Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS)

The challenges facing the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) delivering children and young people’s service across London have prompted the development of a Pan London Voluntary and Community Sector Action Plan. 

The complexity of delivering the Every Child Matters agenda across London alongside of the move towards commissioning within Children’s services, workforce development issues and a focus on effective representation of the VCS in the planning and delivery of services have been the drivers within this Pan London approach.

This development has been supported by the establishment of the London CYP Engage Network - A network of CYP (VCS) networks supported by VCS Engage. This regional network seeks to create stronger partnership working across VCS umbrella or infrastructure groups working on the 0-19 agenda in London. The network has been working in partnership with Government Office for London, to facilitate the development and implementation of the Pan London VCS Action plan.

The vision for the work focused on drawing on the expertise across the sectors to identify both priorities and solutions and developing robust partnerships for joint working and the first steps towards taking this forward have included:

•  A review of key needs and priorities across a range of statutory and voluntary sector  partners facilitated by VCS Engage and the TDA
•  The establishment of an advisory group to support and steer the process supported by GOL
•  The facilitation of an action planning session on the 25th June (funded by GOL) attended by a range of stakeholders
•  The agreement of 6 priority areas for development

The 6 priority areas are as follows:
Improved Communications - Coordinated communications across the VCS in London
Effective Engagement - To ensure that VCS organisations are engaged and involved in local and regional decision making
Representation and Pan London Specialist Groups - To increase the engagement and representation of specialist infrastructure groups in decision making
Promotion of Innovation - To support innovation through partnerships between the statutory and voluntary sector
Increase Quality Assurance - Improved service delivery and commitment to securing quality assured practice
Promote Workforce Development – well trained and qualified workers with clear and affordable development pathways at all levels

The plan is currently being reviewed by a range of partners and a final version will be disseminated in October 2008. 

If you require further information about this programme and the action plan please contact either Sharon Long or Nicki James. A presentation detailing the work can also be Dowloaded 

Contacts:

Sharon Long VCS Engage London Regional Manager
Sharon.long1@virgin.net

Nicki James GOL Strategic Development for Networks
Nicki.James@gol.gsi.gov.uk

Further Information

Find out more about Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)