The latest local and national VCSE sector news

We're Recruiting Trustees: Join To Support Wakefield District's VCSE Sector

We’re looking for people who understand the value of the VCSE sector and want to be part of supporting it at a wider strategic level in Wakefield District.

Feb 2, 2026

Keeping Volunteering Voluntary: The Government’s Asylum Proposals

The government wants to link volunteering to faster asylum settlement. This risks turning a voluntary act into a requirement.

Jan 30, 2026

Create & Bloom App Making Creativity Accessible To All

Create & Bloom is a creative health app, offering an innovative way to boost mental health and wellbeing through creative activities.

Jan 30, 2026

What Will VCSE Funding Look Like In 2026?

Back in 2019, Wakefield received less than 50% of the regional funding average per head. Since then, funders have worked together to start closing the gap and make positive changes to VCSE funding in the district.

Jan 27, 2026

New West Yorkshire VCSE Advisory Group Opens Call for Members

We're working with partners to set up a new VCSE Advisory Group for West Yorkshire. Interested in joining?

Jan 19, 2026

Happy Holidays from the Nova Team!

Our office will be closed from 24 December to 5 January. We look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.

Dec 22, 2025

Wakefield’s Neighbourhood Health Model Moves Forward - Where Does The VCSE Sector Fit In?

Partners across Wakefield are taking the next big step in developing the district’s Neighbourhood Health model.

Dec 18, 2025

VCSE Organisations Receive £67k To Improve Access to Essential Support

The latest round of Live Well Wakefield Small Grants has awarded funding to five local organisations.

Dec 17, 2025

Community Investment Gateway launched in Wakefield District

Wakefield District’s Community Investment Gateway launched in November.

Dec 4, 2025

I'm a Nova member, is that different from Community Investment Gateway membership?

Many of you are Nova members, and some of you may also be members of the Community Investment Gateway. One question we get asked a lot is: is there a difference between the two? And what is that difference?

Nov 24, 2025

Could You Be A Trustee?

We're hosting a friendly, welcoming session for anyone who’s ever thought about becoming a charity trustee - or who’s simply curious about what trustees do.

Nov 18, 2025

Citizen Coin Is The Go-To Platform To Find Volunteers

Citizen Coin is now the place to advertise your volunteering opportunities in Wakefield District and reward your volunteers.

Nov 26, 2024

New Three Year Grants to Support Wakefield City Centre Communities

Grants of £10,000 to £25,000 per year are available through the Third Sector Framework, funding VCSE organisations that support communities with the highest deprivation and poorest health outcomes in Wakefield City Centre.

Nov 20, 2024

Challenging Plans To Increase Employer National Insurance for VCSE Organisations

It’s becoming more and more challenging for VCSE organisations to keep delivering their services that support and enrich communities.

Nov 13, 2024

New Funding Open For South Kirkby & Moorthorpe

Local VCSE organisations know what their communities need. We've opened another funding opportunity where they can decide what to fund.

Oct 17, 2024

West Yorkshire VCSE Update: Work Around Procurement & Contracting

An update from Kim Shutler, VCSE Lead for West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board & Senior Responsible Officer for Power of Communities.

Oct 11, 2024

5 Things to Consider When Using AI for VCSE Work

AI is becoming part of everyday life – from using Google Maps to email software – so we were interested to see how it could benefit VCSE organisations.

Oct 9, 2024

Wakefield Community Organisations Funded to Build Healthy & Sustainable Communities

£20,000 awarded to local organisations, who came together to present their pitch and decide what to fund.

Sep 30, 2024

New Good Practice Guide for councils working with LIOs and the VCSE sector

The Local Government Association has just published a new guide on working with local infrastructure organisations to engage smaller VCSE organisations.

Sep 19, 2024

New Resource for Communities and Local Businesses On Stopping Child Exploitation

Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) has launched phase 2 of the Speak Up Stand Up Stop Exploitation Campaign.

Sep 18, 2024

WYCAS Launches The Abacus Project

This exciting initiative is designed to connect skilled individuals with local charities in need of financial management support. Could you benefit?

Sep 18, 2024

Core20PLUS5 Project Update: Incredible impact of supporting people to attend healthcare appointments in Wakefield District

Live Well Wakefield are six months into their brilliant project that's helping local people attend healthcare appointments.

Aug 29, 2024

VCSE Organisations Receive £60k To Boost Neurodivergent Support and Activities for Young Adults in Wakefield District

Live Well Wakefield Small Grants has funded seven local organisations to offer important health and wellbeing support.

Aug 28, 2024

Case Study: Joined up emergency support with community hubs

The VCS Emergencies Partnership have shared a fantastic case study about how Nova and partners are responding to the cost of living crisis in Wakefield District.

Mar 14, 2023

New Workshops Available: Book Your Spot

We've got an interesting selection of workshops coming up in the next few months, perfect for any VCSE staff and volunteers looking to learn and develop!

Mar 14, 2023

Exciting opportunity for young people aged 14-25 to join West Yorkshire Youth Commission

The West Yorkshire Youth Commission is a peer-led project that enables young people to get involved and have their say about urgent issues that affect their lives and help build a safer community.

Mar 13, 2023

Could cutting your carbon, cut your costs?

NatWest's Carbon Planner is free and could support you to become a more sustainable and climate conscious organisation.

