 For me this newsletter should be titled “reasons to be cheerful”. It has been a funny old start to the year – with international politics, UK politics, local politics all bringing their own brand of disbelief at various points; and the rain, which has just not stopped; and the dark evenings, which don’t feel like they are getting less dark yet. But, amidst all that there is hope. We had an energising network session yesterday with members focusing on guidance on community cohesion which has been published to support local authorities Common Ground: building cohesive communities. There is plenty in there about how to engage, and potentially a tool to get an “in” with your own authority. I’m really proud of the allyship programme bringing people together to develop their practice, and the new EEDI framework has a clear focus for LIOs, identifying strengths and areas to develop to be stronger in our actions. And the Million Acts of Hope campaign lifts me just thinking about it and its potential, to really amplify the good that there is. So I hope like me you read this newsletter and feel inspired to take action, no matter how big or small, and to engage in conversations with others about what you are doing. We can’t control the big politics, but we can definitely make a difference to those around us and our communities. Who knows, maybe even tomorrow it will stop raining. Contents: NAVCA events and resources Join the NAVCA Allyship Programme New NAVCA EEDI Audit Framework Equity, equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work Help shape A Million Acts of Hope We're Disability Confident! Exploring AI in local infrastructure NAVCA conference tickets running low Dare to be different - trustees and governance course for NAVCA members Health NAVCA at ICIC26 Policy Pride in Place: 40 new neighbourhoods to join programme Pride in Place: what’s working locally and what we’re learning - NAVCA member event £150m for high streets Consultation: local government reorganisation in 14 two-tier areas External events and resources New Local Trust website launches The role of local VCSE organisations supporting people and families in the criminal justice system VCSE Barometer Survey - volunteering What’s it like getting funding in 2026? Take part in CFG’s 2026 Charity Banking Survey NAVCA events and resources Join the NAVCA Allyship Programme Across our network, NAVCA members are already doing vital work to support communities, challenge inequality and create spaces where people can thrive. But in a context of widening inequality, growing polarisation and increased pressure on the VCSE sector, allyship in action is more important than ever. Following the success of our first cohort of Allyship Champions, we are delighted to be growing the NAVCA Allyship Programme. This 12-month programme brings together training, peer learning, facilitated networking and ongoing support to help members lead on allyship with confidence and consistency. It builds on what members are already doing well, while creating space to reflect, share challenges and strengthen practice together. As an Allyship Champion, you’ll take part in expert-led workshops exploring topics such as allyship, cultural intelligence, inclusive cultures and psychological safety, alongside facilitated peer sessions that create a trusted, supportive space to learn and grow. You’ll gain practical tools you can apply locally, access ongoing resources, and connect with a growing network of champions across the NAVCA membership. Find out more here, or get in touch with us at [email protected] for a chat. New NAVCA EEDI Audit Framework Equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) sit at the heart of what local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) do. Every day, LIOs work across systems and sectors, supporting VCSE organisations, connecting communities with decision-makers, and shaping more inclusive local places. NAVCA’s new EEDI Audit Framework has been developed specifically with this role in mind. Designed for local infrastructure organisations, it provides a structured way to reflect on your organisation’s current practice, identify strengths, and shape meaningful next steps. It brings together NAVCA’s knowledge of EEDI in LIOs with learning from wider organisational frameworks, while keeping a sharp focus on the distinct contribution local infrastructure makes to inclusive, thriving communities. We’ve just launched the EEDI Audit Framework at an introductory offer of just £200 plus VAT if you purchase the framework in February (or £250 plus VAT from March onwards). Find out more here. For any queries or to purchase your copy of the audit framework, please contact us at [email protected]. Equity, equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work At NAVCA, social action and social justice sit at the heart of everything we do. Our members work every day with and for communities that are too often marginalised, unheard or excluded — and supporting that work means taking equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) seriously. That’s why EEDI is a core strategic objective for NAVCA. Not as an add-on, but something that runs through how we lead, how we work, how we partner, and how we support local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) to create change. We know there is always more to do — and we are committed to listening, learning and acting so that our work reflects the diversity, strength and lived experience of the communities our network serves. Find out more about our EEDI work here. Help shape A Million Acts of Hope In May 2026, charities, faith groups, community organisations and residents from all walks of life are coming together for a UK-wide week of action to celebrate acts of hope - and show that communities are strongest when we stand together. From running foodbanks to youth clubs to litter picks, community coffee mornings and local campaigns, hope shows up every day in our communities. A Million Acts of Hope will help shine a light on all the ways people already look out for one another - and inspire even more acts of hope. We’d love you to join a test and learn session on Wednesday 18th February 12-1:30pm and share what’s working locally, what helps people