 Welcome to your latest NAVCA memebr newsletter. If you read one thing from this jam-packed edition, make sure it's the blog about the future of infrastructure. Over the past months we have been amplifying the critical role LIOs play, reviewing our membership to make sure we are future-focused, sharing a series of infographics to bring that life, and highlighting the instability and precarity of funding. It isn't just local infrastructure which faces those challenges - the near closure of Reach and closure of DSC point to specialist and national infrastructure also facing it. If we keep doing the same things in the same way we'll get the same answers - so this feels like an important time to step back collectively, and find out what support the VCSE sector needs, how that support can best be organised, and how it should be funded. For many in the NAVCA network, these will be familiar conversations, perhaps as a result of local government reorganisation or thinking about how we work effectively with Strategic Authorities. We also need to think about how we connect well with national organisations. For example, many of you use DCS resources, and work with Reach as well as with specialist organisations - whether that's those working with communities of interest or identity, or on specialist topics. I do think as an infrastructure sector we can look collectively at what we do, how we are organised, and how we best work together. That is my hope for an independent Commission - a space to look at what the VCSE sector needs, how infrastructure in the round can be best organised to support that, and how it might be funded. That gives me (kind of!) a segue into the NAVCA AGM - do come along and hear how we are doing and to vote for new trustees . This is a great opportunity to have your say on our future direction and focus. NAVCA events and resources The future of infrastructure New infographics for NAVCA members to download Barking Owl network - upcoming meetings and dates for 2027 AI Training for Trainers Introducing Utility Aid – NAVCA’s newest partner NAVCA AGM - book your place We're hiring! Health and Wellbeing Manager role Health Investing in the infrastructure behind safer, stronger health volunteering VCSE Handbook for Neighbourhood Health Policy Devolution and local government reorganisation updates Information about the Common Ground Partnership Programme Your Place, Your Future: a national conversation about where we live Be Ready campaign information External events and resources DPS Social Commitment Programme: Helping to end homelessness NAVCA events and resources The future of infrastructureThe chief executives of ACEVO, CFG, NAVCA and NCVO are calling for an independent Commission into the future of voluntary sector infrastructure in England. In the past few years, Children England, the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI), the Small Charities Coalition (SCC), and Getting On Board have all closed, as have many NAVCA member organisations. More recently, Reach Volunteering announced that it would close. Three weeks later, nine funders and donors came together to keep it open until the end of 2028. On 14 October, Directory of Social Change (DSC) announced it was entering insolvency. Each closure leaves charities, community groups and social enterprises without support or resources they relied on, and creates gaps for other infrastructure organisations to fill, often without sufficient or sustainable funding to do so. But this debate isn’t solely about funding. Infrastructure holds a great deal of knowledge, relationships, trust and expertise, which should be protected. But we also need a strategic definition for infrastructure, which is why, together, we are proposing an independent review of voluntary sector infrastructure in England, led by an independent chair. As national infrastructure bodies, we are asking: What is infrastructure for? What do charities, voluntary organisations and community groups need, and what will they need in the future? How can we best be organised to provide that? And finally, how should that support be paid for? This Commission should seek out the views of key stakeholders, from small volunteer-led community groups to the biggest charities in the country, from government nationally and locally, and from funders. At NAVCA, we want to make sure we are future-facing and ready for the challenges ahead. We also want to support our members to ensure that they are adapting and developing what they do, ensuring their services are high quality and effective. Find out more here: www.navca.org.uk/news/infrastructure-needs-rethinking-not-rescuing-and-its-leaders-need-to-lead-the-change You can also join the conversation or share our post on LinkedIn here. New infographics for NAVCA members to downloadTo support you to make the case for local infrastructure, and showcase the importance of your work and your place in the VCSE ecosystem, we have created a series of four infographics themed around the value of local infrastructure and the VCSE sector. All the infographics, alongside previous infographics and other key NAVCA publications, can be downloaded via the member hub. The four infographics are themed around: - The value of local infrastructure (activities, outcomes and impacts based on DCMS research) - The conditions needed for infrastructure to succeed (based on NAVCA's Walking a Tightrope research) - The size of the VCSE sector (continued from our work on the microbiome and under-the-radar groups) - The VCSE sector in action (showing the breadth and diversity of what the sector does) Barking Owl network - upcoming meetings and dates for 2027 The Barking Owl is the network for NAVCA members working in communications, marketing or digital, and our meetings are open to anyone interested in the event theme. We cover hot topics for comms, from AI to websites to marketing, and more. The