The Voluntary Sector Network meeting notes – January 15 2025

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January 15th March Library- Chaired by Sandie Smith

The meeting was well attended and a general round of introductions was done as there were some new faces around the table.

Sandie went through the action log which had all been completed all bar action 114 on awareness of the Outcome Framework which is hand.

Programme Director Update

The Assura/ICB grant is now out for expressions of interest and there has been a lot of interest. EOI need to be in by 26th January.

A couple of attendees have had problems contacting their respective Integrated Neighbourhood Managers and were worried that they would not get a response before the closing date.

ACTION Andrea agreed to feed this back to the team.

New Reps- Three new reps have been appointed. Fiona (Craft4 smiles) Emma (Steelbone) and Faustina (Chinese Community group). They will be supported by the current reps on committees.

Shared Care Record- This was raised by a Strategic Group (previously steering group) member so Sandie has spoken with the ICB Programme Lead. There seems to be a fair bit of interest from VSN members so it was thought it could be a topic for the Health and Wellbeing Network.

ACTION- Sandie to share details with Debbie- Debbie to arrange a H&W session for 11th February.

Strategy Action Plan- Sandie and Andrea have been “road showing” the action plan at various meetings across the ICB. The ICB board meeting last Friday was the last and it was received well.

Andrea is now trying to secure funding going forward and is looking for 3 year funding to enable the VSN to have more stability. The ICB funding process is slow but it is hoped that the VSN would know the outcome Mid March.

Sharon thanked Andrea for her support on this.

A discussion took place as to how to cascade the enthusiasm to operational level. It was agreed that progress on the Action Plan would be overseen by the Strategy Group and reported to VSN meetings twice-yearly.

ACTION Sandie to highlight the Action Plan in the VSN news bulletin and ask members to feedback any actions that they are contributing to.

Seat on Integrated Care Board- Sandie has previously written to the ICB and requested a seat for the Voluntary Sector. In theory this has been approved. There is an invite to attend the public meetings and the Strategic Group will ensure someone from there will attend the next public meeting.

Above Difference-Sharon and Miriam

Sharon and Miriam gave an excellent presentation which summarized the Above Difference training that they completed. Slides were included with the agenda pack but if they are wanted separately contact Debbie.

This subject gave lots of discussion and the group were able to discus idea of how this can be progressed and learning embedded.

This maybe revisited again at a future VSN meeting.

Miriam mentioned a video. The link was shared post meeting.

Doll test – The effects of racism on children (ENG)

ICB Update

Andrea reminded the meeting that the WorkWell programme was up and running for each area- this is funded by DWP and its aim is to enable people back into work or help them remain in work.

ACTION to reshare link and details WorkWell webpage

Anglia Ruskin are doing some work around Volunteering. There are three bits to this. Volunteering, Research into health benefits from volunteering, and how best to support employers.

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

 

Support Cambridgeshire Annual Report 2024

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It’s that time of the year again that the Support Cambridgeshire partners, CCVS and Hunts Forum, publish their annual report for the period of November 2023 – Dec 2024, reflecting back on the work the two organisations have accomplished in the past year.  To read the report please Click HERE or the image.

Voluntary Sector Network meeting notes – 11 December 2024

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December 11th Hartford Village Hall

The ICS Outcomes Framework

Matthew Smith from Integrated Care Board gave a presentation on the Outcomes Framework.

A discussion took place after the presentation. Matthew explained that the data information is open to the public on Cambridgeshire Insights and there is a video being produced that will explain the framework.

A question was asked info from Voluntary Sector data would be included because at present organisations are unsure where their feedback on monitoring forms is collected or if it is used.

The aim is to include as much data as possible so hopefully this will include VCSE data where appropriate.

It was felt that this could be a useful resource for all but people need to know more about it.

ACTION to share presentation with whole VSN.

ACTION Highlight the outcomes framework with VSN members and that this should be referenced in ICB grants and contracts.

ACTION to run some familiarisation sessions with VSN members on the framework and share all explanatory resources as they are developed.

Karen Nolan- Head of social impact for Assura

Karen gave an overview of Assura and explained that they like to look at the bigger picture when framing their strategy. This includes Healthy Environment, Healthy Community and Healthy Business.

Karen talked about Assura’s Community Fund. She explained that £500k a year has been put into the fund and that 95% is allocated as small grants to grassroot organisations.

