Partnerships Team - Voluntary Action Network (VAN)
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VAN's Terms Of Reference
VAN exists to provide leadership and to develop plans to strengthen the voice of voluntary & community groups in partnership and strategic work across Kirklees, particularly with the Kirklees Partnership.
The Chair, Vice Chairs and other VAN Steering Group members have the following responsibilities:
- To ensure VAN develops in line with its Mission Statement, aims & objectives
- To facilitate the strategic development and operation of VAN to ensure that VAN reaches out to all the VCS, especially the most excluded communities in Kirklees
- Act as a coordinating body for VCS involvement in partnership & strategic work, devising appropriate leadership structures to develop this role
- Identifying clear processes for (s)electing representatives to the Kirklees Partnership Board and associated bodies, ensuring that they are accountable and supported
- Ensure the views of the sector are represented in the development and delivery of key relevant strategies, thus providing a strong & effective voice for the sector.
- Ensure effective two-way communications with the widest range of voluntary & community groups in Kirklees, providing opportunities for sharing information & good practice within the sector.
- Contribute to and approve work plans, budgets, evaluation & monitoring relevant to the development and effectiveness of the network.
- Bring forward issues and ideas from other networks, communities & groups
- Share information with member groups / organisations & networks
- Promote the work of VAN and the VCS as a credible partner
Membership
VAN works to reflect as much as is practicably possible the diversity of the voluntary & community sector in Kirklees, including its wide range of networks, issues & interest groups. This includes communities of interest & identity, such as women, black & minority ethnic (BME) communities, lesbian, gay & bisexual (LGB) groups and disabled people. VAN also works to reflect the geography of the area e.g. north Kirklees, south Kirklees, rural areas, urban areas, neighbourhood & community forums etc. VAN includes members from large and small organisations, paid staff and volunteers. All of this is to ensure as much as possible that VAN reflects the range and diversity of the sector.
However, VAN has set some guidelines for membership, so to be eligible for membership of VAN potential members need to:
- Have existing formal or informal links to voluntary & community groups, organisations or networks in the Kirklees area
- Be prepared to work with others to come up with plans which best meet the needs of diverse communities
- Consider and respect others’ opinions and perspectives
- Be committed to equal opportunities and to including the most excluded communities;
- Be ready to work together to find ways to consult with and seek views from a range of networks, groups and organisations.
- Expect to work with others from the sector to support and ensure representation of the sector on the Kirklees Partnership Board and the Local Public Service Boards.
- Help identify realistic and practical ways for the sector to be represented on other structures and to move issues on.
Conduct Of Business
VAN is run through its meetings, in conjunction with the VAN Chair & Vice Chairs those who attend the meeting provide the main leadership and reference group for VAN.
To fulfil these responsibilities VAN as a whole meets ten times a year, with the Chair & Vice Chairs having an active role in developing the agenda, however all members can contribute to it. A calendar of meetings is always scheduled well in advance and meetings are always held in accessible venues. Formal Meetings last for two hours, with meetings alternating between north & south Kirklees and mornings (1000-1200) & afternoons (1400-1600). The pattern for meetings is currently as follows:
January, March, May, August & October (afternoons in north Kirklees)
February, April, June, September & November (mornings in south Kirklees)
July & December (no meetings)
In addition to these meetings, the full VAN meetings can delegate business to smaller working groups when required.
Finally, out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed for attendance at VAN’s meetings and the representatives of VAN on the Kirklees Partnership Board and Local Public Service Boards can claim a fee of £40 for their organisation for attendance at Board meetings. This claim is subject to production of a written report on the meeting attended.
For more information about VAN or to join the network email janice.myzak@voluntaryactionkirklees.co.uk or on 01484 518457
