Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE)
The VCSE sector is an important partner for statutory health and social care organisations and plays a key role in improving health and care outcomes for its communities, not only by delivering services but also by shaping their design and advocating for, representing and amplifying the voice of service users, patients and carers.
Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative
The Humber and North Yorkshire Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Collaborative represents the wider VCSE sector and comprises of Place Leads from VCSE sector infrastructure organisations, the NHS, and the VCSE Collaborative staff team.
The VCSE Collaborative sits within the governance of Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and is equal to the other Collaboratives of Mental Health, Primary Care, Acute and Community. Find out more about our work below and in our introductory video.
Find us on FutureNHS
Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative has launched a workspace on FutureNHS, a free, secure collaboration platform for people in health and care, including Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector colleagues and volunteers.
As well as news and information from the VCSE Collaborative, you will find updates on our programmes of work, links to your local VCSE Assembly/Alliance, reports and case studies from VCSE sector organisations doing amazing things across our region.
How to get started on FutureNHSAccess the VCSE Collaborative FutureNHS workspace
There are a few steps to follow to join the VCSE Collaborative workspace.
1. Follow this link, which will take you to a sign-up page.
2. If you have the following email addresses @nhs.net / @.nhs.uk / @nhs.scot / @phe.gov.uk you can self-register on the platform. Once registered visit: https://future.nhs.uk/hnyvcsecollaborative
3. If you don't have an NHS email address, please complete the form below to be sent a link to join the VCSE Collaborative workspace.
4. If you have any questions, please email hnyicb.vcseteam@nhs.net
News and Updates
17 June (12pm – 1pm) – Lunch and Learn: Volunteering to Improve Experience of Care in Humber and North Yorkshire
Susanna Glover, Strategic Volunteer Lead, will be leading discussions at a Lunch and Learn session next week to explore how volunteers impact the experience of patients, carers and service users. The session will also cover how volunteering can shape those volunteers who are on a career pathway, giving them a holistic understanding of the patient as a whole person and deepening their empathy, resulting in future health and care professionals who will deliver better patient experience.
Book your place hereNew report outlines potential for volunteering in social care across Humber and North Yorkshire
As part of National Volunteers Week 2025, the Humber and North Yorkshire (HNY) Volunteers at the Heart of the System group that form part of the Breakthrough Workforce Transformation programme has published a report on the ‘Potential for Volunteering in Social Care across Humber and North Yorkshire’.
The report written by Gethyn Williams provides a greater understanding of social care volunteering across the region. The report maps the current activity and provides perspectives from stakeholders, providers and partners. The Volunteers at the Heart of the System group are planning on reviewing this report and working through the recommendations, looking to realise the opportunities we have to maximise the potential of volunteering in social care.
Alison Semmence, Chief Executive of York CVS and Senior Responsible Officer for the HNY Volunteers at the Heart of the System group says: ‘It is fantastic that we are able to release this report in Volunteers Week, the report captures what is already working well across HNY and also where we could go further to develop and grow social care volunteering. Volunteers are hugely valuable to our work and our group aims to make sure we provide the valuable opportunities and a great experience for our volunteers.’
Read the full report
Stephen Eames, the Chief Executive of NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has announced his intention to retire at the end of June, after over 50 years’ service in the NHS.
Read the full announcement here.
June 2025
Safeguarding Week 16-20 June 2025: Safeguarding is everyone’s business
After the success of Safeguarding Week 2024, community, adult and children safeguarding partnerships from across North Yorkshire, City of York, City of Hull and East Riding have come together to offer a programme of safeguarding learning across all communities.
The key message of the campaign is ‘safeguarding is everyone’s business‘. There is a full programme of events and resources that your organisation can access for free here.
York and North Yorkshire Digital Inclusion – funding and resources
Grant funding is available through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Fund to develop locally based digital support projects for individuals.
The programme aim is to increase digital inclusion support across York and North Yorkshire. This will be achieved by developing sustainable digital hubs across York and North Yorkshire, and support in upskilling hub volunteers and employees to become digital champions. Closing date: 30 June
June 2025
Training and Events
The following training and events are open to staff and volunteers of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations based and operating in Humber and North Yorkshire.
