Information & Networking

VAC hosts a number of Information and Networking services to help inform and/or influence local strategy and decision-making, and vice versa.

Whilst in the past local groups were kept informed about the issues that affect their work through regular network meetings, these days, as the funding environment changed, the forums are self-servicing and have taken on a more digital role. VAC’s involvement in Information and Networking services is set out below:

Networks & Partnerships

There are a number of networks operating across the borough. Some of these are operational and others are more informal.

VAC Newsletter

Every Friday, VAC emails its newsletter to around 1500 Camden subscribers. The readership represents a broad cross-section of voluntary sector organisations as well as the public and private sectors and other interested residents and individuals. The bulletin is a useful way of sharing local and national news, offers and resources from across the sector, briefings from VAC or other VCS orgs, funding sources, jobs and volunteering opportunities in Camden, and much more. You can sign up to the newsletter here.

Policy Briefings & Seminars

To help inform and/or influence local strategy and decision-making (and vice versa), and to help local civil society organisations keep abreast of emerging trends and opportunities, VAC produces regular briefings and runs a number of distinct seminars and conferences on policy areas of potential interest. These are tailored for the voluntary and community sector.

Signposting

Due to our close ties with many Camden voluntary and community sector organisations, through signposting, VAC is helping to increase awareness of the range of support, services and activities across the borough, available to civil society in Camden. Every year we deal with many enquiries on the spot: helping people looking for volunteer opportunities; or groups looking for premises, funding or other groups to work with collaboratively; or help understanding the impact of new policy or technology changes e.g. GDPR. Where VAC cannot assist directly then we signpost to other sources of help, advice and online resources. For further information about community services and activities, check out our Directory of Room Hire and Voluntary and Community Groups

Social Media

In the current climate people have told VAC that they do not have the time to meet on a regular basis – the format adopted by networks in the past. In response VAC now is committed to developing its social media profile to makes sure that civil society organisations are kept informed about issues that affect their work and communities. We have three active social media channels – Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. You can click on the links below to take you directly to that social media channel.

Conferences & Events

Every year VAC hosts its annual summit for staff, trustees and volunteers from local civil society organisations, as well as colleagues from local authority and public and private sectors. The summit is a great way for us to bring local organisations together to understand need and demand in the borough in light of of emerging trends and opportunities. This collaborative approach helps us tackle issues of shared concern across the borough and ensures that the various sectors can work together to respond proactively to local, regional and national policy developments.We host or co-partner on a number of other events too, covering the broad spectrum of work that we are involved with. Check out our Event Calendar for all the latest events.