What our members do

NAVCA wants everyone to be able to take action on the things that matter to them. Our mission is to strengthen and champion social action, through effective voluntary and community sector infrastructure support. We are a membership body for local infrastructure organisations (LIOs), and our members work to strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, supporting over 165,000 local charities and community groups across England. 

Strong local infrastructure enables communities to influence decision-making, builds partnerships and networks, and encourages volunteering opportunities. When this support is accessible locally, individuals and communities thrive. 

We know that our members’ work is diverse and different for each local area and organisation. From our research and conversations with members, we have identified four broad categories that local infrastructure organisations work within. We have called these the ‘Four Functions of Local Infrastructure’, and we encourage our members to use them to help describe what they do. 

Communities, both individuals and organisations, should have an impact on decisions that affect the place they live in. Our members are leaders and advocates in their communities, mobilising action to strengthen our sector’s voice and influence on key decision-makers and funders. Local infrastructure organisations bring together diverse groups and marginalised communities to mobilise ambition and aspiration. 

Places and communities are strengthened when organisations work collaboratively. Our members create opportunities and drive effective joint working by building networks and partnerships between local organisations and strategic partners. Through nurturing these trusted and reliable relationships, communities are better equipped in both times of crisis and in the development of ongoing projects.

When local voluntary and community organisations have access to practical support, people and communities become more resilient and able to flourish. Our members provide resources or advice to facilitate community development. This work is both strategic and developmental, building strong foundations so that the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector thrives.

Volunteering, whether formal or informal, is integral to thriving communities. Our members encourage and nurture volunteering opportunities, so that people can build connections and work together on things they care about, driving positive change locally. Through initiatives such as the Vision for Volunteering and the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA), the voluntary sector is supported further.