Welcome to the
North Central London VCSE Alliance.
We build connections to create better health and care services for communities.
Who we are and what are our objectives
Formed in 2022, we are a group of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations who represent a voice for the sector within the North Central London Integrated Care System (NCL ICS). This means we work with the NHS and other partners to make sure local communities are heard. We are a group with lots of different experience and expertise, and by all working together, we work to shape positive health outcomes and access to services. We also increase awareness within the health and social care system of the potential of the sector; how working in partnership with VCSEs can create better outcomes for all local residents.
We have many strategic objectives we would like to achieve, starting with these:
To ensure Health and Care System’s priorities reflect local needs across the five boroughs
To raise the visibility of the local voluntary sector
To communicate the crucial role of local people, communities, and the voluntary sector, in leading, shaping and connecting a stronger Health and Care System across North Central London
Our key role in building bridges
The North Central London VCSE sector is diverse. That’s reflected in the VCSE Alliance, which brings together a breadth of knowledge, interrelationships, and connections. We share the intelligence our local communities provide with decision makers, and advocate for the role that the VCSE sector can play in good health outcomes.
Changes in the NHS mean that some decision-making and strategy about health and social care now happens at regional level and for us this region is NCL (North Central London). Therefore, it was important for the sector to come together across the five boroughs to work in partnership with NCL ICS decision makers. Our informed approach, based on the specific needs of our communities and our understanding of barriers to equality, means we can all work towards better outcomes for our residents.
You can read more about NCL ICS by clicking here.
What does the NCL VCSE Alliance do?
To find out more about the voluntary sector, the Alliance representatives and our plans, please click here. You can also watch a video below, a short explainer which summarises our work and intentions.
Why now
The VCSE sector’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic illustrated its ability to react to emergencies with tailored community support. As well as an increase in mutual aid organisations, the voluntary sector responded with a range of support for vulnerable and older populations. This activity highlighted the importance of the sector as a central link between health services and local communities. As a result, the 2022 Health and Care Act followed, in which Integrated care systems (ICS) were formalised as legal entities in which the VCSE sector plays a key role.
What is the NCL Integrated Care System (ICS)
The North Central London (NCL) Integrated Care System (ICS) spans Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington. It includes: twelve hospital trusts, five local authorities, general practices, and the NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board. All these work in partnership with the voluntary sector. Click here for definitions on the health and care system. Each ICS has an Integrated Care Board, which is a statutory NHS organisation responsible for developing a plan in collaboration with NHS trusts/foundation trusts and other system partners for meeting the health needs of the population, managing the NHS budget and arranging for the provision of health services in the defined area.