What does the 10 Year Health Plan for England mean for the VCFSE sector (2025–2035)
Today (Wednesday, 3 July), the government released its 10-year plan for the NHS. We've broken down what it means for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector, where the opportunities lie, and how we can help shape the NHS of the future.
Overview
The plan sets out a radical reform agenda for the NHS, focused on three fundamental shifts:
From hospital to community
From analogue to digital
From sickness to prevention
It recognises that the NHS cannot deliver these shifts alone and positions civil society, local government, and the third sector as vital partners in a reimagined, devolved, and preventative model of care.
Neighbourhood health services
Integrated Neighbourhood Teams will become central to care, with cross-sector collaboration essential.
Neighbourhood Health Centres will operate as “one-stop shops”. Opportunities exist for VCFSE organisations to co-locate or deliver services from these hubs.
Social prescribing and care navigation will be key; VCFSE groups already doing this will be vital delivery partners.
Emphasis on supporting complex needs, prevention, and tackling fragmentation aligns closely with many VCFSE roles.
From analogue to digital
Push toward digital access through the NHS App may create digital exclusion risks - VCFSE can help bridge this gap.
Opportunities for VCFSE involvement in digital upskilling, advocacy, and ensuring inclusive access.
The plan references using AI and wearables. VCFSEs working with disabled people, older adults, or digitally excluded communities have a key role in ensuring ethical and equitable implementation.
Sickness to prevention
Major role for local charities, food initiatives, youth organisations, and health inequality campaigners in:
Combatting obesity
Supporting smoke-free and vape-free environments
Promoting healthier behaviours
VCFSE sector seen as essential in delivering the “healthy choice as the easy choice” especially in disadvantaged areas.
Plan includes expanding mental health hubs for young people and school-based mental health teams, an area where many VCFSE organisations already deliver.
A new operating model
NHS will decentralise power to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and local providers, with a focus on partnership with local government and civil society.
Plan explicitly promises to make the NHS a better partner to third sector organisations.
ICBs are expected to work closely with voluntary sector infrastructure bodies, this could boost commissioning and co-design opportunities.
Workforce and community anchors
The workforce plan includes a focus on community-based roles, new career pathways, and diversity. VCFSE can help recruit, train, and retain local staff, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds.
“Neighbourhood Health” will require culturally competent, hyperlocal delivery, an area of strength for many grassroots charities and social enterprises.
Transparency and data
New emphasis on data transparency, patient choice, and outcome monitoring.
Opportunities for VCFSE organisations to contribute to local health intelligence, patient-reported outcomes, and community feedback mechanisms.
Concerns may arise around data sharing and privacy, particularly for smaller organisations - support may be needed.
Funding and sustainability
NHS will shift funding toward prevention and community care, creating potential new funding flows for VCFSE-delivered preventative interventions.
However, reforms also aim to improve efficiency and end block contracts, which may challenge legacy VCFSE commissioning models.
NHS aims to reserve 3% of spend for innovation. VCFSE innovation pilots could be supported here.
| Opportunity area | Role for VCFSE sector |
|---|---|
| Community-based care | Delivery of holistic, wraparound, culturally competent support |
| Digital transformation | Tackling digital exclusion, advocating for accessible tools |
| Prevention & health inequalities | Designing and delivering behaviour change, peer support, food & fitness projects |
| Partnership working | Young people’s services, suicide prevention, culturally tailored support |
| Evidence & data | Co-producing models with ICBs, local authorities, GPs |
This is a major shift in NHS strategy, creating real opportunities for the VCFSE sector to lead on prevention, reduce inequalities, and deliver localised care models. But delivery will require:
Clear commissioning pathways
Investment in VCFSE capacity
Genuine partnership and co-production
If you’re working to shape the VCFSE role in the North West, advocate for inclusion in neighbourhood models, and prepare for opportunities in data, digital, and prevention. However, the reality remains that the ambitions in this plan largely rely on redirecting investment when, certainly in the North West, the NHS faces huge challenges in just breaking even.