As the VSN are aware we had already received monies from a first round of grants topped up by the ICB and have been able to enable several organisations to run very local based activities where there has been a need.

Assura projects

Three of the previously successful Assura grant recipients gave presentations on their work and what the grants had helped them do.

Safe Soulmates

Sew Positive

Cornerstone Cares

Sandie thanked them for giving us the time and showing what can be achieved.

ACTION to share the presentations

 Updates– Sandie Smith and Andrea Grobois

The Assura/ ICB round 2 grants will be open for expressions of interest before Christmas. This will be sent out via Debbie.

Applications have been received for the vacant rep roles and there will be news on this shortly.

The reviewed strategy and action plan are being considered by the ICB Commissioning, Investment, Reform Committee later this week. Thanks to Miriam for presenting this on our behalf. Ahead of this very positive feedback has been received from the ICB Exec Team. We are on track to launch at our January meeting.

Andrea highlighted that the WorkWell programme is now open.

The WorkWell hubs, are now open to referrals across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and Royston, offering free and dedicated support to people who are struggling to find or keep a job due to physical and/or mental health challenges.

People can apply for support themselves or can be supported by someone with their referral, by completing a short form online or over the phone. More details are available on WorkWell website: WorkWell

Don’t forget – 2025 State of the Sector Survey: Share Your Insights! 

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As we approach the end of 2024, it’s time once again for us to hear directly from the voluntary and community sector about the challenges and opportunities you face. From 26 November 2024 to 17 February 2025, we invite charities, not-for-profits, and community groups across Cambridgeshire to participate in this vital survey. 

This year feels calmer compared to the upheavals of recent times. Yet, beneath this relative quiet, our communities continue to grapple with complex issues—and the voluntary sector plays a crucial role in meeting these needs. 

The 2024 State of the Sector report “We get back up again” painted a challenging picture: a drop in volunteer numbers, growing demands for services, and stretched waiting lists. This evidence helped Support Cambridgeshire advocate for the invaluable contribution of charities and community groups in a landscape of tightening budgets and cuts to public services. 

Now, we need your voice again. How has your organisation fared this year? 

  • Are you still finding it difficult to recruit volunteers? 
  • Has funding improved or worsened? 
  • Are you feeling more optimistic about the future of your group? 

This survey is your opportunity to share your experiences and make sure your voice is heard. The survey is circulated with statutory officers, councillors and funders across the county.The insights you provide will help us build a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities across the sector, enabling us to advocate effectively on your behalf. 

By completing the survey, you’ll: 

  1. Contribute to a county-wide understanding of the voluntary and community sector. 
  2. Help shape strategies and policies that support your work. 
  3. Highlight emerging trends or challenges that require attention in 2025. 

It only takes a short time to complete, but the impact of your input will resonate throughout the year. All organisations that fill out the survey will be entered into a prize draw for £100 for that organisation. The closing date for the survey is 17th February 2025, and the prize draw will follow this. 

If you would like help completing the survey over the phone, or if you would prefer a paper copy of the survey, please call CCVS: 07935 649805. 

Making changes in 2025

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Kathy Shaw Senior Development Officer at Hunts Forum gives a personal account of her volunteering journey and shares her future plans.

Volunteering could be the thing that changes the course of your life.

It certainly did for me when I volunteered for a homeless night shelter in the 1990s. I was a very disillusioned 20 something year old working for a bank and trying to save people money on their tax bills. I wondered if this was going to be my life forever- safe, boring and dull.

Volunteering at the night shelter was pivotal as it introduced me to the world of the voluntary sector and sparked up my curiosity on things I had little understanding about. I discovered the truth- homeless and human – I found out first hand, about personal choice, mental health (this is a lie as we didn’t talk about mental health then),addiction, the unfairness of life and social care systems. It shone a light on me and revealed a bigger picture of power, inequity and poorly understood issues,

At the shelter I made some good friends with volunteers, paid workers, homeless residents, each connection opened my eyes beyond the screen I sat by each day to monitor a pile of tax returns. I used my workplace to fundraise, I embarked upon an Open University degree and left my corporate job to be a paid worker in the voluntary sector.

From that point I now have a career rich in the experience and knowledge of funding, fundraising, development , policy and all the things that support social change , it stands me in good stead to support other organisations and understand the complex dynamics of the sector.

As I look towards 2025, I feel it’s time for change again, perhaps more intentional but one that may set out a new trajectory, and with the benefit of hindsight and courage of foresight, I ask myself 2 questions:

  • Why would I volunteer in 2025?
  • What sort of volunteer vacancies appeal to me?

