The August edition of the Voluntary Sector News is here. Please get in touch with Sandie Smith or Debbie Drew if you would like to know more about any of our work. Please pass this on to colleagues who may be interested.
An exciting new project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund is now available to help communities and charities across the whole of the Fenland District. Known as ‘Support Fenland’ this is a five-year project delivered by the Support Cambridgeshire partnership (Hunts Forum and CCVS). The results of a pilot project in 2021, funded by Lloyds Foundation Bank, made it possible to identify the areas of support needed by Voluntary and Community sector (VCS) groups within the Fenland area.
We are delighted to announce that help is now available through Support Fenland. The project enables the team to work alongside those groups, identifying their needs and provide the necessary support they require to maximise their potential and flourish within their communities.
The support available ranges from training, advice, resources and guidance on areas such as identifying funding sources, how to make successful grant applications, structuring a group or charity, writing polices, governance, volunteering and much more. This is complemented by relevant events and networking opportunities organised throughout the year on a local and district level enabling groups to share information and work together.
The new team spearheading the project are Marija Lysak, Fenland Development Officer and Didem Ucuncu, Fenland Communities Officer who both bring a wealth of experience. They have both lived and worked in the Fenland area for many years and have firsthand experience of some of the challenges facing community groups. They are passionate to see communities within the area, thrive and go from strength to strength.
Marija has over 25 years of experience of working in the private, education and charity sectors as a Business Development Manager, Education Consultant, Outreach Manager for a refugee support charity and Pastoral roles. Outside of work Marija volunteers on the Whittlesey Festival Steering Committee, helping to organise this popular community event. She has strong links with local schools and enjoys taking sessions that inspire all ages to get involved in the performing and creative arts.
Didem (Dee) has 14 years of experience in the private sector and as well as being a busy mum, has dedicated the past two years to volunteering within Wisbech. She currently volunteers as a Walk Leader for the Ramblers Wellbeing Walks, a Timekeeper at Parkrun, Vice President of the Wisbech Lions Club, and a Community Listener/Community Project Researcher for Healthwatch Peterborough & Cambridgeshire.
The Support Fenland project will be launched at an event on Tuesday 24 September in Wisbech. This will be an opportunity to hear more about the project, meet the team and see how you can be involved. For further information about the event or to find out more about Support Fenland please email Marija at marija@huntsforum.org.uk or Dee at didem@huntsforum.org.uk
We want to hear from you!
Earlier in the year, the Trustees of Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service (CCVS) and Hunts Forum for Voluntary Organisations (Hunts Forum) announced their intention to explore a potential merger of the two organisations.
We would now like to know what you think about the proposed merger in a short survey. There are just four questions about your views. Please take the time to let us know. Your view is important to us.
We ask members, groups, stakeholders, funders, and those interested in our work to complete the survey below by September 17th, 2024.
If you need any help completing the survey, email – info@supportcambridgeshire.org.uk
About the merger – The Trustees feel that, in the past 5 years, there has been a significant increase in collaborative work undertaken under the shared brand of Support Cambridgeshire. Coupled with this the announcement of the retirement of Julie Farrow, the CEO of Hunts Forum, in April 2025 there is an excellent opportunity to look at a new way forward.
Both Trustee boards feel that this potential merger is an opportunity to improve and simplify the services on offer to Cambridgeshire charities and community groups by bringing all services and support under one single charity. The proposal would be to merge the organisations under the Support Cambridgeshire brand. Support Cambridgeshire would keep its existing bases in Huntingdon and Cambridge as these facilities sit in key delivery locations and provide an important hub for stakeholders, members and other partners.
Under one single charity, we would also be able to simplify and build our communications and refine our hugely valuable support and training offer.
The Trustees have arrived at this decision in light of both organisations being in a positive position both financially and reputationally. Collectively they feel that, as one unified charity, Support Cambridgeshire can more effectively and efficiently support and represent the sector. The aim of the merger would be to improve and streamline what is on offer to the sector and not be about reducing services. The Trustees believe that this will be in the best interests of both organisations – and the staff – and that it will result in a stronger and more sustainable organisation.
The Trustees confirmed that they will keep everyone updated with the project; and ultimately it will be up to the members of both organisations to make the final decision on the merger. The plan would be for members to make the decision at both AGM’s in November 2024 if this is fully agreed and endorsed by Trustees as the best route. Before that stage the Trustees of both organisations will carry out extensive due diligence and consultation to ensure that merger is the best way forward.
Junes meeting had a packed agenda with guests Clive Emmett from UCAN talking about “Ticket to Home” and Rob Henchy talking about Fenland District Council’s Help Hub.
Formally June 2023, informally October 2022
We formed the Voluntary Sector Alliance through a belief that:
Together we are stronger than apart, and together we can create real change and social impact by supporting more people to leave hospital safely, to help avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital and to aid independence at home for the population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Our aim was to achieve a true integrated and collaborative approach to serving the population of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough by leading the way in providing a Single Point of Access for Voluntary and Community Sector Support for Hospital Discharges and Admissions Avoidance. This helps us to:
Reach people earlier in their journey from hospital bed back to home
Provide information and support at the right time
Ensure wrap around support for people before they leave hospital and after
Using our collective resources support and reconnect people into their communities
We came together to work on a Nesta 100 day challenge across the acutes in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, – to find better ways to support discharges from hospital. Following the completion of the challenge, we continued to meet as voluntary sector partners, as we could see that there were ways in which our services already worked in synergy together. Spending time together to understand the offerings of each organisations, we started informally to reach out to one another with the aim of improving outcomes for the people we support.
