Supporting Voluntary Action
The VCSE Alliance is a collaboration between the regional health system and the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.
NHS England has recommended that the VCSE sector is a key strategic partner with an important contribution to make in shaping, improving and delivering services, and developing and implementing plans to tackle the wider determinants of health.
We also know that strengthening the connections between the health system, wider public sector services and the VCSE sector will greatly improve the health and wellbeing of local people, as joined-up care benefits everyone.
However, there are significant differences between the health system and the VCSE sector, ranging from cultural ways of working to the more physical systems and technology that we use. The VCSE Alliance is committed to supporting a diverse VCSE sector, that works in a variety of ways, to enable them to get engage with a complex and rapidly changing Integrated Care System (ICS).
The Alliance will consist of partnership networks, a partnership forum, and a leadership board which will meet annually, quarterly, and monthly, depending on the group. These groups will work alongside and engage with the BNSSG (Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire) ICS, including the Integrated Care Board, as well as various other groups within the ICS.
The VCSE sector already has a strong track record of collaborating to address challenges and create lasting impact for people and communities, including in health spaces. Additionally, the number of opportunities for groups and organisations to be involved in this health work is likely to increase in the coming months and years.
The aim of the VCSE Alliance is to build on the great work that is already happening, being an inclusive structure that supports the sector to achieve impactful benefits for people and communities across BNSSG.
This alliance is still taking shape, and more organisations and groups can take part in this process in the coming months.
Voscur’s role is to host the development, coordination, and establishment of the BNSSG VCSE Alliance.
Voscur as an organisation has a significant track record in hosting the coordination function of several collaborations, including the Bristol Sexual Violence Support Consortium and the Bristol Refugee & Asylum Seeker Partnership.
Work towards the VCSE Alliance has been taking place for a few years. In the summer of 2023 Voscur will be recruiting staff members to join the VCSE Alliance team.
To express your interest in finding out more about the VCSE Alliance please click here and input your details to receive regular updates.