Using Volunteer Cambs  I set about exploring what the future possibilities could be by listing the reasons to volunteer and the possible things I could volunteer to do.

You may come up with similar lists and questions and wonder why not? Who knows your volunteer opportunity may lead you to a new friends, new skills or perhaps a new career?

Reasons to Volunteer 2025

Time is a big barrier but I often find myself peeling myself off a sofa after watching multiple episodes of something, or endless hours of scrolling on social media apps, on-line shopping and afterwards -I feel nothing – I can’t remember what I watched or what I looked at!  What if I replaced that with a more meaningful and fulfilling voluntary activity?

Responsibility -I don’t want to take on another commitment, full-time work and being a single parent to 2 teenagers can be enough. But, at the end of the day it is my choice about what I volunteer to do and how much time I can give.

Connection- Real life socialising has diminished because of tech, Covid, and as I age I’m less inclined to be part of sports groups and less of a fan of nights out on the town. Meeting people through volunteering task will be a good reason to connect.

Challenge and Curiosity- there’s always a bit of me that seeks a challenge, nowadays  I seem to be a scroller to other people’s adventures and I wonder where that curious mind that wanted to see life, warts and all has gone.

Personal and Professional Development- I don’t think I’ll ever be done, every new opportunity is a chance for development, to learn and become.

Time again– if not now, then when?

Volunteering Possibilities From Volunteer Cambs that interest me.

Event Organiser

I like the idea of helping out with events, it’s a great way to get to go somewhere (for free), meets lots of new people and support a cause that really interests me, especially for organisations that I know my family and friends have been very grateful for. I don’t expect this will feel like an over commitment of time either.

Business/Social Enterprise Leader

This role for a young person’s arts organisation appealed to me as it has endless possibilities but is a real challenge, something that would really enhance my personal and professional development too.

Clothes Swap Event Volunteer

I’ve always fancied going to a swishing event this would be a great opportunity to off-load my unwanted clothes from my new year clear out and pick some stylish new threads for 2025.   It is also a one-off event, so it could fit in alongside other commitments.

Befriending Support for a Young Person

The limited knowledge I have of the care for young people doesn’t sit well with me-  it seems inadequate – being able to support just one young person, to build a rapport and be a person who can listen and support someone  would be a challenge, there something that lures me about a brand new challenge. This is the type of volunteer role that would really make me think deeply about the whys and wherefores, possibly pushing me in a new direction.

Drawing up my lists has been a useful exercise to help me try to understand why I want to volunteer to something that suits where I am in life. What’s on your list and where will 2025 take you?

What does devolution mean for the local voluntary sector?

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Just before Christmas, the government published the English Devolution White Paper – GOV.UK. They believe that

“Devolution across England is fundamental to achieving the change the public expect and deserve: growth, more joined-up delivery of public services, and politics being done with communities, not to them.”

This is about two things in essence.

“Universal coverage in England of Strategic Authorities – which should be a number of councils working together, covering areas that people recognise and work in. Many places already have Combined Authorities that serve this role. The government will continue to develop new Strategic Authorities collaboratively and in partnership with places.”

We have one of these already in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, so assuming this is deemed to be delivering effectively we can probably assume it will not be changed significantly.

The second area covered is about Local Government reorganisation

“This White Paper announces that we will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services.”

This will impact us as locally Cambridgeshire is one of those 2 tier authorities and Peterborough is a small unitary authority. The government will work with councils to allow them to put forward proposals, but they do state that

“New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.”

I think this will mean conversations about how the five district councils and Peterborough come together. The populations for the different districts do not make for an obvious split if the target is 500K people.

Area Population from 2021 census Political leadership
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 894,522 Mayor is Labour
Cambridgeshire 678,849 NoC
Peterborough 215,673 NoC
Cambridge 145,674 Labour
East Cambridgeshire 87,762 NoC
Fenland 102,462 Conservative
Huntingdonshire 180,833 NoC
South Cambridgeshire 162,119 Lib Dem

 

How do these split up? Is it one big council? Do we see two unitary councils, with perhaps Hunts and Fenland joining Peterborough and City, South Cambs and East Cambs coming together? My guess is that there isn’t an easy solution given the different politics involved and the fact that everyone will want to keep their majorities, as well as the fact that the south of the county is generally better off than the north – expect some argument and horse-trading.

