Understanding and Strengthening the VCSE in Worcestershire
Contribute to vital research to understand and strengthen the VCSE Sector in Worcestershire to help achieve our vision of a stronger VCSE Sector working together effectively to deliver excellent services aligned to need.
Understanding and Strengthening the VCSE in Worcestershire project builds on existing information in order to produce a more in-depth picture and an analysis of the current state of the VCSE sector. This is overlayed on to the needs of residents as represented by IMD, JSNA and other relevant data, and will consider what action is needed to strengthen the Sector as a whole. The steering group will then assess what the implications are in relation to gaps in services and whether partners need to take further to address gaps. See below for further Research and Evaluation Key Outcomes.
Findings
The initial details and findings of the Understanding and Strengthening the VCSE research project are presented across six reports. The first report, Sector Overview was shared with our VCSE colleagues at the Worcestershire VCSE Alliance Forum in May and the feedback that we received was hugely valuable.
This is now going to be turned into a Strengthening the Sector action plan with support and guidance from our Steering Group, made up of a number of partners such as Public Health, University of Worcester and the VCSE. We will be bringing this back to the Sector on a regular basis for feedback, thoughts and ideas.
Alongside the Sector Overview report, this presentation was shown at the Forum. Looking at the journey so far for Understanding and Strengthening the Sector through to summary findings.
- Project Overview – details of the research methodology and response sample, along with a summary of headline findings
- Sector Overview – provides details of the focus, scale, workforce and funding sources of VCSE organisations in Worcestershire
- Strengths and Opportunities for VCSE Organisations in Worcestershire – an overview of what VCSE organisations in Worcestershire identify to be their
strengths and opportunities. - Beneficiary Trends and gaps in the provision of services for communities – this report provides intelligence from VCSE organisations in Worcestershire on witnessed trends in the needs of beneficiaries they support and gaps in services.
- Challenges and Support Needs of VCSE Organisations in Worcestershire – outlining the challenges reported by VCSE organisations in Worcestershire, alongside a review of key factors that respondents identify as having the potential to increase the positive impact and sustainability of their organisations.
- Relationships between VCSE and Public Sector Organisations in Worcestershire – this report provides the VCSE sector’s view on priorities to strengthen relationships with public sector organisations for the mutual benefit of organisations and communities.
Background
| Research Phases | Phase One: Intelligence gathering and scoping. Collate existing VCSE information into one system to be used for the development of phase two | Started 1st June 2023 |
| Phase Two: Carry out further research on specific VCSE areas identified from phase one. Develop evidence-based action plans, | Started June 2024 | |
| Phase Three: Carry out interviews and focus groups to create a comprehensive analysis of the VCSE sector’s current landscape in Worcestershire. | Starting late 2024 | |
| Multi Agency Steering Group | Worcestershire County Council Strengthening Communities, Public Health, Health and Care Trust, ICB, University of Worcester, VCSE Partners | |
| Implementation of Phase One | Development of tender and appointment of consultants: Tiller Associates | April 2023 |
This first phase is focussed on collating information on VCSE organisations throughout Worcestershire, identifying geographic reach and the range of work being undertaken.
Preliminary results of this intelligence gathering were presented at the VCSE Assembly in October 2023. This included an infographic (below) showing VCSE organisations registered and operating in Worcestershire, indicating how long they have been established, their size, and their focus of work.
Download Phase 1 report here :
Download Phase 2 update here:
| Research and Evaluation Key Outcomes |
| Increase and evidence knowledge of the VCSE Sector by district and service area |
| Create a “map” of VCSE Sector services and overlay these services on to JSNA, IMD and other relevant data to identify gaps and duplication |
| Improve the knowledge around gaps in services exist and the potential impact this has on residents, and where this leads to an increased demand on public services |
| Enhance information sharing with ICS partners to assist in service design and alignment to need |
| Capture and provide information to enable the VCSE Sector to plan more effectively, build collaborative working and be better prepared to manage oncoming challenges |
| Through self-assessment methods, collate knowledge relating to capacity and skills of the VCSE Sector workforce |
| Where possible identify gaps in workforce and skills, and develop training/development in partnership with the ICS Academy |
| Develop methods to demonstrate VCSE social impact to feed in to “the system” and aide partnership development |
| Provide data/evidence of priority areas to funders/commissioners with a clearer rationale of need to secure further investment |
| Shape and strengthen the VCSE Alliance strategic plan and delivery plans |
| Inform new innovative VCSE community powered health and wellbeing projects |