The Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector is a key strategic partner at every level of the ICS structures. This significance is recognised in the fact that there is specific guidance for VCSE Alliances which aims to ensure that ICBs have a formal agreement for engaging and embedding the VCSE sector in system-level governance and decision making.

As not-for-profit providers, our members should be trying to make the most of any links they have to VCSE Alliances. There is currently no list of these alliances, but the National  Association or Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) represents the local infrastructure organisations that make up a large part of these VCSE Alliances – looking at their membership is a good place to start: https://navca.org.uk/find-a-member-1.   

Similarly, the NHS Voluntary Partnership team can also help to make connections to VCSE organisations: england.voluntarypartnerships@nhs.net.