Local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are essential to creating healthier, fairer communities. Embedded in neighbourhoods and trusted by local people, they deliver vital services, support prevention, and help shape local priorities.
NAVCA is the national membership body for local VCSE infrastructure organisations in England. Our members enable thousands of local charities, community groups and social enterprises to thrive, ensuring communities have the support they need to live well.
Additionally, we support ICS-VCSE Alliances by providing secretariat support to the newly formed Alliance42, many of which are led by core NAVCA members.
NAVCA works across all levels of the health system to strengthen the role of the local VCSE sector. We collaborate with our members, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), national bodies and system leaders to:
• Build sustainable partnerships between health systems and the VCSE sector
• Promote the impact of collaboration on population health and inequalities
• Ensure community voice influences system design and policy
• Provide practical tools, resources and coordination support
• Advocate nationally for investment in local VCSE infrastructure
The ICS-VCSE Alliance Peer Network was established through NHS England’s programme to embed the VCSE sector in integrated care. Recognising the value of this collaboration, NAVCA secured funding to sustain and grow the network. As ICS-VCSE Alliances matured and the system landscape evolved, there was a clear need for the network itself to evolve.
In April 2025, Alliance42 was formed, an independent, sector-led network representing the majority of ICS-VCSE Alliances across England. Hosted by NAVCA, Alliance42 is peer-led and governed through a regional Leadership Group, ensuring it reflects the priorities and experiences of those working locally to embed the VCSE sector in health and care. NAVCA provides the secretariat, supports leadership development, and ensures insights from across the network inform both Alliance42’s strategy and NAVCA’s wider policy and system change work.
Our work is funded in part by the Assura Community Fund, supporting national learning, strategic engagement and sharing what works. To find out more about each area of our work, click the links below.
Health Resources Hub: Embedding the VCSE in Integrated Care Systems
We’ve captured key learning from our national role supporting ICS-VCSE Alliances. This hub shares resources, including research, case studies, model documents and learning on best practice. It will continue to grow through our work with Alliance42.
Embedding VCSE in ICS ResourcesICS-VCSE Alliance Peer Network:
We offer a Peer Support Network for individuals whose primary role is focused on VCSE engagement in ICS activity. The network is open to VCSE- and NHS-based leads in each ICS, and covers a range of topics that related to cross-sector partnership building at system and place. If you are interested in joining the network, or getting involved in one of our learning sessions, please contact us.
Contact usLearning on support for partnerships in health and care:
Our Snowballs and Eels report (2023) sets out key learning on the impact different approaches to funding and support offers can have on developing cross-sector partnerships for health and care.
Download Snowballs and EelsSupporting ICSs to deliver Social and Economic Development:
In 2023, NHS England commissioned NAVCA, the NHS Confederation, National Voices and the Local Government Association (LGA) as a consortium to capture and share learning from ICSs progressing their work against their social and economic development objective. This is known as the Systems for Change project.
Find out moreSocial prescribing:
As a key component of NHS England’s Long Term Plan, Social Prescribing has been a mechanisms for health partners to engage with their local VCSE sector’s offer. Working closely with partners, including the National Academy for Social Prescribing, we offer learning and resources to support social prescribing partnerships and delivery.
Access our learning and resources
