Local charities and community groups have voice thanks to NAVCA members
02/02/2012
A NAVCA report highlights the part its members play in bringing together the local voluntary sector to strengthen its voice. A survey carried out in November finds that most places have a local voluntary and community sector forums thanks to the work of the local NAVCA member. Local voluntary and community sector forums enable local groups to work together, support each other and exert influence over local decision makers. NAVCA’s survey shows that forums exist in 85% and that 84% of them were established by a NAVCA member.
Voluntary sector forums help improve services through their input into decisions about public service design and delivery, benefiting both service users and providers, which is many councils fund and support these forums. However, the survey shows that even when there is no funding for this work, it is so important our members do it. Half of the NAVCA members who support local forums do so without receiving any direct funding for this.
Neil Cleeveley, NAVCA Director of Policy and Communications, said:
“Giving local charities and community groups the chance to have their voice heard is vital work for NAVCA members, particularly those that speak up for the most disadvantaged people and communities.
“This report shows that it is NAVCA members doing this work up and down the country. The challenge for NAVCA and our members now is to make sure that the local voluntary sector has a strong influence over local decision making in every part of the country.”
Key findings from the survey are
- 88.5% of members said there was an LSP in their area, 90% of these have VCS representation.
- 85% of areas have a VCS forum.
- 84% of VCS forums have been established by NAVCA members.
- NAVCA members have a network of 160,933 local charities, voluntary organisations and community groups.
