Voluntary Sector Forum

A collective voice for the voluntary and community sector

Who are we?

Bracknell Forest Voluntary Sector Forum(VSF) was originally set up in 1999 as a separate organisation to become an independent voice for the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and a platform for elected representation onto key strategic bodies, creating a two-way feedback process for communication and support, promoting and encouraging good consultation and dialogue and ensuring that VCS interests are heard and taken into account, enabling the wider sector to participate in the decision making process.

Organisations felt the need to come together to share problems and resolutions, to gain information and to present themselves with a united voice for the sector when communicating with the public and agencies from the other sectors. We seek to be equal partners in future policies and planning strategies that impact on the voluntary sector and the services it provides.

Since 2005 the VSF has been supported through the national government ‘Change Up’ programme, building the capacity of support organisations in the voluntary and community sector. This support has enabled the Forum to restructure and extend its work to increase its membership, raise awareness of its aims and facilitate the representation process.

What do we do?

The VSF aim to:

• Bring together voluntary and community groups who work in Bracknell Forest, to share information, experience and skills to inform good practice.

• Provide one mechanism for the voluntary and community sector in Bracknell Forest to have a strategic voice, ensuring that its collective views are considered and have an influence on planning and policy decisions throughout all sectors.

• Provide effective channels of communication between the voluntary and community sector, the statutory and business sectors.

• Strengthen, support and develop the voluntary and community sector in Bracknell Forest.

• Develop a market place to show case the wide range of services provided by the voluntary and community sector in order that those involved in the procurement of services will be encouraged to commission services from the voluntary and community sector.

How does it all work?

The business of the Forum is coordinated by an elected committee made up of representatives from the VCS. However the main decision making of the Forum is carried out with full consultation with its member groups. The membership of the VSF consists of a variety of voluntary and community organisations covering many diverse interest areas including health support, transport, children & young people, older people, carers and disability.

With such a diverse sector covering all areas of the community, and being mindful of time and commitments of voluntary and community groups the Forum recognised the need to focus on specialist areas which would enable groups to link into their area of interest. These thematic focus groups also mirror the strategic Partnership Boards in operation to simplify the two-way feedback process for information and consultation.

The current Focus Groups are:

Health and Social Care

Transport

Children and Young People

- With a Disability Focus Group in the process of being set up to develop a comprehensive network linking all voluntary and community groups dealing with all forms of disability, to provide developmental support, information and consultation.

The subject of disability is very diverse covering many different areas. Representation on key strategic bodies is patchy and not truly representational of the whole sector. Having a focus group devoted to all aspects of disability would enable voluntary and community groups and their members to have an established channel of communication and a platform for representation onto the key decision making bodies which determine the delivery of services that affect them, thereby promoting equality for all.

There will be an initial Steering Group meeting on Tuesday 13 January to take this Disability Focus Group forward.

VSF Representatives

Representation is the process where one person or group of people is acting, speaking or being present on behalf of another person or group of people. The Forum needs members of voluntary and community sector groups to represent the wider sector in their area of interest and expertise through. The elected representatives would have a position on a related decision making strategic body and would take forward the views of the wider Forum, report back to members and communicate with members between meetings.

The ‘pros’ of being a rep

• A chance to be involved in working with strategic partners eg Bracknell Forest Borough Council, East Berkshire Primary Care Trust, Police, Fire Service, to influence local services

• An opportunity to gain a wider knowledge and perspective of local issues and concerns

• Have a ‘bigger picture’ view of a particular area of interest eg children & young people

• Networking with other organisations, voluntary and community, statutory and private

• A chance to explore different ways of working

• An opportunity for career and personal development

• Informed and equipped to be effective representatives

The Forum, with funding through Change Up has produced a toolkit for those who represent their group or the wider sector on other bodies. ‘Making Your Voice Heard’ was put together by BFVA with Mosaic, a training organisation who use sketches and role play to get there message across. The toolkit is user friendly with lots of graphics, tools and advice to help you represent more effectively. These toolkits are free to members of voluntary and community groups and are conveniently presented loose leaf in a solid A4 binder with plenty of room to add your own material. These are available free through BFVA.

Want to know more?

If you would like more information about the Voluntary Sector Forum or becoming a rep please contact:

Chris Cowap, Partnership Development Officer Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action Ground Floor, Amber House, Market Street, Bracknell RG12 1JB Telephone 01344 304404 Email chris.cowap@bfva.org