A new era for Gloucestershire’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector as collaborative is launched
We've long believed that Gloucestershire's charities, community groups and social enterprises are stronger working together than apart and we are delighted to share that we are one of nine VCSE organisations, alongside NHS Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire County Council, who've come together to launch the Gloucestershire Infrastructure Collaborative. As the county-wide infrastructure organisation dedicated to arts and culture, our role is to make sure creativity has a seat at the table. It's built on principles close to our own: shared leadership,strong relationships, and trust in what communities already know works or is missing.
Here's the official announcement, agreed jointly across the partnership:
A bold new chapter for Gloucestershire’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector has begun, as a county-wide partnership, the Gloucestershire Infrastructure Collaborative, brings organisations together to strengthen communities and drive lasting change across the county.
The collaborative marks a shift in how the sector works, placing collaboration, shared leadership and community voice at its core. It brings together a diverse group of VCSE leaders, who will work collaboratively to shape how the sector grows, connects and supports communities and people across Gloucestershire.
This partnership has been co-developed in response to feedback from VCSE organisations across the county. This highlighted both the strengths already in place - strong relationships, trusted networks, and a willingness and need to work together, alongside the need for better coordination and more connectivity.
At the heart of the collaborative is a shared commitment to strengthening VCSE infrastructure, the often unseen, but essential, support that enables charities, community groups and social enterprises to thrive. This includes improving how organisations connect, share skills and resources, support volunteers, and work together with communities.
Working as a true collaboration, they will focus on building stronger foundations for the VCSE sector by supporting organisations of all sizes-from established charities to small, grassroots groups. It will act as a shared voice for the sector while creating better connections between organisations, communities and wider health and wellbeing system partners.
By bringing organisations together in this new way, the collaborative aims to strengthen and connect this work, making support across the county more joined-up, effective and impactful
The partnership brings together a range of VCSE organisations including Active Gloucestershire, Create Gloucestershire, Feeding Gloucestershire, Forest Voluntary Action Forum (FVAF), Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC), Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance, Inclusion Gloucestershire, The Grace Network, Young Gloucestershire alongside the NHS and Gloucestershire County Council.
Looking ahead, the ambition of the Gloucestershire Infrastructure Collaborative is clear: to support people to live healthier, more connected lives, enable communities to shape their own futures, and ensure that VCSE organisations are recognised and contribute as equal partners within the wider health and wellbeing system.
Members of the collaborative said:
“This is an important opportunity to build a stronger and more connected VCSE infrastructure across Gloucestershire. The VCSE sector has a vital role to play in improving health and wellbeing and tackling inequalities. Through the partnership, we want to build shared leadership, develop practical solutions together and create stronger collaboration across Gloucestershire for the benefit of our communities.”
Will Chapman, Associate Director (Prevention & VCSE Partnerships), NHS Gloucestershire said:
“This is an exciting and important moment for Gloucestershire. The formation of this partnership reflects our shared ambition to work differently, bringing together the knowledge, insight and reach of the VCSE sector with our system partners to better support our communities.
“I’m really looking forward to working alongside colleagues across the partnership as we begin to shape our collective priorities and build a strong, collaborative approach that puts communities at the heart of everything we do.”
The collaborative will work together in the coming months to agree and begin shaping its priorities, actions and next steps.
This marks an exciting step forward for the VCSE and the county, as VCSE organisations come together to lead change, strengthen connections and make a real difference for communities across Gloucestershire.
You can find more information at https://www.gloucestershireinfrastructurecollaborative.org.uk/