Our Work
VCSE Voices

VCSE Voices

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VCSE Voices is our innovative project to make sure our sector is heard and valued.

VCSE Voices increases representation of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector at strategic, decision-making meetings across the Wakefield District. It provides opportunities for members of our sector to influence policy and take part in discussions to improve services so that they meet the needs of people who live in our district.

To do this, Nova recruits and works with VCSE Advocates.

Who are the Advocates?

VCSE Advocates are people who work in or volunteer within the VCSE sector and are therefore well-connected to the views and needs of communities. Nova currently has 23 Advocates in post, attending meetings.

MEET OUR ADVOCATES HERE

What do Advocates do?

VCSE Advocates attend board meetings to champion and broadcast information from the sector. They provide knowledge and insight about the needs of VCSE groups and the diverse communities they serve, sharing information from and to the sector.

Advocates share meeting information back to the sector by leading the VCSE Voices Network - a peer discussion space open to all Nova members.

Which boards do Advocates attend?

Many decision-making boards exist to coordinate and deliver health and wellbeing services; adults' services; social care; and children and young people’s services.

Advocates provide representation across boards within:  

  • The Health and Care Partnership (meetings that help plan and deliver NHS services)
  • The Local Authority (Wakefield District Council meetings which plan and deliver council services)

Each meeting has responsibility to include VCSE sector representation and therefore, through VCSE Voices, Nova is continually recruiting Advocates to provide expert advice and leadership.

What is the VCSE Voices Network?

The VCSE Voices Network is a bi-monthly meeting where Advocates come together. During meetings, Advocates share information and updates, receive peer support, identify shared themes, and collaborate on planning and development.

The network ensures that information from meetings is shared with the wider sector and not solely with the advocate in attendance. This is a fundamental part of the project's philosophy and purpose: to increase knowledge, transparency, and participation.

The VCSE Voices Network meets every other month and is self-led and chaired by Advocates. The meetings are open, and you can book to attend on our Event & Training page.

What support do Advocates get?

Advocates receive a tailored induction and are provided with training and support to enable full participation.  

We want Advocates to feel empowered to partake and so offer training based on individual needs. Past Examples include training on how to have good meetings and training around cultural competency.

Backfill exists to reimburse Advocates for their time and expertise. This process both demonstrates the value of contribution and formalises the representative role, while enabling advocacy to come from diversified perspectives.

Find out how you can get involved and browse the vacant Advocate roles.

More information

 If you'd like more detail, you can watch the recording of the launch event on our YouTube channel.

Organisation

Framework Tier

Phone Number

Email Address

Ackworth Community Library

3

01977 625617

info@ackworthcommunitylibrary.org.uk

Age UK Wakefield District

1

01977 552114

admin@ageukwd.org.uk

Aphasia Support

1

01924 562443

info@aphasiasupport.org

Bless Community Support

3

07747 561575

info@bless community support.org

Blossom Training and Development

3

WhatsApp via website

enquiries@blossom-uk.co.uk

Bring Me To Life Women's Wellness CIC

3

N/A

catherine@bringmetolife.co.uk

Calder and Colne Rivers Trust

1

N/A

talk@calderandcolneriverstrust.org

Care to Talk (Wakefield) CIC

3

07826 657682

info@caretotalk.org

Carers Wakefield & District

1

01924 305544

info@carerswakefield.org.uk

Castleford Heritage Trust

2

01977 556741

info@castlefordheritagetrust.org.uk

Christ Church South Ossett

3

01924 263311

christchurchsouthossett@gmail.com

Citizens Advice Wakefield District

1

01924 234001

districtoffice@wakefielddistrictcab.co.uk

CoActive Arts

2

N/A

info@coactive.org.uk

Conexus Healthcare CIC

1

01924 677987

contact@conexus-healthcare.org

Crafting4Good CIC

3

07860 371975

creativehub@crafting4good.org

DIAL Wakefield

2

01977 723933

advice@dialwakefield.co.uk

DSY at Denhale CIC

3

01924 372382

N/A

Dominion Employment Training Services Ltd

1

01924 210195

enquiries@dominiontraining.org.uk

Dream Time Creative CIC

2

07733 180416

hello@dreamtimecreative.org

Eastmoor Community Project Ltd

1

01924 361212

info@eastmoorcommunity.co.uk

Empath Action CIC

3

01924 682665

hi@empathaction.org

Enable Unity CIC (t/a Sensory Planet)

