VAC Membership Welcome Pack

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

Voting Rights at the VAC AGM

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.

Assigned VAC Go-To Contact

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.

Full Members Area and Content on VAC Website

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.

Quarterly Members Newsletter

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.

Bimonthly Member Network

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.

VAC Products & Services

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.

Member exclusive Training and Events

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 Welcome Pack

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

Voting Rights at the VAC AGM

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.

Assigned VAC Go-To Contact

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.

Member Area and Content on VAC Website

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.

Quarterly Member Newsletter

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.

Bimonthly Member Network

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.

VAC Products & Services

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.

Member exclusive Training and Events

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.

West Yorkshire Partnership cements place of voluntary, community and social enterprise sector within the partnership

West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP) and the area’s voluntary community social enterprise sector (VCSE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday 4 July. This cements the role of the sector as an equal partner at all levels.

The VCSE sector in West Yorkshire includes around 14,900 registered and unregistered groups supporting people in many areas of their lives from youth groups, ageing well support, sports and wellbeing clubs to name a few. The sector employs around 43,100 full time equivalent posts which makes up 3.7% of employment across the area. On top of this there are an estimated 147,000 regular volunteers giving their time and energy to help young and old people to live their best life possible, around the clock, 365 days per year.

The VCSE makes a substantial and valued contribution to the lives of 2.4 million people living across the area in shaping and delivering health and care services. It brings different people’s voices into play, as well as innovative and agile ways of delivering care. The signing of the MoU is a significant step in seeing the sector as equal partners, alongside the NHS, councils and others, in the work of WY HCP.

Signing the MoU, Cathy Elliott, Chair of NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board said: ‘As someone who has worked in the VCSE for the majority of my career and as a leader in our West Yorkshire Partnership, I’m delighted to put my name to the MoU. It is a sector that is an essential partner in the delivery of integrated health and care in our communities, and one we should never take for granted.’

Another signatory, Rob Webster CBE and CEO Lead for WY HCP said: ‘Rooted in our communities, the VCSE is an essential part of our Partnership, including our approach to tackling health inequalities and delivering the best possible outcomes. As we respond to new statutory arrangements in West Yorkshire, we wanted to reinforce the role of this important sector, that they are equal partners, who contribute greatly to making a positive difference to people’s lives and one we all value’.

Hilary Thompson, Senior Responsible Officer for WY HCP’s Harnessing the Power of Communities Programme said: ‘We are excited to sign this important MoU between our newly formed NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the VCSE sector which sets out our commitment to working together and ensuring the VCSE are actively involved in our health and care arrangements across West Yorkshire’.

The MOU builds on the role of the sector in place since WY HCP was established in 2016. It aims to strengthen all aspects of heath and care including in decision making processes which in turns shapes and influences services which meet the needs of all communities.

From big charities to the smallest community group – each has a role to play in delivering better health and well-being outcomes for everyone in West Yorkshire.