Community & Voluntary Sector Forum representative's report for 2008/9

Spoke, issue No 3

Focused networks

By Jackie Fuller, NLCA representative on Community & Voluntary Sector Forum

Although I have continued to be the NLCA's contact point for our membership of the Community & Voluntary Sector Forum (CVSF) during 2008/9, I didn't actually attend any of the meetings during this time except for the AGM.

No more quarterly conferences

The main reason for this was that the CVSF stopped holding its big quarterly conferences, which was a good way for us to keep in touch with what was going on in the sector. These have now been replaced by more focused networks and projects in such areas as: children and young people, community empowerment, and health and social care.

A coordinating role

Nevertheless, I still believe that the CVSF performs an excellent coordinating role for the sector. It has over 500 members from the local area and works hard to ensure that the community and voluntary perspective is included in decisions which affect the people who live, work and play in Brighton & Hove. It is an independent charity and provides the space, support and information its members need to work together and influence local policies and practices.

New quarterly magazine

At the beginning of 2008 the CVSF launched a new quarterly magazine for its members called Spoke. It is produced by and for the community and voluntary sector and is steered by an editorial board. Spoke brings together news, features, good practice information and guidance, as well as analysis of current issues and policies. Copes are sent to all member organisations and are also viewable on the CVSF website, which is at:

www.cvsectorforum.org.uk

[Previously published in the North Laine Runner, No 197, March/April 2009]