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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.

Our aim is to promote a strong and visible VCSE sector working collaboratively to deliver excellent services that are aligned to need.

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.

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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.

Learn more about the Alliance Forum

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.

Learn more about Alliance Representation

Alliance Staff

Esther Passingham headshot 26102022

Esther Passingham

VCSE Strategic Lead for Worcestershire

LinkedIn

Branwen

Branwen Bingle

Community Health – Research Training Lead

LinkedIn

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Leigh-Anne Beattie

Communications Lead

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Tammy Jones

Membership and Events Lead

Sarah Wilkinson

Sarah Wilkinson

Community Health – Research Engagement Lead

Alliance Board

Amanda Kilroy

Amanda Kilroy – Alliance Independent Chair

Independent

NameOrganisationNameOrganisation
Amanda KilroyIndependent ChairLee McKenzieSandycroft Centre
Rachel JonesAct on EnergyDeb GranthamYSS (Youth Support Services)
Pete SuggYoung SolutionsChris RobertsCitizen’s Advice (Redditch and Bromsgrove)
Steve BrewsterActive Herefordshire and WorcestershireGary RoskellBARN (Bromsgrove and Redditch Network
Kate HarveyOnsideLucy WellsWorcestershire Community Foundation
Paul RaperSimply Limitless

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.

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