get involved and what would make it easier for you, and your community, to take part in A Million Acts of Hope. This 90-minute session will seek to understand how it can fit with what you already do and what might help you do something extra. Book your space here, and please share with your local networks. There are a limited number of £25 stipends available to support participation in this event. Join us to help co-create a week of action that is open, accessible, and powerful for everyone. We're Disability Confident! We’re pleased to share that NAVCA is now a Disability Confident Committed employer. This commitment reflects our ongoing work to embed equity, equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do — starting with how we recruit, support and work with people. Becoming Disability Confident means taking practical action to make our organisation more accessible, inclusive and supportive for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to making our recruitment processes inclusive and accessible, including offering information in accessible formats and welcoming applications in different ways. We will actively promote our vacancies across a range of channels, work to remove barriers in our recruitment processes, and encourage disabled applicants by offering an interview to anyone who meets the essential criteria for a role. We are also committed to anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments so that disabled colleagues are not disadvantaged at work, and to supporting any staff member who acquires a disability or long-term health condition to stay in employment and continue contributing their skills and experience. This is an important step in strengthening our own practice, and in modelling the inclusive approaches we encourage across the local infrastructure network. We know this is an ongoing journey, and we’ll continue to listen, learn and improve as part of our wider EEDI work. If you’d like to find out more about Disability Confident or share your own learning and practice, we’d love to hear from you. Exploring AI in local infrastructure Please see the below message from Natalie Hawkins, Infrastructure, Community, and Partnerships Manager at NAVCA member VAST. As part of my Level 7 Senior Leadership apprenticeship, I’m exploring how emerging technologies such as AI might influence the VCSE sector. This research will help us to understand opportunities, challenges, barriers, and the support needs for organisations like ours and for the charities we serve. Your input will shape practical guidance and sector-wide conversations. There are no assumptions about AI adoption, if or how you use it, or how you feel about using it, this is about listening to you and learning about the use of AI in our sector from your perspective. Looking at how AI might affect local infrastructure, this research aims to understand your views - positive, negative, or uncertain. Your feedback will help us design support that reflects the real needs and priorities across the VCSE sector. Please complete this survey to share your thoughts and experiences. Thank you for your participation. NAVCA conference tickets running low With just over 3 months to go until the NAVCA Annual Conference, taking place in Birmingham on 14th May, we now have just under 25% of member tickets available to purchase. With a broad programme of workshops, there is something for everyone on your team, and we encourage members to use the conference as an opportunity for teambuilding and networking. As well as the main conference day, we are hosting two additional networking sessions - a Networking Afternoon (new for 2026 in response to member feedback), and our annual Networking Dinner, both held on Wednesday 13th May. If you are travelling up to Birmingham, why not make the most of your journey and join us at these two events? The Networking Afternoon will be a more informal opportunity to network around key topics, and the Networking Dinner (sponsored by Plinth and held at St Paul's House) will be a relaxed and friendly evening, with food and drink available. Find out more about the full programme and get your tickets here. Dare to be different - trustees and governance course for NAVCA members We’re pleased to bring back Dare to Be Different, following a successful run last year. This practical workshop is for NAVCA members delivering or managing governance support, and focuses on how to support more inclusive, effective board recruitment across the VCSE sector. Facilitated by Kathryn Sullivan — trustee, former CVS CEO and governance consultant — the sessions explore why board demographics have remained unchanged for so long, what good recruitment looks like in practice, and how to equip organisations with the skills and resilience they need for the future. Feedback from our last session highlighted just how valuable members found the space to learn and reflect together. Participants praised the “practical activities, enough time to have discussions, good facilitation and content,” and described the event as “well delivered and lots of useful information,” with materials they planned to take back to trustee networks locally. Several attendees also told us that spreading the session over two half-days would allow more time to explore ideas and conversations in depth. We’ve listened to that feedback, and have incorporated it into the design of this upcoming event, which will now run across two half-day sessions on 9th and 11th March to allow more space for discussion, reflection and shared learning. Book your place via the Member Hub. (£100 per person). Health NAVCA at ICIC26 The programme for the 26th International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC26) is now live. Taking place in Birmingham from 13–15 April 2026, the conference brings together people working across health, care, policy, research and communities from around the world. This year’s theme — Integrated Care for All: Promoting Health and Wellbeing Through Diversity — strongly reflects the role that local VCSE infrastructure plays in neighbourhood health, community connection and tackling inequalities. We’re pleased that NAVCA is involved as a learning partner, helping to ensure local infrastructure perspectives