Community voices and participation in research that supports clinical health is an important part of developing an integrated approach to health and care. In 2022 VAC was the facilitating and capacity building organisation for a Community Action Research initiative with collaborators Umoja Health Forum and Lifeafterhummus Community Benefit Society.
For further information on the process and impact of the research please take a look at the overview report and evaluation report.
The majority of those who answered our survey – 90.3%- have stated that they have benefitted from being members of the VAC and that they appreciate VAC’s help in partnerships building. 0.7% of the respondents though are not sure so we are embarking on more visible promotion of the VAC membership support.
We have invested in enhancing our membership offer and as part of that, I’m pleased to introduce myself as VAC’s Membership Development Officer.
My name is Vania Guetova and I am working to support you with creating sustainable solutions that will help the local community sector grow and develop and helping to launch a refreshed VAC training package that meets the needs of our members. I have started the VAC Camden New Groups Network and am supporting the VAC Networks by sharing important information, providing quality advice and guidance and offering networking space for peer support and learning.
Read the report here: VAC Member Benefits Report 2023
Following the successful uptake of the Google grant by small Camden community groups to pay for the cost of community room and meeting space hire, the available funds have now been distributed to groups and the funding programme has ended.
VAC wishes to extend a huge thanks to Google for making this possible and facilitating the ability for groups to start meeting in-person again after the restrictions imposed during covid were lifted.
If you are looking for rooms to hire at affordable rates, please check out our room hire directory.
If you need help with funding, please get in touch for some support from VAC.
On Tuesday 18th July Voluntary Action Camden and Volunteer Centre Camden hosted the first meeting of our new Trustee Network. It was held online and included a talk and subsequent discussion on ‘Good Governance in Difficult Times’.
These ‘difficult times’ appear to be the norm right now and there was a good attendance of Camden Trustees with the desire to share and learn from one another.
This network, which reflects a need in the VCSE sector and expressly asked for by our members, is designed as a space where ideas, hopes and concerns are discussed freely. It is a space where, with the help of others, troubles can be overcome and successes shared.
During our inaugural meeting the speaker, Hilary Barnard from HBMC / HBRL Consulting, who also has many years of experience as a Trustee, considered some issues that many Trustees share. These included finance, board recruitment and skills, steering, and other matters of good governance. This was followed by a Q&A where individuals were able to dive deeper into their own practical cases.
The second half of the meeting consisted of breakout sessions that allowed the attendees complete freedom to share and connect.
As a whole, it is estimated that the knowledge and experience of Trustees in Camden adds £145 million to the sector. Such enormous value can only be enhanced by the connections this network will inevitably build.
All Camden VCSE Trustees are welcome to attend our events.
If you are a Camden VSCE Trustee and would like to find out more about the Network, please check out our webpage.
In addition to the Camden Trustee Network, we have also established a Camden Trustee Network Community of Practice. This is a closed group (open only to Camden trustees) to allow us to maximise the benefits of free and honest discussion. Member’s of the Community of Practice gain access to:
If you are interested in joining this group, please complete our online form.
The purpose of this document is to invite companies with relevant experience to provide a quote for a contract to conduct a feasibility study. This includes producing a report to Voluntary Action Camden (VAC) to develop and deliver a fee-based membership and strategic partner model.
Last year we explored the drivers and benefits of a fee-based membership model, looking at various examples across the country. This helped to catalyse an internal discussion on the merits of reshaping our existing membership structure. We have received funding from London Borough of Camden to conduct a feasibility study on various fee-based membership models. This will form part of our work to review and redevelop our organisational strategy and business model with the aim of diversifying our sources of additional revenue to achieve long-term financial security and sustainability.
Our aim is to analyse the proposal of a fee-based model and establish: the technical resources required; financial viability; legal requirements; alignment with capacity planning; strategic goals and business objectives; and time it will take to execute and generate income.