Event: COVID Impacts – sharing lessons learnt hosted by NEBOSH
This NEBOSH seminar was attended by VSNW. Lasting two hours it takes a long time to view. There is a section that can be ignored – unless you want to know how the British Safety Council test Covid visors. This interesting, but not very useful, section takes place between 50 minutes and 75 minutes into the session. It did make for a little light relief when drinking a mug of decaff.
The first session, 45 minutes, dealt with office return. Much is obvious; much is already known. The most interesting comment (25 minutes in) is that visors are not PPE – they are Community Protective Equipment (CPE) which was a phrase I had not heard before.
The final session – Mental Health and Grief in the workplace has many useful bits and pieces of information within it. This is well worth watching. The “funding professional” in me had ears pricking up at the suggestion for community based services. Here we have an expert sating that we are needed – a lovely clip to put into a funding proposal (and 9.22 into this section). They also made the point that there is a lot of “odd” stuff on the internet and that legitimate sources of support should be used.
All in all a good use of time. The office return section may be useful to staff (re)induction as this takes place.
Download the presentation slides
Andrew Rainsford
VSNW
Aug 2021
20 Ways to be a Good Charity Trustee
The Charity Excellence Framework have developed an online toolkit based upon the Charity Commission guidance regarding how to excel at being a charity trustee.
Everything you need and everything is free
Choose wisely
Join the team well
Set boundaries
Think strategically
Keep up-to-date
Advocate
Support fundraising
Be prepared for meetings
Don’t have a personal agenda
Speak up wisely
Ask the questions that need to be asked
Be action focussed
Don’t blame people
Act collectively
Value each other
Support each other
Share your own skills/experiences
Develop your skills/experience
Say thank you
For a more detailed list, click here.
The Greater Manchester VCSE Mental Health Leadership Group
THe VCSE Mental Health Leadership Group is inviting expressions of interest to join the GM VCSE Mental Health Leadership Group.
During the pandemic, this group has played an integral role as a champion of the needs and issues of VCSE service users and a vital role in the development of the Community Mental Health Transformation bid.
There are currently 7 vacancies, which include:
Locality leads for Bolton, Mancheser, Rochdale, Tameside and Glossop & Trafford
Priority Leads for Equalities and System Change.
Applicants must currently hold a senior/executive position in a mental health and wellbeing organisation in the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester.
Deadline is 9am Monday 9th August.
Click here, for more info and how to apply.
The Civil Society Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Through consultation with over 150 civil society organisations, The Runnymede Trust has compiled a number of recomendations for the UK government in order for them to address racial inequalities in England.
in 2016, the UN Committee on the Elimintion of Racial Discrimination (CERD) provided a set of recommendations, however this report argues that in fact, the UK government’s policies have been in direct breach of these, and that they have failed to protect vulnerable BME groups from continued discrimination and inequality.
Their hope is that the CERD will endorse this report and encourage the government to address the issues outlined.
Find the full report and extensive recommendations here.
European Update from Network for Europe
European Update July, from Network for Europe Cheshire, Cumbria, G Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool CR
Headlines
New Head of ESF
ESF calls end
Community Ownership Fund delays UK Shared Prosperity Fund problems Evaluations?
New Head of ESF
From before the start of the Programme, Angus Gray was Head of ESF, then Catherine Blair was appointed, staying in the job for three and a half years, before handing over to Geoff Hawker. After sixteen months, he confirmed his last day was 23rd June and he will be taking up his new role as Finance Director for the Office of Nuclear Regulation. Clare Bonson joined DWP as Head of ESF on 20th June.
ESF Calls finally end
The last few ESF calls for 2014-20 have now closed (final one on 17th June for Sheffield), and are undergoing appraisal. The 413 calls are still online including their call specifications. We await information on the second version of the Lump Sum Digital Intervention (deadline 4th June). Existing projects are being extended, where appropriate, and we will see if that commits all the remaining ESF Funds. At the beginning of June, there was still over £65m to be committed.www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-useful-resources
ESF-Lottery BBO Projects
National Lottery Community Fund has been agreeing extensions to well performing existing BBO Projects, but does not seem to have published the list as yet, and some of the local ESIF committees have not yet been informed as to what has been agreed. We understand that some projects have been extended to June 2023, with extra funding, and adjustments where appropriate for Covid.
