February 2025

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Voluntary Sector Network Update

‘Together for healthier communities’

Our plans for 2025

A lot of work has gone into reviewing our strategy and action plan, including a discussion at January’s Integrated Care Board (ICB), and we have now launched our new three year action plan. To make it a little more accessible we have set out plans for the 2025 in shorter version. Both of these are available on our webpage. It may well be that your organisation is helping meet our objectives, if you could take 10 minutes out of your busy day to have a read and share any thoughts with us, that would be appreciated.

Getting voluntary sector voices heard

The discussion at the ICB was an excellent opportunity to increase the profile of VCSE partners in the Integrated Care System. We were delighted that there was widespread support for plans. The level of awareness of the benefits of our work and numerous offers of support was heartening. Furthermore, our application to be a member of the ICB is being very carefully considered. All of which are excellent steps forward in increasing our influence in decision-making.

Inclusive Leadership

The ‘Above Difference’ training programme was one of the many ICB training opportunities that the VCSE are invited to. Our members who attended found this course inspiring and so we had an extended session on this at our January meeting. Many thanks go to Sharon Allen and Miriam Martin for sharing the learning and leading an interesting discussion. There will be more places offered on future programmes and we hope that as many of our members take these up as possible.

If any of us are in any doubt about the effects of racism on children, Miriam shared the link to this video: Doll test – The effects of racism on children (ENG)

Conflicts of Interest

We have been working hard to raise awareness of the voluntary sector across the ICB and other ICS partners. During the course of this work we have discovered that there is some confusion about how to manage conflicts of interest. Specifically with statutory sector employees taking on Trustee roles. The Charity Commission have guidance on this, including a five minute video, which you might find useful.

Please let us know if you would like more in this; our CVSs would be able to develop a short online video aimed at trustees and staff to help them recognise the benefits of professional trustees as well as the things they may need to bear in mind conflict of interest wise.

ICB support offers for VCSE staff and clients

  • WorkWell

WorkWell is a free and dedicated service that can help people struggling to find or keep a job due to physical and/or mental health challenges. This includes people hoping to take up volunteering opportunities. For more information on WorkWell, including how to self-refer, please visit the WorkWell webpage.

There is also a dedicated webpage with information for employers that wish to support their staff with accessing WorkWell support: WorkWell for Employers. People can access the service if they are over 16; live in or are registered with a GP or Job Centre in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough; and are eligible to work in the UK.

  • Staff health and wellbeing hub

The ICB has launched a free health and wellbeing hub for all health and care staff working in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, including Royston. It is open to all voluntary and community organisations to use too and provides signposting to support and offers locally.

To support further development of the hub, please let us know if there are other services available locally not currently listed on the website, and what support you would like to see from the site in future – whether that’s providing materials that people can adapt and use, training offers or educational pieces. Please send any suggestions to Bev Hoskin bev.hoskin1@nhs.net

Shared Care Record

The next Health and Wellbeing Network session will be about the Shared Care Record and how we, in the voluntary sector, might utilise this. Arthur Rank Hospice are also coming along to tell us about their experience of being an early adopter of the system.

The Shared Care Record is a digital record system that joins up information currently held in separate records and databases by health and social care services. It is a big step forward as it will enable clinicians, admin staff and social care professionals to see information about a person’s health and social care record in one place.

The session is on 11th February 11.30am to 12.45pm on Teams. Book your place here.

Data workshop

There are still spaces available for our Data Catalogue workshop on 16th February, on Teams 2-3.30pm. It’ll be a very informative session, so please do try to come along. Contact Debbie to book a place.

Voluntary Sector Meetings 

  • 26 February 2025
  • 2 April 2025
  • 7 May 2025
  • 18 June 2025
  • 30th July 2025
  • 10 September 2025
  • 22 October 2025
  • 3 December 2025
  • 9.30am – 11.30am
  • 1.30pm – 3.30pm
  • 10am
  • 10am
  • 1pm
  • 10am
  • 10am
  • 1pm
  • Online (Teams)
  • Cambourne Church
  • Online (Teams)
  • Thorpe Hall, Peterborough
  • Online (Teams)
  • Huntingdon Library
  • Online (Teams)
  • Ely Library

Spread the word!

We are always keen to welcome new members, so please pass this newsletter onto any groups and organisations who may not yet be Voluntary Sector Network members. Anyone wishing to join should email Debbie Debbie@huntsforum.org.uk.

You can find out more about the Voluntary Sector Network here