Depending on the results of the study, help determine the level of investment and resources required to develop a new model by Winter 2023 (fee-based or otherwise).
Depending on the results of the study, help determine the level of investment and resources required to launch a new model by March 2024 and generate target income of £10,000 by end of 2024/25.
As a result of the study and development of a new model (fee-based or otherwise), we hope to achieve the following:
The successful tender /quote for this work will need to demonstrate a proven track record in conducting feasibility studies in the area of membership development within a wider income generation context and strategies affecting traded services.
Undertake research to estimate the feasibility of developing and introducing a new fee-based membership model for the voluntary community sector in London Borough of Camden. Including:
The successful candidate will be expected to liaise with VAC Revenue Working Group and attend a minimum of 3 meetings with the management group. Two hard copies of the report and an electronic copy will be provided. Payment will be made as follows:
Applicants should include details of their overall experience, the extent of their knowledge and experience relevant to this project, examples of recent work and at least one reference for the supply of the service that we require for which your client is able to confirm satisfactory quality and delivery. CVs of key personnel who will be working on the project should accompany the submission.
Quotes should show a breakdown of days and rates and be inclusive of VAT and expenses. The successful applicant will need to show evidence that they have appropriate levels of Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Keith Morgan
Chief Executive Officer, Voluntary Action Camden
Email: kmorgan@vac.org.uk
Telephone: 07939053735
Any queries that may have a material effect on the costing of the tender will be circulated to all applicants along with VAC’s response. Queries received less than seven days before the closing date may not be answered. If a query gives rise to the need for an amendment to the original tender document, an extension to the closing date may be made, in which case all parties will be notified simultaneously.
Download: Specification-for-a-Feasibility-Study-to-develop-a new-fee-based-membership-model
A new initiative is being delivered by the Camden Care Navigation and Social Prescribing Service, hosted by Age UK Camden (AUC) and Voluntary Action Camden. The project aims to develop volunteering within the service as a way to help retain existing social prescribers and to support successful recruitment to new social prescriber roles.
Contact Mandira at mmanandhar@vac.org.uk if you are interested in volunteering on this new venture.
You can view the role description here
Find out more about the Care Navigation and Social Prescribing Service here
Find out more about volunteering with VAC here
The Community Links team at VAC are working with the University of Southampton to facilitate a study into Long Covid.
If you had, or think you had, Covid 3 or more months ago and yet continue to experience symptoms that are not explained by any other health conditions the study would like to talk to you about your experiences. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to: exhaustion, memory or concentrations issues, breathlessness, persistent headaches and muscle aches, chest tightness, palpitations, dizziness and sleep disturbance.
As a token of appreciation there is a £15 shopping voucher available for participation.
The Community Links team at VAC can also assist Camden residents with access to the long covid clinic at UCLH.
For further information please have a read of our Long Covid Study Leaflet and contact Nasrin at nrashid@vac.org.uk or Donna Clutterbuck at LongCovid@soton.ac.uk or on 07721520243 by call or text.
Camden Council would like to invite you to an urgent community meeting to discuss how Camden can support the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees and the wider humanitarian response.
We have all been following the events in Ukraine and devastating humanitarian impact with deep sadness. We know that a large number of people have already been displaced and current intelligence suggests that between 1 million and 5 million Ukrainians could be displaced, although the situation is evolving quickly.
Guidance on the various routes available for Visa support are outlined here. A new ‘Local Sponsorship Scheme’ has been established, which will match people, charities, businesses and community groups to Ukrainians who do not have established families in the country, so they are able to come the UK. Details of the scheme can be found here.
We’d like to hear your views on how Camden might respond to the local sponsorship scheme and about the role you’re able to play in this, and in engaging support for the wider humanitarian response.
We hope that you will be able to attend to provide your valuable insights and input.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 15th March at 5pm. The meeting can be accessed through this Zoom link.
Best wishes,
Georgia
Cllr Georgia Gould
Leader of Camden Council
