News

This latest analysis of LIO finances shows how fragmented and uncertain funding can be, with core work often reliant on multiple sources. If we recognise the value of local infrastructure, how can we fund it in a way that enables it to deliver lasting benefits for the public sector, the VCSE sector, and communities?

Charities and community organisations are making increasingly difficult financial decisions. Rising costs, growing demand and pressure on traditional sources of funding mean many are looking at new ways to build financial resilience.

Changing geographical footprints or structures will not, on its own, change how systems work. Genuine neighbourhood health requires investment in community capacity, different relationships, shared accountability and a willingness to redistribute power.

Volunteering doesn’t happen by accident. Behind every positive volunteering experience is a system that has been shaped, supported and sustained over time. Local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) and volunteer centres (VCs) play a vital role in making this happen — investing in understanding who wants to volunteer, what motivates them, and the barriers that prevent some people from taking part.

Local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution represent one of the biggest changes to local public services in a generation. Alongside neighbourhood health, Strategic Authorities and Integrated Care System reform, they are reshaping how decisions are made, how services are delivered and how communities influence the places where they live.

NAVCA was invited to provide the VCSE sector perspective at the recent Health Devolution Commission. Our message was simple: the ambition for neighbourhood health is right, but the delivery conditions are not yet in place.