Do expect that we will be an early target for the government given that we were mentioned as an important region in this and the Invest 2035 green paper. But we are not in first round 2024–present structural changes to local government in England – Wikipedia despite some push to be by some parties.

Why is this important for the voluntary sector?

There is some mention of communities in the paper but it appears to be first and foremost about stimulating and enabling growth. That does not mean the sector should not pay attention. The combined authority will be given extra powers and funding, and in our case the mayor will likely become the de facto Police and Crime (and Fire) commissioner.

These reforms are expected to impact local charities in Cambridgeshire in several ways:

  1. Restructuring of Local Authorities: As set out above, this will impact Cambridgeshire. Such restructuring will lead to changes in local governance, affecting how charities interact with councils. The councils will, as of necessity, turn their focus inwards as reorganisation takes up all their spare time. Relationships will change as people move, and there is a danger that there will be a rush to the bottom regarding how councils fund and support the sector rather than a move to embrace all that is positive. This is probably the key area that the sector needs to guard against, and Support Cambridgeshire will continue to advocate for a positive outcome for the sector. We need to ensure that funding is not reduced and that some of the positive steps in funding practice are not lost.
  2. Enhanced Community Rights: The introduction of a Community Right to Buy empowers communities to purchase local assets, such as empty shops or community spaces, when they become available. This initiative offers local charities opportunities to acquire and manage assets beneficial to their missions, but in some areas funding will be an issue.
  3. Devolution of Skills and Employment Support: The combined authority will gain control over non-apprenticeship adult skills funding and have joint ownership of Local Skills Improvement Plans. This shift allows for developing integrated plans tailored to local needs, potentially enabling charities to collaborate more effectively in delivering skills and employment support services. Some of these conversations are underway already and there are likely to be more opportunities for the sector to work with the combined authority.
  4. Increased Local Authority Powers: Local councils will receive greater control over activities affecting health and environmental issues, along with enhanced protections for community assets and high streets. This empowerment could lead to more supportive environments for charities focused on health, environment, and community well-being.
  5. Strengthened Partnerships: The White Paper emphasizes the importance of collaboration between councils and communities, aiming to end the “parent-child dynamic” between central and local government. This approach encourages a more meaningful partnership, potentially providing charities with greater influence in local decision-making processes.

While these proposed changes present opportunities for charities in Cambridgeshire, they also introduce uncertainties. Support Cambridgeshire will work to keep you informed and engaged. We will continue to work with our partners in the local authorities and the combined authority to ensure that the new organisations recognise the need to support and fund the local sector. We will ensure that we learn from the best of how the local partners work, and ensure that this becomes the benchmark against which to measure the offer from the new organisations.

A great LinkedIn post with loads of other links in the comments can be found here 

This is a bit more ‘political’, and there is an argument that these reforms will move local government further away from people by trying to install a ‘one size fits all’ approach to reorganisation. There is also a danger that reforms driven by a need to increase economic growth and potentially save money will focus less on what is important to the sector and the communities we work with. That said, there is some commitment to working with communities, and this does recognise the importance of finding some way to reduce the confusion about the different council layers that exist across the county. The paper states that

“Communities need power returned back to them. We want to support local people – those with skin in the game – so that they can better affect the decisions impacting their areas. However, we cannot expect anyone to feel empowered when they are living payslip to payslip, or stuck on a waiting list to get the services they need.

That is why the government’s approach to community empowerment will focus on putting people in control of their own lives, alongside devolving power away from Westminster. We will create new opportunities for communities to have a say in the future of their area and play a part in improving it, while acknowledging that this means nothing if people are not supported to live lives where they can contribute to this decision making.”

Part of the role of the sector is to ensure that local community voices are heard that we ensure that what comes out locally works, and that this really is about driving more power down to communities and not simply about more houses, more growth, and a top-down approach.

Digital In Volunteering Toolkit

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Staying on top of what technology can do to help us can be daunting. The Digital in Volunteering toolkit is free to use and is intended to help busy people without technical backgrounds to navigate some of the main issues in using technology to best help manage volunteers.  Going forward, the idea is to create a community of practice.

The toolkit offers, tips, guidance and creates benchmarks for good practice.  It is an initiative of the Association of Volunteer Managers and TeamKinetic and has been designed by Gethyn Williams.

