 Welcome to this week's NAVCA member newsletter. I know I always say this, but this week is full of information you’ll want to read and refer back to. It does feel like changing times. I won’t repeat here the government’s stance on devolution, pushing decisions closer to where people are, but I do really welcome the message of hope that comes with that. On theme of being future-focused and, importantly, hopeful, there are a couple of things to point to. At NAVCA, we have been pulling together our thinking about the future face of local infrastructure. The world is changing, not least with local government reorganisation, health reforms, and an increased focus on neighbourhoods, but also increasing competition for infrastructure support and a growing trend towards funder plus rather than investing in infrastructure more widely. The blog below pulls that together to make the case for infrastructure as an essential part of the system (not an optional extra) which needs to be supported, nurtured and funded. Do use what we've written, or adapt it to suit your own circumstances and stakeholders - and let us know whether this has been helpful! For reasons set out in the blog, we’re also looking at NAVCA membership, especially our criteria, to make sure we remain future-focused as a network, to reflect priorities in terms of functions, and make use of associate membership. Do come along to one of the member engagement events to tell us what you think. More specifically, we’ve got a bit of a bumper health edition. With the restructure of ICBs, shift to neighbourhood health and the opportunities and challenges it presents, and a growing need to focus on health inequalities, we have been reflecting on our role and where we can have greatest impact. Read the updates below on our role and theory of change, developed following conversations with many of you, and let us know what you think. We have also published the next in our series of infographics – on health foundations and health rooted in the community. Do use these within your systems, share them on, and again let us know what you think. There will be more to follow on this series in September, focusing more on the specific role of local infrastructure, so keep an eye on our LinkedIn and this newsletter for that. I hope you get some rest and relaxation over the coming weeks – that you’re heading away, or get chance to spend time with the family, or simply to sit in the sun and eat ice cream. My plan to holiday in September felt like a great idea at the time, to avoid August crowds, but now seems a long way away! NAVCA events and resources How can NAVCA members be future-focused? Join a consultation The world around us is changing rapidly. Devolution, local government reorganisation, neighbourhood health, financial pressures, division and changing communities are reshaping the environment our members work in every day. To help frame this conversation, we've published a new blog exploring why strong local infrastructure matters more than ever, the challenges it is facing and its changing face. It sets out how we think local infrastructure will need to evolve to continue supporting communities and influencing effectively. We will share this more widely to influence stakeholders and funders on the vital role our network plays, and the investment which needs to follow. As part of this, we're reviewing NAVCA membership to make sure our network is fit for the future. We're looking at our membership criteria to ensure they reflect the changing nature of local infrastructure and how it is delivered, to reflect the world we are operating in. We want to shape this with our members. Over the next month, we're hosting member consultation sessions to hear your views, discuss the future of the network and explore how we can strengthen NAVCA membership positioning for the years ahead. Read the blog, join a consultation and help shape the future of the NAVCA network. We are holding consultations on 6 August, 11 August, and 19 August. Sign up via the NAVCA website: https://www.navca.org.uk/members-events Listen to Maddy on the Third Sector podcast Last week, Maddy, our CEO, was featured on the Third Sector podcast, chatting to their editors about the importance of local infrastructure. If you're looking for something to listen to on your lunch break, or for something to send to that person who https://podfollow.com/thirdsector/episode/a62c24e518c258a5906d13ac21b4f07a0e33b318/view How the new Prime Minister and Cabinet need to work with the VCSE sector The appointment of Andy Burnham's first Cabinet marks the beginning of a new chapter for government. For the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, it is an opportunity to build on what we already know works: strong partnerships with communities. Across areas of England such as Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and the North East, NAVCA members have shown that when local infrastructure, communities and public services work together as equal partners, people and places benefit. We want to see that approach become the norm. As new ministers take up their roles, we're looking for three things. Head to LinkedIn to find out more about how we think the new Prime Minister and Cabinet should build relationships with the VCSE sector, and why this is so important. NAVCA volunteering updatesVolunteering Network