2

01709 919036

info@sensoryplanet.co.uk

Enabling Youth And Motorcross CIC

2

07482 106237

info@enablingyouth.co.uk

Evergreen Active CIC

3

01924 677123

hello@evergreenactive.co.uk

Featherstone Rovers Foundation

1

01977 702386

foundation.admin@featherstonerovers.co.uk

Friends of Featherstone Community Centre

3

07824 394163

friendsoffeatherstonecc@gmail.com

GASPED

1

01924 787501

resourcecentre@gasped.co.uk

Glasshoughton Bowling Club

3

N/A

lee.a8@sky.com

Groundwork Yorkshire

1

0300 303 3292

leeds@groundwork.org.uk

Grow Wakefield

1

07971 098510

andy@grow-wakefield.co.uk

Havercroft and Ryhill Community Learning Project

1

01226 727824

faith@rycroftcommunity.co.uk

Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC CIC

2

N/A

HMWFC-1981@hotmail.com

Home Start Wakefield & District

1

01924 251205

admin@homestartwakefield.org.uk

Horbury Churches Together

2

01924 275859

horburybreakthrough@gmail.com

Horbury Civic Society

3

01924 374293

info@horburycivicsociety.org.uk

IAspire2 CIC

2

07747 168024

iaspire2@mail.com

ISpace 5

1

07469 249162

contact@ispace.org.uk

Inspire North

1

N/A

development@inspirenorth.co.uk

Inspiring Community

2

01924 676852

amyadams@inspiringcommunity.co.uk

Just Transition Wakefield

3

N/A

info@justtransitionwakefield.org.uk

Learnest CIC

1

N/A

info@learnest.co.uk

Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange

1

0113 240 2444

contact@leedsgate.co.uk

LonGBoaT Wakefield CIO

3

07903 576664

general@longboatwakefield.org

MHA Communities Wakefield and District

2

01977 695006

wakefield@mha.org.uk

Memory Action Group

3

07963 568892

memoryactiongroup@gmail.com

Mid Yorkshire Community Foundation

3

01924 265637

info@mycommunityfoundation.org.uk

Mindful Movers

3

07742 428216

runwalktalkmm@gmail.com

Muziki Community Music

3

07468 699843

muzikiroadsafety@gmail.com

NLY Community Sports

3

0791 2934417

info@nlycommunitysport.co.uk

National Coal Mining Museum for England

1

01924 848806

info@ncm.org.uk

One Ummah Community CIC

3

074496 86844

oneummahcommunity@outlook.com

Open Country

2

07426 716677

wakefield@opencountry.org.uk

Penderels Trust

1

01924 898136

wakefield@penderelstrust.org.uk

Portobello Community Forum

3

07388 356008

infopcfwakefield@gmail.com

Portobello Craft and Camera

3

N/A

Contact at drop-in or Facebook and Instagram

Progressive Talent CIC

3

N/A

progressivetalentcic@gmail.com

R-YOUTH CIC

3

07790 3323465

amrannazir@r-youthcic.org.uk

Red Roof Centre CIC

2

01977 610931

rlucas@kinsley-fitzwilliam.org.uk

Reflections Yorkshire CIC

2

01977 804484

info@reflectionscic.com

Refugee Council

1

N/A

info@refugeecouncil.org.uk

Rycroft Leisure

1

01226 723659

youth@rycroftleisure.com

SACK (Springfield Allotment Community Klub)

3

07517 676379

sackhemsworth@gmail.com

Second Chance Headway Centre

1

01924 366735

rehab@schc.co.uk

Solace

2

0113 824 6796

info@solace-uk.org.uk

Sparkle (Community Media CIC)

3

07828 613061

blogupnorth@gmail.com

Spectrum Community Health CIC

1

01924 311400

business.development@spectrum-cic.nhs.uk

Spectrum People

1

07720 899781

spectrumpeople@spectrum-cic.nhs.uk

St Catherine's Church Centre

2

01924 211130

enquiries@stcatherines-wakefield.org.uk

St Georges Lupset

1

01924 369631

info@stgeorgeslupset.org.uk

St Giles Church Pontefract

2

01977 790448

stgileschurchpontefract@gmail.com

St Giles Trust

1

0113 819 5919

info@stgilestrust.org.uk

St Mary's Chequerfield Community Project

1

01977 705341

stmarys@stmaryscommunity.co.uk

St Peter's Church, Stanley

3

01924 835746

churchoffice@stpeters-stanley.org.uk

Star Bereavement

2

N/A

info@starwakefield.org.uk

Sustainable Communities Alliance

3

0113 368 1798

info@suscom.org.uk

Teacher Assist Training CIC

3

0113 2254952

info@teacherassisttraining.org

The Art Exchange CIC

3

07751 578801

theartexchangewakefield@gmail.com

The Art House

1

01924 312000

info@the-arthouse.org

The Exodus Project

1

01226 718899

theexodusproject@msn.com

The Prince of Wales Hospice

1

01977 708868

contact@pwh.org.uk

The S.M.a.S.H Society CIC

2

07867 514031

smashsociety@outlook.com

The Well Project

3

01924 895634

michelle@thewellproject.org.uk

The Youth Association

1

01924 333400

info@youth-association.org

Theatre Royal Wakefield

1

01924 211311

development@theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk

Think Cre8tive Group CIC (Wakefield)

3

N/A

wakefield@thinkcre8tivegroup.com

Touchstone

1

0113 2718277

sharonb@touchstonesupport.org.uk

Turning Lives Around

1

0113 276 0616

info@turninglivesaround.co.uk

Turning Minds Around

3

07419 202312

info@turningmindsaround.com

UNEF (Upton & North Elmsall Community Forum)

