A space for NAVCA members to network, learn and take action

The NAVCA conference, open to all NAVCA members and stakeholders, is coming up in just over a month's time. We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has already bought their tickets, we're really looking forward to holding our first in-person conference for three years! We wanted to use this blog post as an opportunity to highlight some of the aspects of the conference we are most looking forward to. If you haven't booked your place, do so here, and keep reading to find out more!

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Firstly, we're so excited to be working with AideCRM, Volunteer Plus and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), who are kindly sponsoring our conference. We have worked with NCSC previously, delivering training to our members on keeping their organisations safe online. At the conference, NCSC will deliver a workshop on how to understanding cyber security and building resilience - we're really looking forward to this in-person session, where members can ask questions and develop their skills. We also work with Pipe Media, who run AideCRM and Volunteer Plus, who have provided us with a great service that has enabled us to work on our relationships with members in a more effective way. If you're looking for a way to monitor member engagement, look no further than AideCRM. They've been developing our CRM so that we can provide better support to our members, and we're excited to be able to promote them at our conference.

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At our conference, we want to provide our members with a thinking space - a space to learn, reflect, and commit to taking action. Themed around the issue of tackling poverty locally, an issue our members are always working on but one that is particularly prevalent now, the conference will address this theme from a variety of perspectives. Our two keynote speakers will frame the day by addressing two key themes - racism and health inequalities. Jake Ferguson, Strategic Advisor at the Black Equity Organisation and former CEO of Hackney CVS, will talk about his experience as a race activist in the CVS movement. While we recognise that racism is a huge problem in the charity sector, we also know that as local infrastructure organisations, our membership has a huge opportunity to create and influence change. Our second keynote speaker is Greg Fell, Director of Public Health in Sheffield. We know that poverty is an indicator of health inequalities, so Greg will reflect on how to tackle this issue at a systemic level.

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Working in the voluntary and community sector, we know the importance of empowering our communities to take action on the things that matter to them. We have brought together a range of experts who will guide conference attendees through informative sessions that offer the space to reflect, learn and commit to taking action. Our diverse workshops cover a range of topics, including food insecurity and cultural awareness, trans inclusion and why this is important to all of us, cyber security and staying safe online, and more. We hope that these workshops will equip attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to continue to make a positive difference locally.

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Another aspect of our conference is the NAVCA Annual General Meeting, taking place after lunch. The AGM is an opportunity to elect new trustees to the NAVCA board. Our Board is responsible for the governance and strategic direction of the organisation, and all NAVCA members are eligible to vote in the AGM (one vote per member organisation). This is a really important time for the NAVCA network, as our members step up to tackle the cost of living crisis. All members, regardless of whether you attend the conference, will have the opportunity to vote.

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Overall, we are really looking forward not only to learning and reflecting on a wide range of important topics intersecting with the cost of living crisis, but also connecting with our members to strengthen the voice and influence of local infrastructure. At our conference, we will provide opportunities for networking, socialising and making connections with fellow infrastructure organisations.

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If you haven't bought your ticket yet, it is not too late to do so. We are offering discounts once you purchase your first ticket, so please do consider coming along with your colleagues. Buy tickets here, and get in touch with us if you have any questions.

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