Annual Implementation Reports
It is a requirement of the Programmes that the AIRs are prepared each year, approved locally, and submitted to the European Commission by the middle of the following year for joint discussion. The AIRs give a detailed explanation of progress with the Funds, useful for anyone with an interest in the Programmes, and what will come after them. The AIRs are available online following approval (although there has been a slight delay, - the last English ones appear to be for 2018). www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-social-fund-annual-implementation-reports
ESF/ERDF Meetings
The ESF/ERDF Programme Monitoring Committee (Growth Board) met on 22nd June, and some of the National Sub-Committees continue to meet (although five of the nine have not met since 2018 or 2019).
It is not clear what has happened to the local LEP level ESIF committees outside London, some have not met since 2019.
Flexibility for existing projects Q&A page
ESIF Coronavirus Response Page is useful for those running projects, with updated Q&A for the three funds. The ESF Q&A was updated on 23rd June to clarify the response to some questions. All projects still to be completed by 2023.www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-coronavirus- covid-19-response
Evaluation of the ESF and ERDF programme
Work is continuing on the evaluations, and many of them have been completed and sent over to the small group trying to prepare the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Unfortunately, the evaluations are not available to the Partners, as they have not been published, nor appeared on the website. They await Ministers’ permission before being available for everyone else, and this could well take some time. The YEI-ESF direct bid projects have shown good results.
ESF Action Notes
066/21 dated 10th June. Electronic signature instead of wet signature to the end of the Programme.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/esf-action-notes-2014-to-2020-programme
Community Renewal Fund
Final deadline for bids from the Lead Local Authorities was 18th June, with results to be announced from late July. The intention of this single round, short term bidding process was to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Take-up seems to have been patchy, not helped by the short notice and the uncertainty around the Priority Areas. Nevertheless, this fund (primarily for local authorities and local voluntary and community organisations) gives a good opportunity for local organisations to develop stronger partnerships ready for UK-SPF.
The promised allocation for capacity building does not yet appear to have been announced.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-prospectus
Community Ownership Fund
Still waiting for the Prospectus.
UK-Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is to replace the £1.5bn a year we would have received from Europe through ESF and ERDF. It is to be launched from April 2022. To general surprise, it has not been developed through partnership, and the open consultation has been scrapped.
Clearly, a Fund developed by a few officials, without taking on board the extensive experience of the Partners is unlikely to be successful. It will need the experience of those who have been involved in developing strategies, devising and implementing solutions, delivering projects and measuring and evaluating what works - otherwise we will not have an effective or efficient fund. We want something that delivers value for money, and tackles local requirements.
A recent meeting for a few invited voluntary organisations gave little further information, and was accompanied by documents several months old. The ESF/ERDF Growth Board has repeatedly asked for more information, and to be involved in discussions, but the presentation before their meeting last week on 22nd June gave little further information, and requests for proper involvement of the partners seem not to be taken on board. Time is running out.
Some partners are putting together proposals, but it is unclear whether they will be heard. There might be some kind of discussions over the summer, but that leaves little time for a proper Fund.
Lancashire Partnership
Plans have been announced to create a Pennine Lancashire Linear Park, transforming parts of the Leeds Liverpool Canal with housing, events, gardens and eco-friendly power. www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/lancashires-economy-lined-up-100m-20916624
Safe’s Destination Bootle
The UK’s largest community-led housing project is designed to bring genuinely affordable, eco- friendly, and future-proofed homes to the people of Bootle. The plans appear to have been rejected as they do not cater for enough cars -
www.gofundme.com/f/help-bootle-build-back
Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations
Following its Spring Review GMCVO has announced it is repositioning its core business from VCSE representation to enabling practical change. This takes forward its last ten years of focusing on creating economic inclusion, and being independent of public financial subsidy. It recognises the growing strength and importance of the social economy, including social enterprise, community business and community owned assets, aiming to reach people who are economically marginalised. Organisations in other places will be following developments.www.gmcvo.org.uk/news/gmcvo-statement-regarding-results-strategic-review
Getting Brexit done
The UK has left the EU, with the transition period ending on 30th June. See the latest UK Policy Paper, explaining the issues with travelling, including recognition of professional qualifications and bans on ham sandwiches. Some rules on importing into the UK have been delayed, and should be ready by January next year.www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-the-uks-new-relationship-with-the-eu
Making the most of Brexit
A new Brexit Opportunities Unit has being set up to support Lord Frost. The Government is looking for someone who wants to lead the team. www.gov.uk/government/news/search-for-head-of-the-new-brexit-opportunities-unit-begins
First meeting of the TCA Partnership Council
This was on 9th June. Agenda item 7.3 was the Civil Society Forum, although little progress seems to have been made. Lord Frost replied to a House of Lords debate on 24th June. He said “It is the nature of civil society that it does not need the Government’s permission to develop such links and to work effectively with fora established under the treaties. We certainly hope that would happen.” The first meeting of a Forum representing civil society across the four nations of the UK was on 23rd April. www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-statement-on-the-meeting-of-the-withdrawal-agreement-joint- committee-9-june-2021
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_2927 https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2021-06-24/debates/DA278476-A591-4655-A19F- D352E29D2461/CivilSocietyForumUKDelegation
Roaming
In January, EE, O2, Three and Vodaphone all said they had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges for phones, even though Brexit allowed them to do so.
