VCS networks

London Children and Young People Engage

The London Children and Young People Engage network seeks to create stronger partnership working across VCS umbrella or infrastructure groups working on the 0-19 agenda in London. It is a network of children and young people’s VCS networks in London, hosted by Children England. Its vision – enhancing the lives of children, young people and their families in London. Its ethos – supporting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

One of its key achievements has been to develop and implement a Pan London VCS Action plan, in partnership with regional government. The vision for the work focused on identifying priorities and solutions, and developing robust partnerships for joint working.

 It has also overseen the production of United We Stand, the manifesto of the children, young people and families voluntary sector in London.

Framework for Action

VCS Engage has been established, along with the CYP Engage network, to encourage and strengthen engagement of voluntary and community organisations at national, regional and local level. Its priorities have been to bring infrastructure organisations together to discuss and identify areas needing improvement between 2008-2010. It is important to remember that the driving factor in all work undertaken by all of us – voluntary and statutory sector colleagues – is to improve outcomes for children and young people in London. We know that working together and communicating better with each other will help us to support more children and young people on the pathway to success.

The 6 priority areas are as follows:

  • Improved Communications - Coordinated communications across the VCS in London
  • Effective Engagement - To ensure that VCS organisations are engaged and involved in local and regional decision making
  • Representation and Pan London Specialist Groups - To increase the engagement and representation of specialist infrastructure groups in decision making
  • Promotion of Innovation - To support innovation through partnerships between the statutory and voluntary sector
  • Increase Quality Assurance - Improved service delivery and commitment to securing quality assured practice
  • Promote Workforce Development – well trained and qualified workers with clear and affordable development pathways at all levels.

In taking forward a VCS framework for action our collectively agreed aims are to:

  • draw on expertise across the sectors to identify priorities for improvement and solutions to bring about change
  • find ways to maximise opportunities for partnerships and joint working across agencies and sectors
  • identify, create and showcase effective practice
  • promote a pan-London approach and enable partners to work together effectively.

     

    Related Documents

Framework for Action: Together we can transfer outcomes for children and young people

Framework for Action: Progress Report

 

Children England London Region

Children England's London Regional Group meets quarterly, in the months of February, April, July and October. The meetings are separated into two parts: a practice seminar and a business meeting.

The London Regional group facilitates a range of practice sharing events and support to members. Over the past 18 months this has included:

  • Quarterly members meetings with presentations and input from key agencies such as CWDC with members showcasing good practice
  • A pan-London conference in partnership with Government Office for London on commissioning and the impact for small groups
  • Practice seminars to target action learning on assessing impact
  • Information and communications about key thematic policy developments.
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