The toolkit is being rolled out in three parts.  Part one was launched on December 24, with the remaining parts to follow in 2025.  Part one is designed around 5 elements, with each supported by case studies:

  • Get confident around digital – this gives lots of guidance around choosing a volunteer management system
  • Develop your digital vision – clarifies objectives around the themes of using technology to enhance scale, efficiency and volunteer experience.
  • Understand the volunteer journey – consider all the points of interaction a volunteer has with an organisation and how technology could enhance this.
  • Pitch for digital investment – making the business case to an organisation’s senior management to invest in effective technology
  • Map out your organisational journey – how to create a project plan to deliver an organisation’s digital vision.

You can access part one  of the toolkit here

Part two will comprise bite-size guides to key areas, including utilising technology to support communications, accessibility, recognition and evaluation.

Part three will explore the opportunities and challenges technology is likely to raise in the longer term.

To find out more and to join the community of practice, check out the Association of Volunteer Managers’ website

National papers tell us what we already know

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Several national reports have been released in recent months, painting a rather bleak picture for our sector. However, these reports may provide us with the data we need to advocate for our cause.

Despite our challenges, it’s important to remember that these issues are widespread and that support is available from Support Cambridgeshire. Whether you’re struggling with funding, volunteer recruitment, or other specific challenges, there are resources to help you find tailored solutions for your organisation, so do get in contact info@supportcambridgeshire.org.uk

NCVO Almanac

The Almanc 2024 is a great paper to look at if you want to see the national state of our sector and see the trends happening around us. It’s always a little behind where we are, but it holds great data that showcases things like financials, workforce, impact, and finally, volunteers of the sector. First published in 1996 it is a go to national paper to use if you want to compare your organisation with the national picture.

Some of the headlines from the report:

  • The voluntary sector is still recovering from the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic with an increase of groups of 0.5%
  • 14.2 million people volunteered at least once with a group or organisation
  • London remains the centre of the UK’s Voluntary sector, but micro and small organisations account for 80% of the sector.
  • Women make up 68% of the sector’s workforce, and it has the oldest workforce in the UK.

To read the full report click here. 

 

Community Life Survey

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport and Office for Civil Society compiled this report. The new updates reflect the 2023/24, along with the quarterly release for January to March. Much like the Almanac, this paper is great if you want to reference national statistics or see what is happening from a broader perspective. This report is more than just the voluntary and community sector, though volunteering is a section; here, you can find the national trends around things like loneliness, neighbourhood and community, charitable giving, civic engagement and social action.

Some of the headlines from the report:

  • 1 in 10 of adults have reported high levels of indirect loneliness (a score of 8 or 9)
  • 61% of adults felt they belonged ‘very strongly’ or fairly strongly to their immediate neighbourhood.
  • 81% of adults agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together
  • 16% of respondents had taken part in formal volunteering (defined as giving unpaid help to clubs, groups and organisations) at least once a month.

To read the 2023/24 report click here

 

Cambridgeshire State of the Sector

While our local version of the two above papers hasn’t recently launched any new data, we are collecting it for next year’s report. So, if you’re linked to a non-profit organisation, then we want to know how you find the current environment to work in. The survey is open to any one who is linked with a group should you volunteer or work for them, you may not know all the answers to all the questions but those you do will help Support Cambridgeshire to make the local case to our decision makers in Cambridgeshire. Also, you are welcome to use this data in your own applications or generally to see how Cambridgeshire is against the national picture.

To take part in the 2025 report click here – closing date 17th February 2025

To read past reports click here

Banking Woes for Charities: A Persistent Problem

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Managing finances for small community organisations has always been a hassle. The process has been far from smooth, from cumbersome paperwork to limited online access. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, with many banks closing their doors or restricting services for charities.

NCVO and Chairty Finance Group’s recent report sheds light on the charitable sector’s ongoing challenges. While it confirms what many of us already know, it also signifies a crucial step toward addressing this persistent problem.

To read the full NCVO article : Click Here 

 

The Voluntary Sector Network meeting – 13th November 2024

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Chair Sandie Smith

Laura Porro

Laura attended the meeting to give an update on the ICS People Strategy. This has been a co-produced piece of work and is to cover the next 5 years.

It has been decided to have 5 mission areas.

  • A more integrated and flexible workforce.
  • An attractive system-wide career offer.
  • A workforce with the skills and leadership for the future.
  • An equal, diverse and inclusive workforce.
  • Strong foundations for working together.

Nine actions have been shortlisted and prioritised from a long list of 69 identified actions. These will be taken forward by task and finish groups which will start in 2025.

