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About the Forum

What is the Northampton Voluntary and Community Sector Forum?

The Forum was set up to fill a significant gap in communication between voluntary and community sector groups and statutory sector agencies. Previously there was no forum for voluntary and community groups to come together to have a collective voice. The Forum provides three very important things:

• a communication channel enabling voluntary and community groups to receive information about key developments and feed in their views through dialogue or responding to consultations.
• elected sector representatives to sit on multi-agency partnerships where the voluntary/community sector should be involved such as the Local Strategic Partnership.
• networking, exchange of information and partnership working

The Forum has a membership of over 150 organisations made up of whole range of different voluntary organisations and community groups operating in Northampton.

The Forum has quarterly meetings. A Forum newsletter and other briefings and updates are produced regularly for members. This website also provides members only resources including a discussion board and quick ways to give views on local, regional ad national plans and developments.

Membership

Membership is open to voluntary and community groups operating in Northampton and is free. Members receive a range of targeted information about key developments, and invitations to provide views on a range of important issues impacting on their work, members or clients. Find out more details on how to join the Northampton Voluntary and Community Sector Forum.

How the Forum helps statutory sector partners

The Forum provides a key link with over 150 voluntary and community organisations. It makes it easy for statutory agencies to consult and engage with voluntary and community organisations and pass on information. It can help find sector representatives for multi-agency partnerships and helps to form links and facilitate partnership working. If you would like to discuss how to link with the Forum through the newsletters, this website or Forum meetings please contact the Forum Support Team.

How it runs

The Forum has a Steering Group elected from the Forum membership by members, that overseas the Terms of Reference and the work of the Forum. Northampton Volunteering Centre provides administrative and development support.