Organisations from the Voluntary, Charity, Faith and Social Enterprise sector (the VCFSE), NHS and health and care systems across Coventry and Warwickshire gathered at the 2026 Assembly, which was held in Coventry. The event’s main focus was to build a shared understanding of how NHS Neighbourhoods work, to explore opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen relationships across the system.     

Collaborative working is a focus of the Integrated Care System (ICS) – the VCFSE are a vital partner in supporting health, care, and wellbeing of the population, especially through prevention and reaching people and communities often missed by traditional services and pathways to health and social care services.

The event, held in partnership with Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA) and Voluntary Action Coventry (VAC) who are jointly delivering the programme, welcomed over 115 delegates.

Following a welcome by Karen Winchcombe (CEO, WCAVA), Tara Bhaur (Programme Manager for the ICS/VCFSE Collaborative) set the scene by providing an overview on Neighbourhoods and VCFSE involvement, reinstating why the VCFSE are a significant player as a partner:

“Here within the VCFSE sector we have trusted relationships with communities, are at the early support and prevention stage and are well-placed to reach people that statutory services often struggle to reach. Due this unique position, we possess a deep knowledge of local need, culture and strengths.”

The VCFSE Collaborative team gives thanks and appreciation to the speakers who contributed to our day, by sharing their insights to stimulate our table-top discussions. Our presenters:  

·       Claire Quarterman (UHCW; Programme Lead for Coventry Neighbourhood Health and NNHIP Local Place Coach) on ‘Neighbourhood and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams’

·       Rose Uwins (Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board) on ‘Developing the relationship between the sector and the statutory health organisations’

·       Tracy Gazeley (Research Involvement, Engagement, Participation and Inclusion Manager at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, UHCW, NHS Trust) on ‘Research Engagement Network: Engaging communities in health and care research’.

Feeding Coventry/Coventry Food Bank were one of the four VCFSE recipient organisations of the Winter Funding Grants from the ICB). These creative projects were funded to help keep people well and reduce unnecessary hospital visits over winter and have been delivered until March 2026. Tim Rees (Project Coordinator) , gave an update on the delivery of their programmes.

Winter Funding Grants

Following an open application process, four members of the Voluntary, Charity, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Collaborative for Coventry and Warwickshire have been awarded winter funding grants from the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care board to deliver creative projects to help keep people well and reduce unnecessary hospital visits over winter.