On 18th July 2022 the VCSE Leaders’ Voice Network was launched, the aim being to provide a valued space for leaders to come together to share their experiences and expertise, to support each other through the challenges of leading an organisation, and identify solutions and opportunities. The Empowering Communities Partnership (ECP) hopes that collectively VCSE leaders will actively engage in and take ownership of the development of this ‘VCSE Leaders’ Voice Network’, supported by ECP, to ensure it reflects the needs and voices of VCSE leaders across the sector.
The Leaders’ Voice Network is open to all in a leadership role within the VCSE sector. The Network will provide an opportunity for peer support and discussion around issues and challenges impacting leaders and their organisations within the sector. It will also provide opportunities for creating a collective voice around issues facing both organisations and beneficiaries. Bi-monthly Network meetings will include relevant presentations from guest speakers. Each session will partly focus on a theme to provide targeted peer-led learning and/or discussion.
The first half of each meeting will have a thematic focus linked to an emergent issue identified by the Network and agreed in advance. Examples include: “the cost-of-living crisis” or “workforce wellbeing”. This will bring together relevant ‘VCSE expertise by experience’, to facilitate peer learning, understanding and awareness of good practice. The second half of each meeting will explore and address collective challenges, issues and opportunities. There’ll be a focus on solutions, providing an opportunity for open discussion, and new emerging themes. Members can request items for discussion prior to each meeting.
Scheduled Leaders’ Voice Network Meeting Dates
All events will run between 12:00-14:00 on:
- Monday 19th September 2022 (Online via Teams)
- Monday 21st November 2022 (Face to Face/Hybrid)
- Monday 16th January 2023 (Online via Teams)
- Monday 20th March 2023 (Online via Teams)
- Monday 22nd May 2023 (Face to Face/Hybrid)
- Monday 17th July 2023 (Online via Teams)
The first half of the session on 19th September will have a thematic focus around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) including Discrimination and Racism from both VCSE leader and client perspectives. This will provide an opportunity to bring together ‘VCSE expertise by experience’ on this theme to facilitate shared learning, understanding and awareness of good practice. The second part will be a focused discussion to explore and address collective challenges and issues and identify solutions within this topic. If you are aware of any VCSE colleagues or organisations who may have knowledge or expertise to share on this theme and may be interested in being one of our speakers do let us know by contacting: Tasha.Higgins@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk.
The second half of this session will explore and address other collective challenges, issues and opportunities. There will be a focus on solutions, providing an opportunity for open discussion, and new emerging themes. Members can request items for discussion prior to this meeting via Tasha.Higgins@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk who also welcomes contact from any members interested in facilitating all or part of this session.
More Information
Further information regarding the Network can be found in its Terms of Reference. To join the VCSE Leaders’ Voice Network, contact Tasha.Higgins@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk
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