Mar 13, 2023

Round 14 of Live Well Wakefield Small Grants is OPEN!

We're pleased to welcome applications for the 14th round of Live Well Wakefield Small Grants.

Mar 13, 2023

Fundraising Regulator sees increase in case ‘complexity’ and public awareness

The cases seen by the Fundraising Regulator have become more complex over the past few years, according to its chief executive Gerald Oppenheim.

Mar 10, 2023

Fully-Funded Trustee Training for People of Colour - Closing 24 March

Why do Getting on Board offer fully funded places to people of colour? For a start only 8% of trustees are from Black and Asian backgrounds and only 2.9% of all trustees are women of colour.

Mar 10, 2023

Join the Wakefield Mental Health Alliance Dashboard

The Wakefield Mental Health Alliance is developing a dashboard to give oversight of mental health service activity across Wakefield and District.

Mar 9, 2023

Happy Social Prescribing Day

9 March 2023 is Social Prescribing Day - a celebration of social prescribing, demonstrating the amazing impact it can have on people’s health and wellbeing. 

Mar 9, 2023

Being a Charity Trustee: Refresh your Knowledge

These are lots of 5-minute video guides available from the Charity Commission to help Trustees provide the best possible oversight to their charity.

Mar 8, 2023

It's International Women's Day!

For International Women's Day and beyond, let's all fully #EmbraceEquity.

Mar 8, 2023

Get involved in new West Yorkshire Voice to help influence health and care decisions

West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership is passionate about making sure the voice of people is central to its work.

Mar 7, 2023

Energy Affordability Helpline

Citizens Advice now have dedicated Energy advisers working as part of a project with Newcastle Citizens Advice and Northern Powergrid to help clients in Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale, Kirklees and the North East.

Apr 20, 2022

Member Spotlight: Theatre Royal Wakefield

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District. We hope that you enjoy learning more about....

Apr 20, 2022

6 Top Tips for Writing Funding Bids

This #StressAwarenessMonth, we're working with Wakefield & District Health & Community Support to take the stress out of writing funding bids. Read our tips here...

Apr 4, 2022

Projects funded by the Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Grant Fund

Read more about the brilliant projects taking place across Wakefield District...

Mar 28, 2022

Member Spotlight: Mindful Movers

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District. We hope that you enjoy learning more about....

Crafting4Good nominated for a Yorkshire Choice Award!

We’d like to congratulate our member Crafting4Good, who have been nominated for a Yorkshire Choice Award in the Independent Business of the Year category.

International Women's Day 2022

The theme of the day was Break the Bias, and we asked women working at Nova how they plan to do this within their roles.

How VCSE organisations can support Ukraine

Happy Social Prescribing Day 2022!

The positive impact social prescribing has on local communities and people is clear to see!

Mar 10, 2022

New dates announced for Nova training on volunteering

We're thrilled to announce our first training sessions of 2022!

Feb 22, 2022

Member Spotlight: Bless Community Services

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District. We hope that you enjoy learning more about....

Feb 17, 2022

Live Well Wakefield - BSL Communication Project

Wakefield & District Society for Deaf People are running a project aimed at improving the well-being of Deaf BSL people by providing support to access activities they would normally be excluded from.

Feb 10, 2022

Member Spotlight: Memory Action Group

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Dec 17, 2021

Member Spotlight: Disability Sport Yorkshire

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Nov 18, 2021

Recipe Club Success

Residents of the Warwick Estate began sharing recipes in lockdown and the food initiative now reaches 70 families, in a programme managed by Warwick Ahead.

Nov 18, 2021

Member Spotlight: Grow Wakefield

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Oct 20, 2021

Additional income for VCSE organisations in Wakefield District

Funding is available for voluntary organisations, non-profits, charities and CICs in the Wakefield District through fundraising website easyfundraising.

Oct 20, 2021

Member Spotlight: Portobello Craft and Camera Group

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Sep 27, 2021

West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health and Care Partnership launch anti-racism movement

The movement is part of an ongoing commitment to tackle structural and institutionalised racism, as well as addressing health and social inequalities across the area.

Sep 1, 2021

Community>Wakefield is live!

Community>Wakefield - the new place for services, activities, opportunities and events across Wakefield District.

Jul 19, 2021

Member Spotlight: Wakefield Hospice

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District. We hope that you enjoy learning more about....

Jun 17, 2021

Volunteers' Week 2021: Nova's roundup of celebrations and opportunities

The Nova team would like to thank volunteers for their inspiring and incredible work to support people and organisations across the Wakefield District.

Jun 3, 2021

Case Studies from the Covid-19 Community Hubs

We have asked community organisations to provide us with information and stories so we can highlight the brilliant work that volunteers are doing throughout Wakefield District during the pandemic.

Jun 1, 2020

Projects funded through the Live Well Wakefield Small Grants – Coronavirus Resilience Fund

13 projects have been awarded funding through the recent Live Well Wakefield Small Grants – Coronavirus Resilience Fund.

May 21, 2020

#CANCon20 - What's Strong not What's Wrong

Our annual Community Anchor Network conference, #CANCon20 took place on 10 March 2020.

Mar 11, 2020

Wakefield District Third Sector Strategy 2020 - 23

The Wakefield District Third Sector Strategy 2020 - 23 has now been published.

Feb 16, 2020