meeting recap At our recent NAVCA Volunteering Network meeting, Olivia Garvey from the University of Leeds introduced the Essential Skills for Volunteers course, a free online training programme designed to help people build confidence and develop key skills for volunteering. The course recognises that volunteering is not only a valuable contribution to communities, but also a pathway to learning, confidence, and personal development. The 2.5-hour online course covers topics including confidence building, teamwork and communication, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, and wellbeing. Learners can also earn digital badges to recognise their achievements. The course highlights the wider role that volunteering can play in strengthening communities and promoting lifelong learning. By combining core volunteering topics with a strengths-based learning approach, the programme reinforces the idea that volunteering is not simply about giving time, it is also about building skills, connections, and civic engagement. You can access the full training course here. Please note that this link may change due to website updates; we will share a new link once available. GoVo Team Days Team Days is now live on GoVo! You can now create Team Days opportunities for your charity on GoVo, making it easier for organisations to find group volunteering experiences that support charities like yours. You will find everything you need, including step-by-step guidance on creating GoVo Team Days opportunities, in the Help Centre. Before you create a Team Day, make sure you have considered: • What your charity needs support with. • What activities would be suitable for small and large groups. • Any costs organisations need to be aware of. • Writing a strong role description with an engaging title. Want to learn more? Join one of the Team Days workshop sessions. For further support, email [email protected]. NAVCA EEDI Steering GroupThe NAVCA EEDI Steering Group is a group for members, trustees and staff, which meets quarterly to discuss how NAVCA and the wider network can be leaders in equality and inclusion. We met yesterday to discuss communications and representation on national boards. The group started by sharing positive stories about EEDI work in their local communities, including work to support people of global majority backgrounds into leadership roles, and work to improve trans access to healthcare. We looked at NAVCA comms through an EEDI lens, our 2025/26 comms report, audience engagement and broadening our reach, storytelling, and our strategic messaging. We also discussed representation on national boards, and how to approach situations where the panel or meeting is not representative of wider society. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting, and we look forward to sharing more about the EEDI Steering Group later this year. Last chance: share your views about being a NAVCA memberAt NAVCA, we want to make sure the support we offer reflects what our members need and value. That's why we are running a member engagement survey, to hear from you about your experience of being a NAVCA member. The short survey asks about how you personally engage with NAVCA and what’s working well, as well as where we could do things differently. We want to hear your views on networks, events, influencing work, how we communicate, and more. Your feedback helps shape our future work and may be used anonymously in our annual reports or on our website. We want to hear from as many people as possible, so everyone in your organisation is welcome to complete the survey. We welcome all responses and, as a thank you, everyone who completes the survey has the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw to win a free ticket to the NAVCA Annual Conference. Fill in the survey here. We will be closing the survey on Monday 3rd August. Health How we're supporting NAVCA members in the health and wellbeing spaceWe've just published a document explaining how NAVCA is supporting members in the health and wellbeing space, where we are working with partners to make change, and how that change happens. Download our health theory of change via the NAVCA member hub here, and feel free to use it in your local context. Health starts in communities - new blog and infographicsNeighbourhood health is one of the biggest opportunities in a generation to rethink how we improve people’s health and wellbeing. But healthier communities won’t be built by health services alone. At the recent Health Devolution Commission, NAVCA shared the voluntary and community sector perspective on what is needed to make neighbourhood health a reality. Our message was clear: the ambition is right, but the conditions for delivery are not yet in place. Local VCSE organisations build the relationships, trust and connections that help people stay well – from reducing loneliness and isolation to creating opportunities for friendship, purpose and belonging. Local infrastructure organisations play a vital role in connecting these organisations with local government, the NHS and other partners. We've created two new infographics exploring how community organisations and the wider social determinants of health help create the foundations for healthier communities. Read our reflections from the Health Devolution Commission and explore the infographics. Policy