To give you an opportunity to find out more about the Insight Bank, and how it can support your day-to-day work, there are a series of online sessions available throughout the Spring, where you can watch
a demonstration of it in action and ask any questions you may have.
• Tuesday 24 June 12-1pm
To book a place at one of these sessions, please email: hnyicb.engagement@nhs.net
The Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s free cancer awareness sessions can teach you about what to look for, cancer prevention, the national cancer screening programmes, and much, much more.
Click here to book your place on one of these sessions
If you have any queries, please email the team at hny.cancerchampions@nhs.net or call 07519120809.
24 September – 12 – 1:30pm
5 November – 12-1:30pm
This training is aimed at line managers (of any profession, banding or
grade), peers and colleagues working in Health and Social Care roles who have caring responsibilities for staff – for example clinical and educational supervisors, team leaders, members of staff networks, health and wellbeing champions or Wellbeing Guardians.
27 June, 1pm – 2pm
25 August, 12:30pm
25 September, 9am
This session is for everyone, whether experiencing menopause or supporting someone who is. It covers what menopause is, why and when it occurs, and management strategies. Participants will learn to have supportive conversations about menopause and understand how partners, team members, or family can help provide the right support
Friday 6 June 2025, 11:00am-3:00pm
Join an inspiring event at St Stephen’s Shopping Centre, Hull, which will shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of Hull and East Riding’s voluntary and community sector. This is your chance to discover the incredible support available locally – and find out how you can be part of the positive change.
Justin Mazzotta (MSc) is a Director and the Lead Practitioner at a York-based organisation known as Partners in Dementia. The organisation aims to provide services that are practical and useful to people affected by dementia so they can live as well as possible with the condition. Their services are aimed at where there are gaps in service provision and respond to what local people affected by dementia have said they want
For joining instructions, please email: hnf-tr.hnydementia@nhs.net
VCSE organisations are invited to the first Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Conference from Humber and North Yorkshire Local Maternity & Neonatal System (HNY LMNS). This full-day event brings together professionals, service users, students, and community leaders to
reimagine how we can build truly inclusive and compassionate maternity and neonatal care. The event will include:
• Thought-provoking keynotes
• Lived experience stories
• Interactive breakout sessions
• Regional project showcases
• Space to connect, reflect, and take action
The North Yorkshire Children Safeguarding Partnership is excited to announce the programme for Safeguarding Week 2025! Building on the success of last year’s event, safeguarding partnerships from North Yorkshire, City of York, City of Hull, and East Riding have collaborated to bring you an engaging and comprehensive week of learning.
This year’s key message is: Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business
The week will include a diverse range of free safeguarding training and awareness sessions available. This year, there are over 65 sessions covering a wide variety of topics suitable for professionals, volunteers, community members, local residents, parents, carers and young people. These sessions will be delivered by both local and national organisations and charities, ensuring there is something for everyone.
Click here for more inforamtion and to see the programme of events.
Gain new qualifications through DN Colleges Group
DN Colleges Group is offering our colleagues and volunteers across Humber and North Yorkshire, the opportunity to gain new skills and qualifications through a bespoke online learning portal. This exciting offer is fully funded and open to all health, care and VCSE staff and volunteers across our system.
View full training programmeNews and Updates
Transforming Primary Care podcast – June 2025
You Matter – Mental health support campaign launched across Humber and North Yorkshire – May 2025
Chair appointment announced by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board – May 2025
Access information and resources this Safeguarding Week 16 – 20 June 2025 – May 2025
Chair appointment announced by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board – May 2025
Latest VCSE Collaborative newsletter now available –May 2025
Nature-based activity is effective therapy for anxiety and depression, study shows – April 2025
Be part of life-changing health and care research – April 2025
VCSE Collaborative team showcase Volunteering for Health Programme to over 100 NHS Volunteer Services Managers – April 2025
Workshop – Connecting youth voice and health engagement in North East and Yorkshire – April 2025
Useful Links
Inclusive Language Guidance – This document has been co-developed in partnership with a diverse group of colleagues to improve confidence around using inclusive language.
