"With the full engagement of voluntary and community sector organisations, who provide the full spectrum of children's services, and lobby and campaign on behalf of children and young people, Every Child Matters can become a reality"

Clare Tickell, Chief Executive, Action for Children

Welcome to VCS Engage

VCS Engage was a programme funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to strengthen the engagement of the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in delivering the Every Child Matters: Change for Children agenda.

VCS Engage ran from September 2006 until the end March 2008. During that time the programme was steered by a consortium of VCS infrastructure and delivery organisations working in the children, young people and families’ sector (see left column). The programme was also supported by a large number of individual agencies committed to the programme’s aims.

Although the programme has ended, activities that support and engage the VCS are being continued; new programmes are also being developed by the NCB. Other steering group partner organisations are also undertaking work to support the VCS. The VCS Engage website will continue to raise awareness of issues and signpost relevant information that will support the VCS in its engagement, understanding and growth.

Latest Courses

Successful Commissioning: Preparing your Children's Service Tenders

The new programme of training starts on the 2nd of October 2008, and continues through till march 2009. This series of two-day events, delivered by NCB, has been developed as a result of the previous VCS Engage programme and will run in all the UK regions.

BAMER/Faith Strand Mini-Seminar Series: Collaborative Working

NCB has developed a series of collaborative working training seminars, which aim to support VCS organisations from the BAMER and faith based sector to explore the best practice and issues around collaborative working and enable participants to begin the collaborative working process.

For further details and to book your place on these popular courses:

visit our Training and Events page

Sign up for our free e-bulletin

Recent developments

Help black and minority ethnic groups with their strategy
Thu, Dec, 4 2008

Become one of 25 ‘strategy champions’ and you could receive free training and support, and £4,000 to help BME organisations to develop stronger strategies.
Futurebuilders England quarterly Review on commissioning in the current financial climate
Thu, Nov, 6 2008

A review on the public sector commissioning environment and its impact on public service delivery by the Third Sector, highlighting stories reflecting the opportunties and challenges presented by the current financial climate.
Sector Wide News -130 Million
Fri, Sep, 5 2008

The Government’s groundbreaking £130million Grassroots Grants scheme has declared itself open for business today and is calling on small local voluntary and community groups to come forward and get their hands on essential funding.