network is a friendly and safe space for questions, learning, and sharing the challenges of being a communications professional in local infrastructure organisations. Our next meeting will be on 24th November, which will be all about strategic marketing. Then on 2nd December, we'll be hosting our final meeting of the year with Few and Far, who will be offering some advice about festive campaign success. Find out more and sign up via the NAVCA member hub. AI Training for TrainersWe're pleased to announce that we're running another AI Training for Trainers session, where you will learn more about how to deliver an 'AI for small charities' session to your local groups. Join us for a friendly beginner’s introduction to how small local VCSE organisations can start using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in their everyday work. In this training you’ll take part in fun, practical tasks to gain the confidence and skills needed to use widely available AI tools. You’ll take part in quizzes and discussions with peers to learn how to use AI creatively and in an informed and safe way. You will then be able to use the training toolkit to deliver this training to small organisations you work with locally, as well as a policy / guidance template which community organisations can adapt, and further resources to support them to take the next steps in their AI journey. This training has been developed for staff and volunteers at the start of their AI journeys. No jargon or special tech skills needed to be able to deliver the session. The session will take place on 9th December, 10am - 1pm. All NAVCA members are welcome. Book your place here. Tickets cost £50. Introducing Utility Aid – NAVCA’s newest partnerWe are pleased to announce that we are now working with Utility Aid, who specialise in working with charities and community organisations to navigate the energy market. We will be sharing their energy resources and advice, and hosting member events. Utility Aid will also be sponsoring a new volunteering hub on the NAVCA website "We’re proud to be NAVCA’s newest partner, helping charities and community organisations take control of their energy costs and make their budgets go further. We support over 4500 charities and not-for-profits and with rising costs putting increasing pressure on the voluntary sector, we understand the importance of making every pound count. Energy can be a significant expense, taking valuable resources away from the vital services charities deliver every day. At Utility Aid, we specialise in energy procurement, contract management and bill validation, helping organisations navigate the complexities of the energy market, identify potential savings and make informed decisions about their energy needs. Through our partnership with NAVCA, we’re looking forward to working with its members, sharing our expertise and helping organisations reduce energy costs, ease financial pressures and direct more resources towards the communities they serve." You can find out more about Utility Aid here. NAVCA AGM - book your place We are looking forward to bringing members together at our AGM on 19th November, where we will be electing two new trustees, reflecting on the year, and looking ahead to how we can adapt and develop for the future. If you are not signed up already to the AGM (10am - 11am, 19th November, online), then you can book your place via the NAVCA member hub. Please use these links to view: • AGM agenda & Trustee nominee statements • AGM draft minutes 2025 • Annual Report and Accounts • Proxy voting form We are looking forward to seeing you there! We're hiring! Health and Wellbeing Manager role We’re looking for a new person to join the NAVCA team as our Health and Wellbeing Manager, on a six-month contract for three days per week – could this be you? The successful candidate will lead and develop our work to support the critical role of local infrastructure in the rapidly developing health landscape, particularly influencing around Integrated Care Systems and neighbourhood health. They will have a robust understanding of the health landscape and how the VCSE sector fits within it. They will be a proven partnership builder, committed to and experienced in collaborative cross-sector working, and passionate about supporting and demonstrating the value the VCSE sector plays in supporting community health and wellbeing. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the positioning of the VCSE role in health creation and reducing inequalities. If you have detailed knowledge of the role and structures of health and social care systems, knowledge of the VCSE sector and local infrastructure, we would love to hear from you. We also welcome loan or secondee arrangements for this role. Find out more about the role here. The closing date is Sunday 8th November. Health Investing in the infrastructure behind safer, stronger health volunteeringVolunteers make an extraordinary contribution to health and wellbeing. They offer time, trust, lived experience and community connection: strengths that complement, rather than replace, the work of paid staff. They connect with people who may be isolated, help communities respond to local needs, and bring knowledge and relationships that statutory services cannot create on their own. But volunteering does not happen by accident. It grows when the right local conditions are in place, and when organisations work together deliberately to create those conditions. Our newest blog, in partnership with NHS Charities Together, explores why infrastructure is so important when it comes to volunteering for health. Read it here. VCSE Handbook for Neighbourhood HealthAcross the UK, health and care systems are under pressure. Increasing numbers of people are living in ill health, and healthy-life expectancy has fallen. In response, policymakers have turned to the idea of neighbourhood