Health and Wellbeing – details of health and wellbeing offers open to anyone working in health and care across Humber and North Yorkshire, including colleagues working in social care, primary care, the NHS, independent providers and our voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative
Our People
VCSE Collaborative Staff Team:Meet the VCSE Collaborative Staff Team
Gary Sainty - Head of VCSE
Penny Butcher - VCSE Programme Manager
Beckie Deamer-Brooke - VCSE Business Support Officer
Anna Boad - VCSE Collaborative Communications Lead
VCSE Collaborative Place Leads and NHS Representatives:
Alison Semmence - (Chair) Chief Executive, York CVS
Dena Dalton - Head of Health Collaboration, Community First Yorkshire
Gale Baines - Operations Manager, Forum
Jamie Lewis - Chief Executive, Hey Smile Foundation
Jennifer Jonhson - Delivery Manager, Sector Support North East Lincolnshire Partnership
Lucy Stephenson - Joint Chief Executive, Citizens Advice North Lincolnshire
Debra Taylor - Joint Chief Executive, Citizens Advice North Lincolnshire
Sam Haward - Head of Community Services, North Yorkshire Place
Toni Yel - Assistant Director, Community Integration and Transformation
Our Plan
Our plan is to enable the potential and impact of the VCSE sector to be realised by being fully integrated into the planning, design and delivery of health and care across Humber and North Yorkshire; cementing the sector’s role as a key strategic partner.
The importance of the VCSE sector in the planning and delivery of health and care is highlighted throughout the NHS Long Term Plan.
Our Programmes of Work
- Community Transport
- Hospital Discharge
- Social Prescribing
- Volunteering
- Research Engagement Network (REN)
Our Newsletters
- Issue 16 – May 2025
- Issue 15 – Feb 2025
- Issue 14 – Dec 2024
- Issue 13 – Oct 2024
- Issue 12 – Aug 2024
- Issue 11 – May 2024
- Issue 10 – Mar 2024
- Issue 9 – Jan 2024
- Issue 8 – Nov 2023
- Issue 7 – Sep 2023
- Issue 6 – Jul 2023
- Issue 5 – May 2023
- Issue 4 – Feb 2023
- Issue 3 – Dec 2022
- Issue 2 – Sep 2022
- Issue 1 – Jul 2022
Our Documents
Our Meeting Updates
- 12 May 2025 – Update
- 7 Apr 2025 – Update
- 10 Mar 2025 – Update
- 10 Feb 2025 – Update
- 13 Jan 2025 – Update
- 19 Nov 2025 – Update
- 14 Oct 2024 – Update
- 9 Sep 2024 – Update
- 12 Aug 2024 – Update
- 9 Jul 2024 – Update
- 8 Apr 2024 – Update
- 11 Mar 2024 – Update
- 12 Feb 2024 – Update
- 8 Jan 2024 – Update
- 11 Dec 2023 – Update
- 13 Nov 2023 – Update
- 10 Oct 2023 – Update
- 11 Sep 2023 – Update
- 10 Jul 2023 – Update
- 22 May 2023 – Update
- 13 Mar 2023 – Update
- 9 Jan 2023 – Update
- 5 Dec 2022 – Update
- 14 Nov 2022 – Update
- 10 Oct 2022 – Update
- 12 Sep 2022 – Update
- 8 Aug 2022 – Update
Our Events
We are busy planning our next event – come back soon to find out more.
Our Blogs
- Chair appointment announced by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
- VCSE Collaborative team showcase Volunteering for Health Programme to over 100 NHS Volunteer Services Managers at a national conference
- Celebrating Social Prescribing across Humber and North Yorkshire this Social Prescribing Day
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Healthwatch Hull report on the experiences of rough sleepers and those experiencing homelessness in Hull
- Social Prescribing Day 2024
- Celebrating the role of VCSE organisations ahead of NHS75
- VCSE Communications Webinar