About the programme

Every Child Matters: Change for Children is the Government’s framework for delivering services for children, young people and families. The framework was developed in 2002/3 and was incorporated in the 2004 Children Act.

The aim of the framework is to make sure that services are assessed, planned, commissioned and delivered in a coordinated way. 

The VCS have an essential role to play in the delivery of public services, but there are concerns that the new framework will create significant challenges for the sector. These concerns led to calls for the Government to address the needs of the voluntary and community sector (VCS), and VCS Engage is one such response to these calls.

What's the aim of the programme?

The overall aim is to strengthen the engagement of the VCS in the planning, commissioning and delivery of services for children, young people and their families.

This breaks down into three key areas:

1. Build the capacity of the VCS to engage in Children’s Trusts at the strategic level in needs analysis, planning and commissioning.
2. Increase the confidence and skills of the VCS to enter the children’s services market and compete with other providers on a level playing field.
3. Encourage collaboration and co-operation across the VCS and with strategic partners and providers in both the public and private sectors.

Who is funding it?

VCS Engage is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The programme will receive funding until March 2008.

DCSF have awarded £3 million to the National Children’s Bureau to lead the VCS Engage programme in partnership with a consortium of National Voluntary Sector organisations.