are visible throughout the programme. Sam James, NAVCA’s Integrated Care Lead, alongside our consultant Aimie Cole, will be leading a workshop, and Sam has also been invited to contribute to a panel discussion. NAVCA is also supporting the conference through participation on the scientific committee. ICIC26 offers three days of keynote sessions, research and practice presentations, lived experience perspectives, workshops and networking — creating space to learn, reflect and connect with others shaping integrated care. You can explore the full programme and find out more here: https://tinyurl.com/bdc6bnry Policy Pride in Place: 40 new neighbourhoods to join programme40 additional areas will be added to the Pride in Place programme, each receiving £20m over the next 10 years. The neighbourhoods selected will be announced in due course. Read the full statement here. Pride in Place: what’s working locally and what we’re learning - NAVCA member event Many members are already deeply involved in the delivery of the Phase 1 Pride in Place programme neighbourhoods, and Phase 2 areas are just getting started. This session is an opportunity to share your expertise and learn from others, helping you in the work you are doing for Pride in Place. We'll hear from a couple of areas on different approaches and there will be lots of time for discussion. The meeting will take place on Thursday 26th February, 3pm - 4pm. Book your place via the NAVCA website. £150m for high streets Targeted to areas that have been hardest hit by shop and business closures, and have high numbers of empty units, the fund will be community led. Further details of the areas to be funded and how the scheme will work are to follow. Read the full statement here. Consultation: local government reorganisation in 14 two-tier areas Consultations have now been launched on local government reorganisation proposals for final 14 two-tier council areas. Local Infrastructure organisations are listed as named consultees, which is a very positive development. NAVCA has written a briefing to support you to respond to the consultation covering your area, with suggested topics to address in your response. Information about each proposal is linked in the briefing, which you can download here. The closing date for the consultation is 23:59 on Thursday 26th March 2026. External events and resources
New Local Trust website launchesA new website has just launched, sharing one of the UK’s richest collections of learning about community-led change. Created by Local Trust, the site brings together research, resident stories and practical insight into what it really takes for communities to lead change, and how funders, researchers, policymakers and practitioners can enable it. Learning from Big Local: 150 communities. 15 years of learning. Your resource for community-led change. Explore the site here: https://bit.ly/49CK3sf The role of local VCSE organisations supporting people and families in the criminal justice systemFree training for local infrastructure organisations These workshops by Clinks provide local infrastructure organisations with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the criminal justice system and explore how recent changes, including the new Sentencing Act (commencing Spring 2026), will impact local VCSE support and community sentencing. The session will cover an overview of the criminal justice system, police, prisons and probation, local statutory structures, and the role of the voluntary sector. Places are limited (20 per workshop, max 2 per organisation). Tuesday 17 March 2026, 13:00 - 15:30 Wednesday 18 March 2026, 13:00 - 15:30 Monday 23 March 2026, 13:00 - 15:30 VCSE Barometer Survey - volunteering It is the International Year of Volunteering, so in the latest wave of the VCSE Barometer Survey, they are exploring the changing nature of volunteering. National evidence suggests that formal, regular volunteering remains below pre-pandemic levels, with time pressure a significant barrier for many people. At the same time, increased involvement in short-term, flexible, skills-based, and digital or remote volunteering is placing additional demands on organisations. This wave explores how organisations recruit and retain volunteers, and where the main pressures now lie, including: • Is your volunteer capacity and infrastructure sufficient to achieve your goals? • Which recruitment strategies are working, and which are failing to attract volunteers? • Are there shifts towards episodic, micro, skills-based, or digital or remote volunteering? The survey runs from 27 January - 24 February. Please submit your response by 24 February to make your voice count. What’s it like getting funding in 2026?IVAR, home of the Open and Trusting community of 170+ funders, is running its biggest ever survey to understand what it’s really like to apply for, receive and manage grants today. If you work or volunteer in a UK-based charity, community organisation or social enterprise that applies for or receives funding, take 10 minutes to share your experience. The survey closes 1st March, with 10 x £100 donation prizes up for grabs, and will take around 10 mins to complete. Fill in the survey here. Take part in CFG’s 2026 Charity Banking SurveyBuilding on the findings from their 2022 and 2024 banking surveys, Charity Finance Group (CFG) want to understand where progress has been made, where challenges persist, and where issues may have worsened. The data CFG collect will help us identify areas that require further action from banks, charities and regulators. By sharing your data, you will help CFG continue to capture an up-to-date view of the sector’s experience with banking. Your responses will be treated confidentially and used only in aggregate form to demonstrate sector-wide trends. Having robust data to draw on in conversations with banks, regulators, and government is powerful and means we can clearly demonstrate the need for change. The evidence from this survey will also ensure CFG’s policy work, sector advocacy, and practical resources around banking continue to reflect the experience of charities across the UK. Find out more and fill in the survey here. Comments are closed.
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