Live discussion: Local partnerships and infrastructure – 20 October, 15.00-16.00

Join us 15.00-16.00 on 20 October for a live discussion on local partnerships and infrastructure. You’ll have the opportunity to pose questions for the panellists, debate and put forward your own experiences and suggestions.

All thoughts will feed into the VCSE Review which is helping to shape the future funding and partnership decisions made by the Department of Health, NHS England and Public Health England.

20 October 2015
15.00-16.00

Background

The VCSE sector is a crucial partner for statutory health and care services, providing a voice for service users and helping to design and deliver services.

VCSE infrastructure organisations play a vital, but often hidden role, in linking the two sectors by connecting VCSE organisations, strengthening their capability and capacity and ensuring effective two-way communication between the statutory and the VCSE sectors

Discussion points

The discussion will focus on two key issues:

• How can statutory and VCSE sector organisations work more effectively together to develop services and policies?
  This will include questions on relationships between the VCSE and statutory sectors, co-production and making best use of community assets
• The future role of VCSE infrastructure. This will cover issues such as funding, demonstrating impact and how infrastructure organisations can adapt to the new operating environment

Panellists

Jane Hartley, VONNE

Jane has many years of experience working in the NE voluntary sector primarily with a focus on health & wellbeing. She has run a local infrastructure organisation and led a significant service provider organisation Pioneering Care Partnership.

Prior to becoming Chief Executive of VONNE she worked as a consultant supporting VCSE organisations across the North East and is a Director of My Life Plus Community Interest Company delivering programmes to support to people with long term health conditions. Jane is a Trustee of the Greggs Foundation, and Artworks in Teesdale, a local arts charity focussing on the landscape.

Dave Forrest, Volunteer Centre Bradford

Dave Forrest is the CEO of a Volunteer Centre in Bradford, Yorkshire. He has recently set up a new CIO which brings together five infrastructure charities, including 3 CVS in Bradford. In addition he manages the local Community Foundation which has distributed £1 million in grants to 200 groups. Dave coordinates the Yorkshire region’s Volunteer Centre network.

Previously Dave has worked for four national charities supporting volunteering infrastructure: NCVO, Volunteering England, Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, and Business in the Community. He led the UK’s first youth exchange to Poland and has spoken at events for the British Council in Helsinki, Germany and Malta.

Paul Winyard, Compact Voice

Paul started his voluntary sector career at NCVO nearly six years ago. During this time he’s led the organisation’s policy work on welfare-to-work, volunteering, social value and commissioning, and procurement regulations. He is currently managing the Compact Voice team in their work promoting effective partnership working between charities and the public sector.

Questions and answers

Post your questions in the comment section below and join us on 20 October 15.00-16.00 to see live responses from our panellists.