Stronger Together – Highlights from June's VCSE Network

Each month, organisations from across Hull and East Riding come together through the VCSE Network to share ideas, celebrate successes, discover new opportunities and strengthen partnerships. June's meeting was another fantastic example of why collaboration is at the heart of a thriving voluntary and community sec

We were delighted to welcome both familiar faces and several new organisations to the network, with representatives joining us from organisations including Community VISION, Citizens Advice Hull & East Riding, Healthwatch East Riding, Age UK Hull & East Yorkshire, Yorkshire Energy Doctor, Yorkshire Health Partners, Holderness Health, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, East Riding Public Health, East Riding Council, Active Humber, British Red Cross, Hull Red, Spire Healthcare, Lincoln Bishop University, Kyra Women's Project, The Hinge Centre, Working for Health, Pectus Support Network UK, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service, Rooted in Hope (Beverley Methodists), Strength to Be Human and many more.

The variety of organisations represented is one of the network's greatest strengths. Whether supporting older people, improving mental health, tackling health inequalities, helping people into employment, promoting physical activity, protecting vulnerable people, supporting carers and families, delivering environmental projects or strengthening local communities, every organisation brought a different perspective and expertise to the conversation.

One of the highlights this month was hearing about the continued success of Business Meets Community. The event demonstrated the value of bringing businesses and the VCSE sector together, with many organisations already developing new partnerships around trustee recruitment, skills-based volunteering, corporate social responsibility and professional expertise. It's exciting to see these conversations continuing long after the event itself.

We also celebrated some fantastic news from the Growing Green & Blue Health programme, which has secured a further three years of investment from The National Lottery Community Fund. This continued investment will enable the programme to build on its success connecting people with nature to improve health, wellbeing and community resilience across Hull and East Riding.

The Teams chat was just as active as the meeting itself, with members exchanging contact details, signposting funding opportunities, sharing useful resources and making introductions between organisations. 

This willingness to connect people, share knowledge and support one another is exactly what the VCSE Network is all about. 

Members shared funding opportunities, safeguarding events, digital inclusion grants, biodiversity projects, women's wellbeing programmes, mental health services, housing training, volunteering opportunities and much more. It was particularly encouraging to hear from organisations expanding their work into East Yorkshire and those keen to develop new partnerships with local groups.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to celebrate success across the sector.

Congratulations were also shared with Hull Red, whose Gig Buddies project recently received the Music City Local Impact Award, recognising the positive impact the project has had supporting adults with learning disabilities to access live music, build friendships and become more connected within their communities.

Finally, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to Brian Pickles, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service.

Brian has been a familiar face to many organisations across the sector, and the messages of appreciation shared during the meeting reflected the respect and gratitude so many people have for his contribution. We wish Brian every happiness in his retirement.

If you haven't joined the VCSE Network yet, we'd love to welcome you. Whether you're a small community group, a large charity, a public sector organisation or simply looking to build stronger connections across the voluntary sector, the network is a friendly and supportive space where collaboration thrives.

Together, we're building stronger communities through stronger partnerships.

Click here for joining instructions and minutes from previous meetings