The strategy is now being written and will include a traditional written strategy but will also have an interactive webpage to encourage more engagement.

As each chapter is written we will bring it back to the VSN for feedback. We want to ensure that we have the language right for all parties.

Laura has consulted the VSN strategy and has an advanced awareness of the voluntary sector so is making sure that this new strategy matches ours where appropriate.

The ICB are aware that changes sometimes take too long to happen/ implement, so we are looking at a different style of delivery method. We plan to have some smaller task and finish groups so work can be done in the background and thus speed up delivery. We may at this point come to the voluntary sector for involvement.

It was raised that some of the contracts from Health and other statutory bodies are now asking employers to pay the Real Living Wage which most organisations want to aspire to. However the cost implications for this are just not with raising the lower wages but having to up all wages. This was an issue before the government then asked for more

contributions. It was asked that there could be a commitment to the understanding of this.

Laura asked how this could be captured in the strategy.

ACTION Sandie to liaise with KS, SA, and JL and send out a paragraph to include in the strategy to reflect this.

It was acknowledged that there have been increased opportunities for training which has been taken up my some of the VSN members.

There is a willingness for some secondments into and from the ICS but the process for this needs consideration.

Director Update- Sandie

STRATEGY- the consultation on the strategy and action plan is now complete. It has been taken to the steering group and Andrea and Sandie have presented it to several ICS committees and a few tweaks have been made. Andrea will be taking it to the ICB executive meeting to get approval and then it will go to the Investment, Commissioning, improvement and Reform Committee in December. The Steering group will then sign this off ready for the launch at the January VSN meeting. A work plan will then be put in place to address actions.

NEW MODEL OF CARE- we have had some briefings on this and the aim is for there to be a digital improvement with an aim to make systems compatible and thus easy for all.

A workshop has been held around the potential providers of digital platforms. Invites went out to the Voluntary sector as well as others and included people with lived experience. When we have more information we will share it with the group.

NORTH PLACE DEVELOPMENT MEETING- Sandie had asked for people who may be interested in this after being offered some places for the voluntary sector. We had a lot of interest in this and Sandie has spoken to the chair to look at priorities for the areas and see which organisation was best placed. Sandie thanked people for their enthusiasm for this and those who have not been offered a place this time may find other opportunities are just around the corner. There are no notes for these meetings but Sandie said she may be able to include something from North and South in her news bulletins.

ACTION Sandie to source items for newsletter/ bulletin for future.

A mention of the Poverty Strategy Commission for Cambridgeshire- If groups want to submit evidence for the commissioners then they can do. Several organisations are involved including DISH, Reimagine, CAB and Sunnetwork.

Peterborough also has had the Poverty Truth Commission. This is due to end soon and they are holding a big event in February.

ACTION Sandie to include both links in the next newsletter.

MEETINGS- the next meeting is an in-person meeting being held in Hartford Village Hall. We have 3 of the Assura/ICB-funded projects coming to share their success and if any other Assura/ICB projects or collaborations would like to present please contact Debbie or Sandie.

We have had interest nationally in these funded projects as we worked with the Integrated neighbourhoods and NAVCA will be attending the December meeting and doing some filming.

Karen Nolan from Assura (Head of Social Impact) has also asked to attend.

We have invited Matthew Smith to present the ICS Outcomes Framework.

PLACE ON ICB BOARD- The steering group had been invited to submit a letter of request for a VSN place on the ICB board. The letter has been submitted and we are awaiting a response. Across the country, some VSNs have a place others do not.

VCSE Reps

We are pleased to say we have been offered 2 more places for VCSE reps. One for the Quality Performance and Finance Board and one for the People Board. These places will be funded until the end of the financial year.

ACTION – to send an email for Expressions of Interest to VSN members.

FEEDBACK– Miriam, Lynda and Keith were all present and fed back about the meetings they attended.

Miriam said that her committee had been looking at the wider impacts of the system ie planning permissions being given to fast food outlets near the school when childhood obesity is on the increase.

She was also pleased to hear that the impact on people who use a service, when late decisions on future funding happen was considered.

Action log

This was complete except for the sharing of slides from North Place from the last meeting. Debbie said she had been in contact with Abby and they would be with us soon for sharing.

AOB

Hunts Forum have AGM on 27th Nov CCVS has theirs on 28th Nov and PVCS on 14th.

Debbie reminded the group about the showcase event on 20th November

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