Background
The Voluntary Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector across Norfolk & Waveney is large and varied. There are 3,645 registered charities, 220 community interest companies and 124 societies with their registered offices in Norfolk & Waveney.
There are also many informal VCSE organisations, often referred to as ‘below the radar’ groups. Previous research has suggested a medium estimate of below the radar groups is 7.5 per 1,000 of population. This would suggest Norfolk and Waveney has 8,250 of such groups bringing the total number of voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations to be in the region of 12,000.
In January 2019, the NHS Long term plan was published, with a key priority to join-up health and care services. In July 2022 Norfolk and Waveney became an Integrated Care System (ICS), bringing NHS organisations together with partners in local government and the VCSE sector to provide more joined-up care for people.
Our VCSE Assembly
Since 2019, VCSE organisations across Norfolk and Waveney have been working in collaboration with health and social care partners to develop a VCSE Assembly.
Our VCSE Assembly Board for Norfolk & Waveney was effectively constituted in October 2022. Its purpose is to support fair and equitable partnering and engagement with the VCSE sector as part of the Integrated Care System, embedding sector voice into planning and decision making processes.
Built upon our strategic core values of Ambition, Connection and Integrity, we aim for the Norfolk and Waveney VCSE Assembly to be a positive force for change, where collaboration gives tangible outputs and outcomes.
Recruitment of a new VCSE Assembly Chair
Having successfully served a 3-year term the current Chair, Emma Ratzer, will be standing down in October 2024 and the process of recruiting a new Chair is now being launched.
The Norfolk and Waveney VCSE Assembly recruitment pack can be found here
Get involved in the VCSE Assembly
The Assembly is intended to be a shared space, a space where any and every VCSE organisation can work with colleagues from the Integrated Care System. Where we can learn together and build shared strategies for the early and preventive interventions that will empower our communities.