Health & wellbeing

At NAVCA, we want to support members to manage their wellbeing at work. In this blog post, Maddy Desforges, CEO, reflects on the challenges faced by people working in local infrastructure organisations, and our upcoming session that aims to help members reflect and recharge in their roles.

Our spring/summer training programme is designed with NAVCA members in mind: practical, relevant and affordable support that reflects the realities of your work. Find out more here.

Across England, we are seeing a shift towards neighbourhood health, with the aim of moving care closer to communities and tackling inequalities. On paper, the vision is compelling. In practice, however, many neighbourhood models are falling short of their potential.

Across public services, regeneration and local democracy, “neighbourhoods” are becoming more prominent. From Integrated Neighbourhood Teams in health, to regeneration plans and new local governance models, the neighbourhood is being positioned as the place where services are delivered, and decisions are made closer to where people live.

When people take action on the things that matter to them — whether that’s litter-picking, running a local sports club, or creating spaces to talk about mental health — they build stronger, more resilient communities. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of organisations make up a vibrant voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, doing vital work that helps people and places to thrive.‍ But what exactly does the VCSE sector do — and what do all those different parts mean?

In early 2024, NAVCA partnered with Cadent Gas to deliver the Centres for Warmth Fund – building on the existing network of warm spaces and community hubs across the country. Working through NAVCA members, the programme has invested in trusted local organisations to increase capacity, strengthen resilience, and connect communities with vital advice and resources.