Why allyship is important for NAVCA members

Local infrastructure organisations are leaders in their communities, and aim to promote equity, equality, diversity and inclusion, but we know that there is still work to do. That’s why we’re launching the NAVCA Members Allyship Programme, for individuals to become EEDI champions in their organisations. In our latest blog by Maddy Desforges, CEO at NAVCA, she explains more about the new programme, and why allyship is so important for local infrastructure organisations.

NAVCA members reach many communities across England, and also work with many different parts of the statutory system. They have links and connections into many places that other organisations don’t, which increases their potential impact and influence. As leaders and advocates in their local voluntary sector, local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) have a key role to promote and champion equality, equity, diversity and inclusion (EEDI).

We know we need to do more to build trust with communities who aren’t and don’t feel engaged and connected, or whose voice is not heard. Some of that might be achieved through structured programmes of support and activity, but it is also about our individual roles and how we hold them, how we amplify diverse voices in our spaces, and how we are effective change agents. Sometimes we can feel like a lone voice, or we fear getting it wrong, so we want to bring together members working in the EEDI space, to build confidence, raise awareness, and share action.

That’s why I’m really proud to be launching the first cohort of our NAVCA Members Allyship Programme. The programme adds structure to our approach to actively support and advocate for individuals or groups who are marginalised, underrepresented, or facing discrimination. Allyship is a practice which applies in all the settings we find ourselves, and I hope through this programme we can accelerate change through the NAVCA membership network. By having more engaged allies using their privilege, power, or position to promote EEDI, I hope we can encourage and support others to do the same. Allies will also be able to access a peer support network, training through a specialist provider, and a wider set of online resources and knowledge.

We know that LIOs, communities and organisations are at different stages in their EEDI journey. My ambition is that we can work with a wide set of people, draw indifferent experiences and perspectives, and move together to be better allies and advocates for change, in more spaces, both personal and professional. I am looking forward to how much more we can achieve together, on the next stages of our journeys.

NAVCA members can find out more about the Allyship Programme by logging into the Members’ Area of the NAVCA website, and searching ‘Allyship Programme’ in the Resources section.

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