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Vision, Voice & Influence – Calderdale’s Strategic Advocate Programme

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  • News, VAC News

Our Calderdale VCSE Strategy aims to provide a clear foundation for Calderdale’s VCSE sector and public partners to shape and strengthen how we work together in the coming years.
 
As a key vehicle for delivering meaningful change, the Strategic Advocates Programme will provide authentic representation of the VCSE sector across a range of strategic meetings the Council, the ICB and the sector itself.
 
This is an exciting opportunity for those in strategic leadership positions to be the voice of the wider sector in ensuring closer collaboration with our public partners, joint accountability, and future resourcing for our vibrant and vital VCSE sector. 
 
Each successful Calderdale Advocates will take responsibility for attending a particular key meeting over the year (e.g., the Inclusive Economy Board, Stronger Communities, Children’s Safeguarding Partnership), all the while gathering contributions from the sector to enable them to speak with conviction on behalf of the voluntary sector in the borough.
 
Key Meetings Available in the Programme
Please note this is not an exhaustive list, further opportunities will be added.

 
Key responsibilities for Advocates include attendance at all the meeting they are matched to, seek the voice of the sector, report relevant information back to the sector (and VAC) and attend a quarterly Peer Support group.
 
You will be supported with backfill funding for your time, access to a VAC communications portal to enable effective movement of information and 1-2-1 support from VAC’s Leadership Team
 
The next step would be to drop us an email (info@cvac.org.uk) asking for an Expression of Interest form, which we’ll send to you. In that form, you can tell us about your organisation, along with which meeting you would like to attend to advocate on behalf of Calderdale’s VCSE sector.

If completing the form acts as a barrier to your involvement, please do let us know – we’re happy to hear from you via video or a 1-2-1 chat.

If you’d like to speak to someone for more information, please contact Charlie Johnston by emailing charlie.johnston@cvac.org.uk

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VAC + Membership

What's included?

You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!

Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.

When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.

They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.

We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members.  Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector.

The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.

The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.

The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!

A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.

40% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.

25% Discount on Virtual Office – Perfect for start ups or smaller organisations, our Virtual Office service offers a postal address, pigeonhole and reception facilities.

25% Discount on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.

Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.

All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.  As a VAC + Member, you will receive a considerable discount on all VAC Training and Events.

VAC Membership

What's included?

You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!

Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.

When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.

They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.

We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members.  Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector. 

The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.

The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.

The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!

A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.

20% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.

Competitive rate on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.

Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.

All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.