Community Southwark brings together different networks of charities and community groups.
A big thank you to all the groups who are involved with them in one way or another. It is only thanks to our members that they are so successful.
Some of the networks are themed, such as for older people groups or disability providers. Some are focused on safeguarding or managing volunteers. And some are focused on communities such as Latin American groups. We also hold a variety of networking events such as Business Brunches or postcode areas. Following recent staff changes and feedback from our members, we are taking the opportunity to review how networks and networking should best serve Southwark’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). Our current thinking is set out below and we would love to hear your thoughts too.
Learning and feedback so far
Format
We have been told that a rigid format of one meeting per quarter is not always best for our members. If groups are working on a shared project they may wish to meet more frequently. If groups want to come together in person for a larger scale networking event with senior external partners then that needs to be less often.
Communication outside of meetings and events
Members tell us that they cannot always attend meetings, but still want to share information and know what is going on. We will try to encourage more use of our Community News e-bulletins. Our new Members Hub (whats app group) is another way groups can share information and ask for advice without having to attend an event or meeting.
Deciding agendas and themes
One of our core values is that we work with the community, for the community. This means that our members should decide the topics for our meetings, training sessions and events. We will continue to do this by asking members in our annual members’ survey, network focus groups, and through feedback from events throughout the year.
More collaborative projects
Our State of the Sector research and feedback from all our events tells us that charities and community groups want to work together more on shared projects, but that they need support in doing this because groups are so stretched for time and money. We will try to focus our network activities on shared projects where we can add value.
Suggested purpose and content for each network for 2025-26
Grass Roots Groups – this project came directly from the State of the Sector report and has been designed with 89 grassroots groups. They plan to meet every 1-2 months offering each other peer support. The meetings are in the evenings in person and facilitated by grassroots groups themselves. The theme of each meeting has been chosen by the groups and, so far, have included collaboration and volunteering. If you are a Southwark grassroots group and would like to join the next meeting click HERE.
Children, Families and Young People’s Network – will focus on a pilot in Rotherhithe for mapping youth services and working with funders and the council to fill any gaps. Sign up for the 12th March meeting if you are interested.
Mental Health Network – will focus on a project to form a consortium of groups working to prevent mental ill health, with a view to the possibility of applying for joint grants or contracts, or seeking to co-design services with statutory partners. Sign up for the 18th March meeting if you are interested.
Older Peoples Network – this network has been at its most successful when meetings have had a clear purpose – such as meeting older people funders or the Cost of Living Referral Fund. We are currently considering how we can build on these successes with similar events, such as a safeguarding themed event.
Disability Providers Network – this network has been keen to focus on shared training and skills, and we are exploring whether we can do this within our training programme.
Volunteering Managers – the Volunteering Team are now offering a formal training programme twice a year and will host a networking event for everyone supporting volunteers in the borough at the end of each programme.
Race Equality and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Alliance – The Alliance has held three successful ‘Journey to Better Health Outcomes’ events and will aim for two further events in the next year to continue the work on sustainable funding and relationships with health decision makers.
Latin American Network – The Network’s project will continue to be realising the Cultural Centre that has been promised by the council.
Safeguarding Network – will hold a wider in person event to bring groups working with children or vulnerable adults together for training and peer support.
Funding Working Group – A key State of the Sector recommendation to bring together funders and VCS groups (big and small) to work through how funding can be more accessible. This group meets three times per year in person and the agenda relates directly to the State of the Sector principles for funders
Southwark Voice brings together the Chairs of all the VCCS networks in the borough (including the ones which are not facilitated by Community Southwark). This group meets once every three months online to monitor progress on the State of the Sector recommendations.
Additional events and training
We are finalising the events and training we will be offering over the next year (in addition to the one-to-one advice we offer). These opportunities to meet other VCS groups and external partners include:
- Annual Funder Conference on 5th March 2025– sign up here if you haven’t already
- Make Your Mark – continuing our training programme for Evaluation and Impact Measurement – which consistently receives our highest ratings
- Volunteer Management – a new series of workshops
- HR advice surgeries with 3-4 groups and our HR Manager to talk through their HR challenges and where policies can be shared and tailored
- New Beginner and Intermediate training programmes combining workshops and one-to-one support with budgets and management accounts
- Regular training sessions around fundraising, governance, business planning and much more
- Business brunches to bring together the VCS and business partners, particularly around sharing skills and resources
- Southwark Stars on 6th June
- Volunteering Fair