Review of National LotteryDCMS have issued an open call for evidence on what should be funded by the National Lottery. The consultation National Lottery Good Causes: Fund what matters to you was issued on 1 July 2026 with a closing date of midday on 23 September 2026. DCMS are reviewing the current system for distribution of funding, with the objectives to: • fund what's important to you • empower your communities • simplify access. Funding is currently split as follows: arts and culture – 20%, sport 20%, heritage 20% and charitable activities 40%. The questions are generally framed to gather quantitative data, and although there are some opportunities for longer answers, there is little space for nuance. NAVCA will be responding, and this is an opportunity for you to do so too. Please also encourage local VCSE organisations to respond as well. You can find all the information here. Cut in VAT on electricity billsLast week, Andy Burnham announced a cut in VAT on electricity bills from 1 October 2026. Charity Finance Group have provided this excellent briefing, which gives more detail and indicates that charities will be included in the reduction from 5% to 0%. You can find out more here. Charity Commission statement on EHRC Code of PracticeLast week, the Charity Commission put out a short statement on implementation of the EHRC Code of Practice. You can read it here. The Code will come into force around 5 August 2026, with further guidance from the Charity Commission expected in the autumn. This aims to provide more balance, offer scenarios and real life examples. Even without this further Charity Commission guidance, VCSE organisations can start to consider the implications for their work and activity. It is not necessary to take rapid decisions in the next few weeks though, and we are assured that the guidance will be issued as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Jill Hopkinson, Policy Manager. Proud Changemakers, an LGBTQ+ charity supporting the voluntary sector, surveyed small charities to understand how they are feeling and responding to the EHRC ruling. Their report particularly highlights the emotional and operational impact on charities, feelings of uncertainty, and the difficulties for charities that do specifically support trans people. Read the report here. External events and resources Crisis Fundamentals with Horizon Resilience VCSEP are running another session in collaboration with Horizon Resilience. They are really keen to tailor this one for those VCFSE groups and target the limited spaces available to those supporting disproportionately impacted groups. This won't preclude others from attending, but priority will be given to those outside of, or less familiar with, formal resilience structures. Drawing on their experience at the heart of UK government crisis management, the training will provide participants with a strong practical foundation in crisis management principles, supported by a scenario-based discussion and applied learning. Attendees will go away with an improved awareness of crisis and resilience in the UK context, including how the voluntary and community sector fits within the wider resilience system and a practical understanding of the crisis lifecycle, from anticipation and response through to stabilisation and recovery. Tuesday 15th September 10:00-11:30 - Register by emailing [email protected] Active Bystander Training with Protection Approaches Division in communities, rising tensions and civil unrest continue to be high on the risk register for organisations. A lot of research points to pre-bunking - intervening early to dispel myths rather than challenging misinformation after it appears, so how can community organisations feel better equipped to intervene? We’re collaborating with Protection Approaches to run a special session on helping participants safely address identity based harms in their community, school or workplace, using real-world scenarios to build confidence in implementing Active Bystandership in everyday life. You'll learn what it means to be an active bystander, through group discussion we'll explore what being an active bystander means. How to stand up for those being targeted safely: working through a series of scenarios to consider and learn what you can do when you encounter identity-based harms and proactive prevention: returning to the scenarios we'll reflect on the root causes of prejudice and discrimination before discussing ways to contribute to dismantling those root causes and to building safer, more inclusive, and just communities. Thursday 17th September 11:00-13:00 - Register by emailing [email protected] Emergencies Partnership: LIVE - In-person, in Leeds Bringing together partners from across the voluntary sector, local authorities, Local Resilience Forums, faith groups, government and community organisations, EP:LIVE is all about strengthening connections, sharing learning and exploring what effective community-led resilience looks like in practice. The programme covers trust, social cohesion, bridging divides, the next generation, harnessing volunteers and empowering action - with plenty of opportunities to build new relationships across the sector. Thursday 8th October - whole day event at Cloth Hall Court, Leeds - Find out more and book here. Comments are closed.
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