CAB Bromsgrove and RedditchChris RobertsBromsgrove and RedditchInformation and advice
Community FirstJane BamberRural/CountywideCommunity and Voluntary Support
Droitwich Spa CVSTonia EnderburyDroitwich Spa – WychavonCommunity and Voluntary Support
Evesham Volunteer CentreHelen GrayEvesham and the Rural Vale – WychavonCommunity and Voluntary Support
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of CommerceDawn HardmanCountywideBusiness
KEMP HospiceCaroline BeechWyre ForestEnd of Life Care and Bereavement Support
Malvern Community ActionKate WaltonMalvernCommunity and Voluntary Support
South Warwickshire & Worcestershire Mind (SWWMind)Jan DugdaleCountywideMental Health
ONSIDE AdvocacyKate HarveyCountywideAdvocacy and Wellbeing
Pershore Plus Volunteer CentreKaron SwinburnPershore and DistrictCommunity and Voluntary Support
Sandycroft CentreLee McKenzieRedditchMental Health and Wellbeing
Simply LimitlessPaul RaperKidderminster – Wyre ForestHealth and Wellbeing
St Pauls HostelJonathan SuttonWorcester
Homelessness
St Richards HospiceMike WilkersonCountywideEnd of Life Care
Worcester Community TrustJonathan NeweyWorcesterCommunity Development
Worcester Community ActionSally EllisonWorcesterCommunity and Voluntary Support
Worcester Mela / Perryfields AssociationJabba RiazWorcesterCommunity & Children and Young People
Worcestershire Association of CarersKaren EdwardsCountywideCarers and Mental Health
Worcestershire Community FoundationLucy WellsCountywideFunder
Young SolutionsPete SuggCountywideChildren 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.

Worcestershire County Council logo
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust logo
NHS England logo