BT-owned mobile operator EE is now to start charging UK customers to use their phones in Europe, despite their previous statements. While the European Union was able over several years to persuade the mobile operators to drop such charges, it is thought unlikely that the UK Government on its own would be strong enough to do this.
State Aids - Subsidy Control
As part of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, the UK Government agreed to bring in its own version of State Aid, similar to the European Union. And with the trade agreements it is hoping to put in place there will need something similar.
The UK version of State Aid has been rebadged Subsidy Control, and we now call Services of General Economic Interest Services of Public Economic Interest. Following a consultation (see our February 2021 Update), the new version of State Aids was announced on 30th June, and will be shortly considered by Parliament. www.gov.uk/government/news/new-subsidy-system-to-support-uk-jobs-and-businesses-boost-the- economy-and-strengthen-the-union
Common Provisions
And over in Europe, the Common Provisions Regulations entered into force on 1st July. These cover the 2021-27 ERDF, ESF, Just Transition Fund, and other Funds. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj
Civil Society Involvement - website
CSI supports third sector representatives on the English National Growth Board (PMC) for ERDF and ESF, and the National sub-committees. Register at http://civilsocietyinvolvement.com
ERDF Practitioner Bulletin (relaunch)
The Bulletin sent on 17th June refers to the ERDF Summative Assessments, and the efforts to bring it back on track.
ESIF Programme COVID-19 Notification Bulletin
The Bulletin sent on 23rd June gives links to updated ESF Questions and Answers.
Network for Europe
info@networkforeurope.eu
Thriving Communities Film Expressions of Interest
The North West Thriving Communities Team are looking to commission four short films as part of the North West National Academy for Social Prescribing Learning Together Programme.
Please view the project brief calling for expressions of interest from voluntary, community, faith or social enterprise organisation operating in the North West.
Applicants are welcome to apply to deliver one or all of the films as outlined.
The deadline for expressions of interest in Monday 19th July. If you would like more information please email jan.campbell@seftoncvs.org.uk..
ACEVO Charity Sector Recruitment Survey
ACEVO have launched a survey to gain insight from recruiters in the VCSE sector about their needs, concerns and thoughts.
Although many of us have suffered from survey fatigue over the last year, they are an important way to gain intelligence data and help influence and guide future thought and decisions.
The survey closes on Monday 5th July.
Complete the survey now.
Lloyds Bank Foundtion Communications Support
Communications is an integral component of any organisation. Having a vibable communications strategy is vital in order to make sure your organisation’s key messaging and brand reaches the target audiences and your work can be promoted. Often, small charities and voluntary organisations, do not have a dedicated communications employee and work is picked up by various team members. To help with this, Lloyds Bank Foundation have created a communications support guide to help organisations in the sector maximise their communications skills efficiently.
The toolkit provides guidance and support on:
Defining your audiences, messages and channels
Building your brand
Approaching press
Designing events
Creating video content
Succeeding on social media
Web design and content
Getting started with influencing
Useful resources
The guides are downloadable, along with a selection of useful webinars.