Islington Council & VCFSE Strategy Workshops by

2025-06-25 07:07:39 UTC

By planning ahead and prioritising common objectives.

2025-06-25 07:08:24 UTC

Regular planned meeting.

2025-06-25 07:08:46 UTC

Collaboration with other boroughs to share good practice

2025-06-25 07:10:41 UTC

By establishing what are the common objectives.

Addressing challenges together.

Supporting each other not blaming each other.

Being optimistic and maximising the resources.

2025-06-25 07:11:10 UTC

Maximisation of resources

2025-06-25 07:12:22 UTC

Sharing and using good practice from other organisations who managed to deal with the same challenges successfully.

2025-07-03 16:48:32 UTC

I would value greater opportunities to contribute to Council strategies and policy consultations remotely and on-line, and in bite-size chunks rather than relying on lengthy meetings exclusively held in person.

2025-07-03 16:53:27 UTC

I have valued Islington Sustainability Network way of working. I get regular informative newsletters which I find essential, and get to meet officers at regular in-person events. These have proven invaluable to the development of our organisation and has been key to develop a 2 year partnership project with another VCS org in Islington, which has been externally funded. I wondered if there could or should be similar exchange for social enterprises

2025-07-03 16:57:52 UTC

The VCS google email group, hosted by VAI is very good way to get news and learn things, however this does feel bit chaotic at times, and doesn't really have much extra usability beyond being a news feed. Social Enterprise UK have a great members portal that posts information but also helps browse organisations, has threads to do with property, youth issues etc. I think this would help me find partners, read about best practices, find presentations of training I've missed etc. I would welcome if VAI would build on the great networks with something like that to help keep me informed, and find other organisations by service area, geography etc, and get support around issues that we face.

2025-07-03 17:03:08 UTC

I think that the adult safeguarding contribution of Rachel Adelson-Kettle is really good and is a great model that other council services could offer to help the VCS build on good practices. I get regular opportunities to receive training on adult safeguarding and feel entirely like the council is taking this seriously and helping me to align our organisation with the best practices in quite a complex and challenging area.

2025-07-03 17:06:28 UTC

Greater help to procure shared services would be amazing, also there has to be a way to unlock many of the corporate offers for support in the borough. Every organisation has need of communications, law, accountancy etc. If only there was a way to get these professional services purchased collectively that smaller VCS organisations could buy in to. I feel like I've got to design our own website, book-keeping, publicity, events, write policies etc. Good shared affordable freelancers would be a godsend to help increase our capacity and sustainability.

voluntaryactionislington — 2025-07-04 11:28:15 UTC

System change where the VCFSE and council are equal partners which empowers both of them in delivering for the needs of residents. Flexible longer term funding models that recognise the agility and impact of small organisations. Simplified processes that make it easier for organisations, especially, those at grassroots level so that they can access resources more easily. This includes access to community centres and spaces which organisations can use to hold events. Co-designed engagement mechanisms that ensure small organisations are represented in decision-making spaces.

"System change starts with a mindset shift. If we want to build resilient, community-driven health systems, we must prioritise collaboration over control, empowerment over exclusion, and partnership over paternalism." https://www.navca.org.uk/news/recognising-and-nurturing-the-microbiome-moving-from-doing-to-to-doing-with