January 2020

In December 2018, Royal Society for Public Health in partnership with Locality were commissioned by the Health Foundation to develop and test a framework and indicators to understand and measure community spirit.

This document is the testing prototype of our framework and it draws on existing literature, experts and the views of the public to better understand the factors which make up strong and healthy communities, in particular the facets which make up community spirit.

The framework is intended for any individual, group or organisation with an interest in improving health and/or wellbeing of communities. Whether they are community organisations, commissioners, or community leaders they are all encouraged to use this framework to support their communities.

Working in partnership, The King’s Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund will support up to six local areas for up to four years, helping to develop more effective partnerships between voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and the NHS and local authorities in their area.

The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the United Kingdom, will provide substantial grant funding to build capacity and enable areas to invest in new approaches and new ways of working in partnership.

The King’s Fund will provide bespoke support to each area, such as facilitating work across the local health system, providing evidence of how best to integrate care and support in a place, and challenging organisations to think differently. The King’s Fund will also distil learning from the areas taking part and share it more widely. 

Applications for Healthy communities together are due to open in spring 2020, and the pilot areas will start work later in the year. The programme is open to applications from groups of VCS and public sector organisations working together in a local area in England and is designed to target areas experiencing the most disadvantage.

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/healthy-communities-together

This best practice report just published by NHS England and NCVO sets out good practice and references our work as VET in section 1:

https://publications.ncvo.org.uk/creating-partnerships-success/?_cldee=aXZhbi5hbm5pYmFsQHJvc2VyZWdlbmVyYXRpb24uY28udWs%3d&recipientid=contact-44fffbb2d79ce911a96b000d3ab6d5d9-2470df2744484b6fa9c403b3c17238c5&esid=4bb883de-8c78-4be0-bb0e-b5737b91a095

Lincolnshire Voluntary Engagement Team Annual Conference

Thursday 19^th March 2020

9.00 – 16:00

New Life Conference Centre

25 Mareham Ln, Sleaford NG34 7JP

Reserve your ticket at:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-voluntary-engagement-team-annual-conference-tickets-89673047499

9.00 – 9.30	Arrival  – tea/coffee
9.30– 9.45	Welcome	Chris Wheway – Chair VET and CEO St Barnabas Hospice
9.45 – 10.15	Guest Speaker and Conference Chair	Professor Richard Parish, Chair, National Centre for Rural Health and Care
10:15 – 10.45	Speed Intros – all delegates	Led by Ivan Annibal
10.45 – 11:15	The New Institute of Rural Health – University of Lincoln.	Professor Mark Gussy, Global Professor in Rural Health and Social care
11:15 – 11.45	Mapping the Sector in Lincolnshire	Ben Barley, CEO, Voluntary Centre Services
11.45 – 12.45	Lunch and networking	This will also involve and ask an “Expert” opportunity with people badged to represent their knowledge
12.45-13.15	A Sector Led VCS Strategy for Lincolnshire	Sarah Fletcher, CEO, Healthwatch
13.15– 15.30 Afternoon Workshops 45 mins in duration running three times
Workshop 1	Capacity Building Support	David Fannin CEO, Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service
Workshop 2	Measuring value and demonstrating impact	Dr Jessica Sellick and Ivan Annibal, Rose Regeneration
Workshop 3	National Best Practice Around VCS Health and Care	Carrie Mckenzie, Voluntary Partnerships Programme Manager, Voluntary Partnerships Team, NHS England and NHS Improvement
15.30 – 15.45	Summing Up and Next Steps	Michelle Jolly, Vice Chair VET and CEO Age UK, Lincoln and South Lincolnshire
15:45 – 16.00	Tea/coffee and networking

Please find the attached the flyer and website link for the new ESF grants programme managed by BGU.

There is a booking form for attendance at the launch on the 9^th January. https://www.bishopg.ac.uk/employmentskillsgrants/.

There is also an expression of interest form on the website for any contacts who may be interested in applying for an award. These will be small organisations and charities (3^rd sector) with a turnover of less than £5 million and less than 49 staff. Projects are aimed at supporting those who are inactive in the labour market or unemployed. There is certain eligibility criteria which we will explain at the launch event.