There are many benefits in working together. The people that we support have access to all of our services in a more holistic manner, and don’t feel passed from pillar to post – the aim is that each person we support has access to all of our offerings and to the connections / signposts and referrals we can assist with, helping them to truly feel supported and integrated into their community.
Each organisation represents the whole Alliance at meetings and events and in raising awareness of the services that we offer.
Importantly, our teams report a much more positive working environment, and state how much they enjoy working more collaboratively with people from other organisations, taking away the need to ‘chase referrals’ or feel we are in competition with each other.
The main challenges were in the initially stages of coming together. It does take time for trust to form and build and become business as usual within partnership work. It involved somewhat of a culture shift within our organisations, but everyone was fully invested and could see the benefits of our partnership approach.
Look for true synergy between offerings, avoiding duplication, but consider additionality of services.
Be transparent, open and honest with each other, it is important that you can have difficult conversations as well as nice ones.
Stay focussed on the mission and the reasons you want to work together. Leave egos at the door and work together for the benefit of the people you support.
The August edition of the Voluntary Sector News is here. Please get in touch with Sandie Smith or Debbie Drew if you would like to know more about any of our work. Please pass this on to colleagues who may be interested.
At the beginning of the year, Support Cambridgeshire—a partnership between CCVS and Hunts Forum—launched the Annual State of the Sector Survey for 2024. This survey is a vital tool for gathering data on how local organisations are coping with the current economic and social landscape, which continues to evolve due to the changes and impacts of recent years.
Despite persistent challenges, the survey reveals that local groups are still grappling with many of the same issues they faced last year. The findings indicate that the difficulties are intensifying while the sector remains resilient. The demand for services is rising, volunteers’ expectations are shifting, and funding remains a constant challenge. The long-term effects of these trends will become clearer in future surveys. Nevertheless, the sector’s determination to persevere remains strong.
The survey also highlighted some intriguing trends that the partnership will consider as it moves forward. A notable finding is the increased desire for in-person interactions after prolonged online activities. While virtual engagement is still needed, a balance will be sought by incorporating more face-to-face networking and training sessions.
We must not take our local charities and community groups for granted. Their work is still #NeverMoreNeeded, as countless individuals rely on their services. Support Cambridgeshire remains committed to providing the necessary support and guidance to help our local voluntary sector thrive. However, we need others to join in this effort to prevent more groups from closing and more services from disappearing. Together, we can ensure that our local organisations continue to prosper.
If you prefer an accessible version, then please click HERE
Fullscope emerged back in 2017 when some funders challenged a group of like-minded charities to come together to think about how to do things differently for children and young people at risk of poor mental health.
We have evolved and changed hugely since then. See our Strategic Plan for 2023 – 2026 for further information about our current aims and ambitions.
Blue Smile, Centre 33, The Kite Trust, YMCA Trinity, Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, CPSL Mind and Ormiston Families.
Early on we adapted to COVID-19 by moving online to engage more with the mental health system. System working can be complex and change can be slow; it requires a focus on relationships and open-minded collaboration, with system partners’ involvement at the decision and design stage.
Have a clear purpose, aligned motivation, core team with mandate and central infrastructure.
Nine voluntary and community groups have been awarded a share of £125,000 to help tackle health and wellbeing challenges faced by local communities, as part of a grant initiative funded by NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB) and healthcare property investor and developer, Assura plc.
Coordinated by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Voluntary Sector Network, this grant scheme set out to identify and fund projects to tackle health and wellbeing issues within local communities. Projects funded include Connected Lives which will run a Wellbeing Café Project in Trumpington to combat social challenges like isolation; Peterborough United Foundation to support pupils, particularly those with special educational needs, who are moving from primary to secondary school, with mentoring and resilience-building; and Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire to expand its service to support more families struggling with post-natal depression, depression, social isolation, bereavement, domestic abuse or drug abuse.
Andréa Grosbois, Assistant Director of Community & Strategic Partnerships at NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB, said: “Congratulations to those who successfully bid for a community grant. Putting money into local projects means more people can access additional health and wellbeing support that is right for them, in their community.
“We were impressed by the creativity and innovative thinking evident in all the applications and are delighted to support these projects that will make a difference to the health and wellbeing of local communities.”
Sandie Smith, Programme Director at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Voluntary Sector Network, said: “It has been an honour to review all the applications we received. It was a tough process, with the successful applicants showcasing how their projects will make a real difference to local people’s lives. We thank all those who applied.”
Karen Nolan, Assura Head of Social Impact, said: “Our community fund is one of our proudest achievements as a business. It has allowed us to help support vulnerable people in the communities near our buildings for the last four years. We are delighted to be able to support projects that do such brilliant work in providing support to people who need it.”
The Assura Community Fund is managed by the Cheshire Community Foundation, to ensure such grants reach the heart of the local communities that need it the most.
Projects funded:
NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Board contributed £50,000 to the grant, with Assura sharing £75,000 from its national Assura Community Fund.
Junes meeting had a packed agenda with guests Clive Emmett from UCAN talking about “Ticket to Home” and Rob Henchy talking about Fenland District Council’s Help Hub.
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