Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector Alliance
This website is dedicated to and overseen by the partnership of voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations with the support from NHS colleagues. The purpose of the site is to inform VCFSE organisations of the developments and activities the sector is undertaking together as a valued partner within the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership.
Value of the VCFSE sector
The VCFSE sector is an important partner within the statutory health and social care system and plays a key role in improving health, well-being and care outcomes.
- Being close to communities, it is ideally placed to identify the assets, needs and aspirations of people using services
- It brings specialist expertise to public service delivery and is particularly well placed to support those with complex and multiple needs
- It focuses on early action, preventative services, equality, diversity and inclusion and wider social value.
- Proactive, able to quickly respond and bring in additional resources.
Local partnerships and the VCFSE Alliance
Partnerships of VCFSE organisations are in place across Lancashire and South Cumbria and a small group of leaders from these groups have met over the past two years. This leadership group has been known as the VCFSE Alliance.
Our shared vision as a VCFSE sector is to improve the lives of people in our communities across Lancashire and South Cumbria, by developing an effective transformative partnership between the Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector.
To be an effective transformation partner, the VCFSE sector across LSC will be Connected, Supported and Influential in health and care integration and beyond. We will utilise the strength, flexibility, responsiveness, innovation and knowledge of the sector to be a permanent transformation partner.
The VCFSE Alliance meets regularly to share information, discuss challenges and how to solve them, give feedback and updates on projects happening in the four Places and to coordinate our vision and strategies so we work together more effectively as a partnership.
The VCFSE Alliance is co-chaired by Tracy Hopkins (Fylde Coast place-based partnership VCFSE lead and Blackpool health and wellbeing board representative) and Angela Allen (Blackburn with Darwen Health and wellbeing board representative). As chairs of the group, Tracy and Angela are valued representatives in Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership boards and committees.