Welcome to...
An Empowering Communities Newsletter Special on:
'Norfolk's VCSE Sector Conference (21st-24th November)'

In this issue:

• Norfolk's VCSE Sector Conference 2022: Schedule for the week (21-24 Nov)
• First day of the Conference: Advocating and Influencing
• Day two of the Conference: Workforce Wellbeing
• Day three of the Conference: The Power of Networks
• Day four of the Conference: Food Provision
• VCSE Sector funding opportunities

VCSE SECTOR CONFERENCE 2022: Schedule for the week (21-24 Nov)

Conference Overview

The 2022 Norfolk VCSE Annual Conference, facilitated by the Empowering Communities Partnership, will take place between Monday 21st and Thursday 24th November 2022.

Recent years have shown us the power of collaboration and partnership in meeting shared goals and getting better outcomes for communities and individuals. In times of crisis we have to 'do different', yet build on what we have learned in recent years, hence the theme of this year's Conference is 'Building VCSE Resilience through the Power of Partnerships and Collaboration'.

During the week, virtual events will explore key themes which are essential to the VCSE sector as we move into a challenging winter, including workforce resilience, collaborative partnership working, advocating and influencing, and the role of Networks and Forums. On Wednesday 23rd November a face-to-face event in Norwich will provide an opportunity to come together in-person as a VCSE community to engage with and learn from our sector colleagues and wider stakeholders and professionals.
 

Conference Schedule

Monday 21st November
Advocating and Influencing (Click here for more details and to register for this online session).

Tuesday 22nd November
Developing Workforce Wellbeing and Resilience (Click here for more details and to register for this online session).

Emerging Themes Shaping Norfolk’s Volunteering Strategy (Click here for more details and to register for this online session).

Wednesday 23rd November

Reflecting on the Power and Value of Networks and Collaboration in Norfolk (Click here for more details and to register your attendance either in person or online).

Networking Lunch, Marketplace and The Voice Project (Click here for more details and to register your attendance).

Growing and Investing in our Networks and Forums (Click here for more details and to register your attendance).

Thursday 24 November
Food Aid & Food Distribution in Norfolk (Click here for more details and to register for this online session).

Lessons in good collaboration: building efficiencies, opportunities and creativity (More details to follow).

First Day of the Conference:
Advocating and Influencing

Advocating and Influencing...

Our ‘Advocating and Influencing’ theme for the first day of the 2022 Norfolk VCSE Annual Conference came from VCSE Sector Leaders who during a session of the Norfolk VCSE Leaders Voice Network in October 2022 reflected on the importance but also complexities around advocating and campaigning to influence change. For charities that want to support (or oppose) a change in government policy or the law, the publishing of a 5-minute guide on political campaigning by the Charity Commission in October 2022 provides a useful overview of the rules.  

To sign up to this session, please click here.

Day Two of the Conference:
Workforce Wellbeing

Workforce Wellbeing: Supporting our Colleagues through Tough Times...

Day Three of the Conference:
The Power of Networks

The Power of Networks and Collaboration

Join us at The Space Conference Centre in Norwich (NR7 8SQ) as we come together in-person as a VCSE community to engage with and learn from sector colleagues and wider stakeholders and professionals.

10:00 to 11:45 - Reflecting on the Power and Value of Networks and Collaboration in Norfolk

Learn from and engage with a diverse panel of Network Leaders in person as they reflect on their individual and collective journeys. Click here for more details and to register your attendance either in person or online. (Coffee served at 9:30am)

11:45 to 13:15 - Networking Lunch, Marketplace and The Voice Project

An opportunity to network with VCSE colleagues with lunch provided. Click here for more details and to register your attendance.

13:15 to 14:30 - Growing and Investing in our Networks and Forums

Join us to discuss how we continue to develop and grow our networks to build the resilience of the VCSE sector and meet the needs of our communities. Click here for more details and to register your attendance.

Day Four of the Conference:
Food Provision

Food Provision - Sharing good practice and building collaboration

Hear from The Feed, Nourishing Norfolk and other local organisations about their work providing affordable, accessible food to communities. This Good Practice Workshop on food aid and distribution initiatives in Norfolk provides a topical and timely conversation in light of cost-of-living concerns, with some interesting organisations sharing their experiences. Whatever your organisation or role, come along to discuss key challenges and opportunities for working together in these challenging times.

Click here for more details and to register for this online session.