health. National policy sets out a clear ambition to shift care closer to home, strengthen prevention, and bring services together around people and communities through neighbourhood health. This reflects a growing understanding that health is shaped by the conditions of people’s daily lives, and not by services alone. What is often less clear is how to put this ambition into practice through partnership with communities and the VCSE sector. That’s why our new handbook, prepared by The Partner Ship with Alliance42 and NAVCA, sets out why VCSE partnership in neighbourhood health is essential, and how we can make it happen in practice. It focuses specifically on how the NHS and other public sector partners can work effectively with communities and the local VCSE organisations that support them. Found out more and download the handbook here. Policy Devolution and local government reorganisation updatesWe have just published new briefings on the Budget announcements related to devolution and LGR. As part of the Budget documents published on 28th October 2026, the Government announced that it was in the final stages of agreeing 10 new devolution agreements. Find out more here. The Government have also given more information on what is happening with local government reorganisation in England. Although five areas have had previous decisions confirmed (subject to final consultation), a further 15 areas are still awaiting decisions which may not come until early 2027. This means continued uncertainty in these areas and less time overall for councils to plan for and implement the changes. It also means that VCFSE organisations reliant on funding from local authorities have to face more uncertainty, paused budgets or spending freezes. Find out more here. Information about the Common Ground Partnership Programme In October, the Belong Network launched the Common Ground Partnership Programme. Supported by the Lloyds Bank Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund, Common Ground will work with up to 40 Local Authorities over the next 3 years. Each participating area will receive a match-funded package of support to develop a local cohesion strategy and delivery framework, alongside a dedicated local investment fund for voluntary and community sector projects. The total package of support in each place is £350k (including a £100k investment from each participating Local Authority). This will include a £200k fund to support voluntary and community sector projects aligned to local priorities. The programme will be most relevant to areas where there is senior-level commitment to strengthening social cohesion and building stronger communities and where partners are committed and ready to work together across institutional and community boundaries. It may be particularly useful where councils are seeking to refresh or develop a cohesion strategy, respond to emerging tensions, improve community engagement, build trust between communities and institutions, align local services around shared priorities, or support voluntary and community sector partners to contribute to local resilience. You may wish to have a look at the programme prospectus and consider contacting your Local Authority to find out if they are planning to bid. Your Place, Your Future: a national conversation about where we liveImagine it’s 2040 and your area is thriving. What’s the story of how it got there? The Local Government Association, the national body for councils, is asking people across England what they want their area and their council to be like by 2040, and wants to hear from the communities that local voluntary and community organisations know best. Share the link with the groups and people you work with. It takes 10 to 15 minutes, works on a phone, and there are no wrong answers. What people say will be published next year and shape what councils and government plan for the next 15 years. Open until 13 November: https://lga.clevertogether.com/ Please share this with your local networks. Be Ready campaign informationThe Cabinet Office has launched the first phase of its Be Ready campaign, which is focusing on reaching people who are eligible for the Priority Services register. This is a free and easy action that critically supports the operational response and will be particularly important as we head into winter. You can found out more about the Be Ready campaign on the new government website here. Please share the below text with your local networks. Are you emergency ready? Everyday emergencies like storms can disrupt the essential services you rely on—like your phone, water, power and the internet. Taking a few simple steps to prepare can make a big difference, helping you manage while emergency support reaches those who need it most. If you or someone you know might need extra support during a gas, electricity or water outage, they may be able to sign up for the Priority Services Register. It’s a free service that ensures utility companies know who may need extra assistance. Lots of households are eligible, including those of pensionable age, people with long-term illnesses, and families with children under 5. Find out more about how to prepare and check your eligibility for extra help at: GOV.UK/BeReady External events and resources
DPS Social Commitment Programme: Helping to end homelessness Applications close 16 November: Funding and support for organisations tackling the causes and consequences of homelessness. The deadline is fast approaching for The DPS Social Commitment Programme by School for Social Entrepreneurs and The DPS. It is a specialist accelerator learning programme and grant funding for organisations in England and Wales tackling the causes and consequences of homelessness. Grants of £7k or £10k available. Apply by the 16 November, 12pm. Find out more here. Comments are closed.
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