News

Local government in England is going through one of its biggest periods of change in a generation. Through devolution and local government reorganisation, new decision-making structures are emerging that will shape how services are designed, funded and delivered in communities.

Volunteering doesn’t happen by accident. Creating and sustaining an enabling environment for volunteering can be complicated. Volunteers and potential volunteers have different motivations, skills, interests and confidence. Equally, volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) also have differing motivations, approaches and purposes.

Equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) sit at the heart of what local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) do. Every day, LIOs work across systems and sectors, supporting VCSE organisations, connecting communities with decision-makers, and shaping more inclusive local places. That unique role brings both opportunity and responsibility: to model good practice internally, to share power thoughtfully, and to champion equity across everything LIOs do.

Across our network, NAVCA members are already doing vital work to support communities, challenge inequality and create spaces where people can thrive. But in a context of widening inequality, growing polarisation and increased pressure on the VCSE sector, allyship in action is more important than ever.

At NAVCA, social action and social justice sit at the heart of everything we do. Our members work every day with and for communities that are too often marginalised, unheard or excluded — and supporting that work means taking equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) seriously.

Every day, thousands of people are giving their time to do something special - volunteering to help others thrive. But how do we make sure that this happens effectively?