3

01977 649317

unef21703@gmail.com

Umbrella-Family Centre CIC

1

01924 965540

info@umbrellafc.org.uk

Wakefield Autism Leisure Club

3

wakefieldautismleisureclub@gmail.com

Wakefield Civic Society

3

07967 516841

info@wakefieldcivicsociety.org.uk

Wakefield District City of Sanctuary

3

07800 605397

info@wdcos.org.uk

Wakefield District Sight Aid

2

01924 215555

admin@wdsa.org.uk

Wakefield Hospice

1

01924 331400

enquiries@wakefieldhospice.co.uk

Wakefield Trinity Boxing Club CIC

3

07891 161407

info@trinityboxingclub.co.uk

Wakefield and District Housing Ltd

1

0345 8507507

onecall@wdh.co.uk

Group-Based Family Wellbeing Programmes - £20,000

Read more

Live Well Small Grants (Round 15) - £59,808.98

Read more

Community Grants for Climate Activity - £233,312

Read more

Adult Social Care Grant - £80,000

Read more

Open Access Youth Provision - £240,000 each round

Read more

Prosper and Nova Core Grants - £230,000

Read more

Community Mental Health Provision Fund - £69,500

Read more

Live Well Small Grants (Round 14) - £133,591.98

Read more

Me and Menopause - £3,188 per organisation

Read more

West Yorkshire Core20PLUS5 Community Connectors: Supporting Pregnant Asylum Seekers & Refugees - £58,500

Read more

Live Well Small Grants (Round 13) - £88,326

Read more

Thinking Differently Development Fund - £225,000

Read more

Future Selph Wakefield (16-25 Mental Health Project) - £774,798

Read more

Connecting Communities (Hospital Discharge Model) - £660,000

Read more

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How do I apply?

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Rebecca Dunford
Social Prescribing Services Manager
Shannon Simpson
Service Coordinator
Jasmine Evans
Service Coordinator
Caroline Sylvester
Service Coordinator - Maternity Leave
Adele Spaven
Social Prescribing Advisor
Gemma Naylor
Social Prescribing Advisor
Fareeda Mir
Social Prescribing Advisor
Dave Harrison
Social Prescribing Advisor
Gemma Newman
Social Prescribing Advisor
Helen Hackney
Social Prescribing Advisor
Paul Boyd
Self Management Service Administrator
Dawn Gzella
Senior Social Prescribing Advisor - Wakefield North
Justyna Banks
Social Prescribing Link Worker – Pontefract & Knottingley
Andrea Vickers
Social Prescribing Link Worker - Five Towns
Jazz Johal
Social Prescribing Link Worker - West Wakefield PCN
Sharon Kennedy
Social Prescribing Link Worker - Wakefield Health Alliance South
Hawwa Tabassum Pervaiz
Social Prescribing Link Worker - Trinity Health Group
Joanne Bratby
Social Prescribing Link Worker - Brigantes
Ellen Harrison
Core20PLUS5 Social Prescribing Project Lead
Katty Keyhani from Alzheimer’s Society
The Health and Wellbeing Board
Sharlene Featherstone from Second Chance Headway
The Health and Care Partnership
Amaina Elzoubir from One Ummah Community
Health Inequalities Steering Group
Ross Grant from Wakefield & District Society for Deaf People
The People’s Panel
Jenn Bravo from Turning Lives Around
Housing Health and Social Care Partnership
Steven Busfield from Empath Action
The Children and Young People’s Partnership and Early Help Board
Anna Blight from Pontefract Reads
The Early Years Strategic Partnership Board
Chris Bingham from Pontefract Reads
The Early Years Strategic Partnership Board
Eleanor Bradbury from Rycroft Youth Centre
Wakefield Safeguarding Children Executive
Madeleine France from Blossom Training & Development
The Safer Together Partnership
Louie Stafford from Learnest CIC
Hate Crime Strategic Group
Suzanne Gardiner from Well Women Centre
The Safeguarding Adults Board and The Domestic Abuse Management Board
Tamsin Lim from Well Women Centre
The Domestic Abuse Management Board
Dick Davies from Wakefield District City of Sanctuary
Wakefield Multi-Agency Asylum Meeting
Ali Robinson-Rowe from CoActive Arts
Learning Disability and Autism Partnership Board
Duncan Smith from Trinity Church
Wakefield Carers Strategy Implementation Group
Jane Walton from Yorkshire Mentoring CIC
The Employment and Skills Strategy Group
Julius Olutokun from Dominion Training
The Employment and Skills Steering Group
Mick Harrison from Enabling Youth and Motocross
Not in Education, Employment, or Training Strategic Board
Niraj Mistry from Gasped
Combatting Drugs Strategic Partnership
Paula Appleton from Evergreen Active
CYP Healthy Weight and Nutrition Group
Stephanie Gillis from The Prince of Wales Hospice
The Transformation and Delivery Collaborative
Marie Rafferty from Compass
Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Group

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