Partnerships Team - Voluntary Action Network (VAN)
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What is the Voluntary Action Network?
The Voluntary Action Network provides a voice for the voluntary & community sector linking groups with the Kirklees Partnership.
The Voluntary Action Network (VAN) is a network of community & voluntary groups in Kirklees. VAN works on the principle that a combined voice for the voluntary & community sector is more effective than a hundred individual organisations all trying to be heard separately.
First set up in 2001, the Network was initially funded from central government through the Community Empowerment Fund, which was a government initiative designed to support voluntary and community sector (VCS) involvement in the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP). At that time many similar networks were set up across the country, including VOX in Wakefield, Voice in Leeds and CNET in Bradford. In 2006 funding for the Kirklees Network passed to the local authority, which is now the Network’s sole funder.
VAN’s primary purpose is to enable the voluntary and community sector to participate equally and effectively in the Local Strategic Partnership – the Kirklees Partnership. There is a section dedicated to the Kirklees Partnership later in this handbook.
VAN & the Kirklees Partnership are committed to working together positively to ensure genuine community involvement at all levels of the decision-making process. Local knowledge and involvement with people at a neighbourhood level is regarded as a valuable contribution to the successful delivery of the Community Strategy for Kirklees.
VAN is now recognised by Kirklees Partnership, including Kirklees Council, the local health authority and other key partner agencies as a major voice for community and voluntary groups in Kirklees and as an equal partner in decision-making. Proof of this came in 2005 when VAN was invited to organise elections to choose two voluntary & community sector representatives for each of the four Local Public Service Boards (LPSBs), which implement the Local Area Agreement (LAA). In 2006, VAN was again asked to organise a selection of VCS representatives, this time for the reorganised Kirklees Partnership Board. You can find out more about the LAA, LPSBs & the Kirklees Partnership Board later in the handbook.
You can be assured that when people get together at VAN meetings they are able to express their views and share their ideas, before the group collectively identify and prioritise issues, help develop possible solutions and take forward items to the various decision-making boards.
The Network's Steering Group meets ten times a year (monthly except July & December). VAN has six representatives on the Kirklees Partnership Board, it also support two representatives on each of the four Local Public Service Boards (LPSBs).
Click to read VAN's Mission Statement or its Terms Of Reference.
For more information about VAN contact Jon Burke by email at jon.burke@voluntaryactionkirklees.co.uk or on 01484 518457
