Since the Cost of Living Crisis began, Voscur has been working tirelessly alongside key partners to help shape Bristol's response. From advocating for VCSE input at strategic meetings, to shining a spotlight on Welcoming Spaces, we've remained committed to our cause throughout this challenging time. 

Hardships are a great teacher, and we've learned a lot through this crisis, and remain inspired by the agility and expertise of our sector and city. We are currently asking people to share their thoughts with us via a quick survey, which we will use to report the impact of the crisis on third sector organisations locally. Please click here to offer your insight and experiences. 

Voscur is aware that organisations of all sizes are struggling to remain open against the pressure of massively increasing costs, combined with further increases in demand. We are therefore bringing VCSE Sector organisations and funders together to discuss how the sector can be supported to be sustainable against rising costs. Organisations on the front-line of supporting those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis as well as funders will be taking an active role in the conference as participants, speakers, and workshop leaders. 

We are grateful to National Lottery, Quartet Community Foundation, NIHR, The Nisbet Trust and the National Benevolent Charity whose funding has made this event possible.

You will have the opportunity to attend one of the following workshops:

• Funding perspectives in the Cost of Living Crisis 
• Working in partnership through crisis
• Managing costs, making savings
• Listening to what our communities are telling us
• Planning to avoid pitfalls

Before coming back together as a group for further workshops, including:

Tackling Health Inequalities – how the VCSE sector can make change 

Inequalities in health and its causes runs deep through our society and impacts on the care that people receive and the opportunities for us all to lead healthy lives. This workshop will focus on understanding the changes to our local healthcare system with the development of new Integrated Care System (ICS), what this means for VCSE organisations and communities and how health research can help to tackle growing health inequalities. This workshop has been funded by the NIHR Clinical Research Network West of England. 

The conference will be held at Knowle West Media Centre, on March 28th between 0930 – 1500. 

This event will be free for members of Voscur, and £45 for those of you who are not yet members. You can read a list of membership benefits here. 

In order to reserve your place for this event, please click here: https://www.vcseacademy.org/events/whats-the-cost-cost-of-living-inequalities-conference/

We are so looking forward to seeing you all there, as we continue to listen, learn and adapt to these times.