Voluntary Action Camden

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Duncan Cordy

VAC Newsletter: 23/01/2026 – Covenant fund announced

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The government have announced the Local Covenant Partnerships fund as part of the Civil Society covenant, find out more and keep up to date on all the events, jobs and projects happening over the next few weeks.

 

There’s also some sad news in this week’s newsletter about the passing of local resident and well-known figure in Camden’s charity sector, Peter Simonson.

 

VAC Newsletter: 23/01/2026 – Covenant fund announced

Statement from CSCP regarding Operation Lanark

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Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership have released a statement on Operation Lanark, which we are sharing for anyone affected.

 

Operation Lanark

 

Operation Lanark is an ongoing police investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met).

 

It is a highly sensitive matter so please continue to be mindful of what you communicate to prevent victims being identified and to prevent the ongoing investigation being jeopardised.

 

Operation Lanark relates to serious offences, including child sexual abuse, committed by a nursery worker at a now-closed Bright Horizons nursery in Camden.

It does not relate to any setting run by Camden Council or any Camden Council staff member.

 

You can find more information at camden.gov.uk/OperationLanark – including dedicated support for directly affected families and if you want to, how to participate in the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR), which begins in January 2026.

 

If you’re directly affected by Operation Lanark, a range of confidential support is available: 

 

  • You can call the dedicated NSPCC helpline number on 0800 028 0828 who may refer you to other services as needed. It’s open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also email NSPCC on help@nspcc.org.uk. You can contact them anonymously if you want to and your call or email will be dealt with confidentially.
  • Our Children’s Social Care team can provide emotional and practical support. If you want to speak to a social worker, call our Children and Families Service on 0207 974 3317 or email them at LBCMASHadmin@camden.gov.uk. The call or email will be handled by trained staff who are ready to help and will make sure that you get the most appropriate support.
  • You can speak to your GP who can also help you access the support you need.

 

Safeguarding

 

If you are worried about a child or a young person, please let us know and contact the council’s children’s social work team on 020 7974 3317 or email LBCMASHadmin@camden.gov.uk. For more information visit camden.gov.uk/are-you-worried-about-a-child.

 

 

 

NHS calls on residents to check if they’re eligible for a free flu vaccination

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With the arrival of winter, the NHS in north London is calling on residents to check if they or their loved ones are eligible for a free flu vaccination.

 

Last winter thousands of people were also admitted to hospital with flu, many of them living with long-term health conditions and national data shows that this could be another challenging flu season.

 

If you are pregnant or living with a long-term condition heart, liver or kidney disease, or a weakened immune system, it is particularly important to get your free flu vaccination. Children can also get sick from flu and pass it on easily to others.

 

You are eligible for a free flu vaccination if you are:

  • Under 65 and living with a long-term health condition
  • 65 and over
  • Pregnant
  • A child aged 2 -16
  • The main carer of an older or disabled person.
  • A frontline health or social care worker

 

You can book your free flu vaccine at your GP practice or local pharmacy today, to find out more, search “NHS flu”.

AGM / Celebration of the Sector

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We recently hosted our AGM, for which we invited partner organisations to collaborate with us in an event celebrating the sector.

 

It was great to see so many familiar faces from around Camden’s VCS, and to have speakers from the council and the Mayor, Eddie Hanson, as well as some fantastic performances.

 

We put together a short video celebrating the achievements over the past year of the organisations involved:

 

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