Connecting Locally is a research project commissioned by NAVCA from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. The report, published in November 2022, gives a detailed overview of local VCSE infrastructure support in England provided by NAVCA members.
The research demonstrates that local infrastructure responds to local needs, delivering a community-led approach to enable meaningful partnership working, collaboration and capacity building. Areas such as health, employment and education are all strengthened when there is a thriving local voluntary and community sector.
Through working with and advocating for communities, and coordinating support, our members are continuing to work with VCSE organisations to support the most deprived and excluded groups.
According to the research, NAVCA members face key challenges as we continue with an uncertain future. Firstly, they are working in an increasingly constrained financial context, which is likely to deteriorate with further cuts to local authority funding. It is often difficult to find funding for the delivery of core VCSE infrastructure support services.
Secondly, it can be difficult to convince others about the value of local VCSE infrastructure organisations, even when quality and impact have been demonstrated effectively.
Read the full report to find out more local VCSE infrastructure support, the challenges faced by NAVCA members, and how our members are working to build sustainability.
Find out more about the impact and value of local infrastructure, the challenges faced by the NAVCA membership, and how our members are working to build sustainability.
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![Section – Income and Spending in year to 31 March 2021
• combined income £173m
• combined spending £157m
• NAVCA members by annual income:
o 16% - under £250k
o 59% - £250k-£1M
o 25% - £1M plus
• Sources of income: [ref Fig.6]
o 35.7% - local government
o 21.3% - NHS /statutory health bodies
o 18.0% - grant making trusts and foundations
o 6.5% - income from buildings/room hire
o 5.8% - central government
o 2.4% - membership fees / charges
• Type of income: [ref Fig.7]
o 54.2% - grants
o 33.5% - contracts
o 9.2% earned income
o 1.6% – donations and legacies
• Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Infrastructure finances in 2020-21:
o Income increased by 18% [increase per year 2016-2020 was 4%]
o Expenditure increased by 11% [increase per year 2016-2020 was 2%]](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65f03713c1b91171910c63a5/65f03713c1b91171910c6531_Panel-2-Infographic.png)
![Leadership and Advocacy on behalf of VCSE sector
o Seat at local strategic tables:
Integrated health and care arrangements – 89%
Health and wellbeing board – 71%
Local resilience forum – 69%
Local strategic partnership – 68%
Community safety partnership – 56%
o High participation and influence by VCSE in local strategies [ref Fig.14]
VCSE / civil society strategy – 78%
Community strategies – 70%
Health and wellbeing strategies – 70%
Integrated care strategies – 57%
Service commissioning frameworks – 33%
Partnerships and Collaboration
o Strong / positive relationships between local infrastructure organisations and:
Community based groups – 96%
Other local support organisations – 93%
Larger service delivery voluntary organisations – 87%
Volunteer only groups – 83%
Groups representing racially minoritised communities – 74%
Groups representing disabled people – 69%
o Strong / positive relationships between local infrastructure organisations and external stakeholders:
Local council officers (second tier local authorities) – 91%
NHS Commissioners and Providers – 86%
Local grant making trusts and foundations – 84%
Local council officers (top tier local authorities) – 83%
Local Councillors (second tier authorities) – 79%
Local Councillors (top tier authorities) – 57%](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/65f03713c1b91171910c63a5/65f03713c1b91171910c6535_Panel-4-Infographic.png)
