If we look back only a few years ago, Nova was invited to meeting after meeting, whether we had a specialism in that area or not. We ticked the box for Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) representation.

This didn’t make sense to me.

It’s essential that we had the best, most experienced and knowledgeable person attend that could advocate for the sector, because how can one person represent 1,200 groups and organisations?

Nova negotiated and, looking back, sometimes wrestled for a seat at the table but it wasn’t Nova’s to keep, it was for the sector. And so, the idea for VCSE Voices came about.

We came together with Young Lives Consortium to look at boards and collaboratives across the district and we worked with our statutory partners to secure multi-year funding.

Since then, the programme has gone from strength to strength. We are in a fantastic position where we’re supporting 19 Advocates and deputies to contribute to 20 strategic boards.

Our VCSE Voices model is now held up as best practice.

• Power of Communities, the West Yorkshire ICB (Integrated Care Board) have used the model to implement a West Yorkshire process.
• At least two other Local Infrastructure Organisations, like Nova, have used our toolkit as a basis for their own.
• The backfill that we secured to reimburse Advocates for their time and expertise has been used as precedent in other areas, securing payments elsewhere.
• Discussions at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are being informed by the work happening with the VCSE Voices Network.

Advocates are using their skill and expertise, from their work at local VCSE organisations and often lived experience, to influence decision-making around adults' services; social care; and children and young people’s services. The impact of VCSE Voices is all down to their dedication and hard work.

These are just a few examples of the Advocates recent achievements.

• Improving Inclusion & Language: Chris and Anna, Advocates on the Early Years Strategic Partnership Board, provided feedback that made the new Children and Young People’s Plan 2025-28 more inclusive and clear. Advocates also provided feedback that statements in the Plan assumed all children went to nursery and 'school', excluding children with special educational needs, those with disabilities and those being educated at home. This has now been changed.
• Improving Consultation Processes: Advocates provided feedback on the initial data gathering for the Plan, suggesting that engagement could have been longer and more accessible, which was acknowledged and will be taken into account for future engagement.
• Improving Visibility of the VCSE Offer: Jane and Julius, VCSE Advocates on the Employment and Skills Strategy and Steering Groups, attended a meeting where the statements about Wakefield District’s VCSE sector in a strategic plan did not reflect the contribution or value of VCSE organisations to the local employment and skills offer. Advocates developed an employment and skills survey and as a result, we now have a real sense of what is going on in the employment and skills sector in Wakefield District which is being used by Wakefield Council.

I do also want to acknowledge that this is a difficult role.

Some of the board environments are tricky and it may feel that decisions are, in fact, being made elsewhere. There may be a board that isn’t functioning in the way we’d like to see. This can feel frustrating for Advocates but it’s important that we continue to make sure the VCSE sector is heard and valued, despite and because of the challenging times local organisations are facing.

The Wakefield District VCSE Collaborative supports with this, and is there to take forward any challenges Advocates face so that we can work together to see system change.  

VCSE Voices has come so far since it launched in January 2023. So I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of our Advocates, our Chairs and statutory partners who understand the significant value of this work.

Support Your Advocates

VCSE Voices can support your VCSE organisation or group by:

• Advocating for person-centred care by magnifying the voice of communities you support e.g. there is a significant difference between what figures tell us about SEND care in Wakefield (comparatively good when looking at the national picture) and the lived experience of parents and carers
• Offering constructive feedback to the Council and Service Partners where there is something happening in the district that is not being addressed or isn’t working
• Getting a joined up view of local strategic decisions and how it is impacting the local VCSE sector

Your input really helps with this. Tell us what's important; the issues you want to raise; and information you want to share. Get in touch by email at vcsevoices@nova-wd.org.uk and keep an eye out for VCSE Voices Roundups if you're a Nova Member.