Supporting Influence:
Identifying collaboration and partnership
opportunities between the Voluntary Sector
Health & Wellbeing Board representatives and
Housing Associations across Lancashire
Case Study
Margaret McLeod
Health & Social Care Policy & Network Coordinator
[email protected]
Background
This was the second meeting in the North West facilitated by VSNW to support
voluntary sector representatives on Health & Wellbeing Boards to meet with Housing
Associations operating in their local areas.
These meetings came about following a roundtable with National Housing
Federation members in the NW and a number of VCS organisations invited by
VSNW. During the discussions it was realised that many of the Housing
Associations present were not aware that there was voluntary sector representation
on some Health and Wellbeing Boards in the North West.
One of the agreed outcomes of the roundtable was to bring together local voluntary
sector representatives on the Health & Wellbeing Board together with housing
associations to discuss how they could work together to influence health and
wellbeing.
Introduction
Interest was expressed from the four voluntary sector representatives that sit on the
three Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Boards – Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool
and Lancashire – to meet with local Housing Associations; both those they already
knew and those they did not.
The voluntary sector reps are:
Blackburn: Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen CVS and the Chief Executive
of Families Health & Wellbeing Consortium
Blackpool: Chief Executive Blackpool Wyre & Fylde CVS
Lancashire: Chair of Third Sector Lancashire
There was a positive response to the invitation to Housing Associations with nine
represented at the roundtable consisting of both local and national organisations:
Bay Housing
Calico Homes
Care Housing
Community Gateway
New Foundations Housing
Places for People
Progress Housing
Riverside Housing Association
Together Housing
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Health & Wellbeing Boards (HWB)
Overviews were given by the voluntary sector representatives of the three Health
and Wellbeing Boards including their membership, structure and methods of
operation. There was a view that because the Blackburn and Blackpool were unitary
authorities and were quite small in geography it was easier for them to operate in a
cohesive way. Both the unitary areas felt that the sector was offered good
opportunities to engage and be consulted. Blackburn in particular felt they were both
listened to and could influence. For instance, one of the VCS representatives leads
on development sessions for the Board, and they also sit on the agenda setting
group. In Blackpool, the VCS representative is able to take along specialist
speakers to meetings and also coordinates the voluntary sector consultations that
take place. Lancashire it was suggested, because of its large geographic area, and
two tier council structure, made it more difficult for the voluntary sector
representative to be engaged in such a direct way as in Blackburn and Blackpool.
In Lancashire, however, there were other structures, such as East Lancs Health &
Wellbeing Partnership and Healthier Lancashire which the voluntary sector also
engaged with, which had links to the Health & Wellbeing Board.
All three voluntary sector representatives highlighted other health and wellbeing
partnerships they engaged with which also had links to their Health and Wellbeing
Boards.
Housing Associations (HA)
Their wider role was talked about in terms of social support and supporting people to
look at their health and wellbeing, lifestyles, as well as financial issues. There was
recognition that there needed to be better communication between Housing
Associations and Health &Wellbeing Boards. Many worked closely with public health
and some were already making offers to Health & Wellbeing Boards and contributing
to strategies.
The role of the National Housing Federation in Blackpool to see how links between
Housing Association and the Health & Wellbeing Board could be created was
mentioned. The National Housing Federation is a Dept of Health strategic partner
and in partnership ran a pilot looking at the determinants of health, which is a priority
for Blackpool’s health and wellbeing strategy. The example was also cited of
Oldham who offered a place on the HWB to a local Housing Association following its
involvement in a partnership delivering health activities.
The important role that evidence played in influencing strategies was discussed.
Health & Wellbeing Board strategies are based on JSNA evidence but the evidence
that both Housing Associations and the voluntary sector produced was not always
presented in a way that can be ‘counted’. It was acknowledged that both the
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voluntary sector and HAs needed to use data in a better way. Chief Executives of
Housing Associations in Lancashire are being asked to extract the role of housing
from the data that Healthier Lancashire is using.
It was recognised that whilst the voluntary sector and HAs do compete there are still
common goals. A discussion of the types of work that both HAs and the voluntary
sector were involved in which addressed people’s health needs included examples
such as Transforming Lives in Blackburn which supports people in the community
and community navigators in Blackpool.
It was mentioned that whilst large HAs have a strong national body that works
effectively at a national level it sometimes meant they did not find it as easy to fit in
at a local level and be part of driving the local agenda. As a result they did not
always link with local vcs infrastructure organisations. However, there were
examples where HAs commission work directly with the VCS. Together Housing cocommissioned in Salford and with Rossendale CAB around a mobile advice service.
Influencing Health and Wellbeing Boards
It was asked how the voluntary sector made its offer to Health and Wellbeing
Boards.

Lancashire – Third Sector Lancashire hold hearings to which HWB members
and other key public sector representatives are invited. In addition there
were health forums in the county which some HAs had used such as the
Fylde & Wyre Forum but the same offer did not always exist on other forum.

Blackpool – the CVS coordinates the sector’s response to consultations and
the chief executive inputs at HWB meetings. The Board have asked if they
can establish a single mechanism for communication.

Blackburn – the role of voluntary sector organisations is talked about in a
general way at HWB meetings and the CVS also carries out consultations to
bring views forward. There is also Local Public Service Board where Housing
is represented.
A discussion took place around the value of setting up a forum for each of the three
HWB areas. However, it was felt that it would be better to make sure that Housing
Associations were connected to those already existing and ensure better
representation especially from the HAs with a national footprint.
Outcomes

A paper to be produced by Housing Associations highlighting their offer which
can be presented to individual Health & Wellbeing Board members with the
support of the voluntary sector representatives.
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
Housing Associations to ensure they engage with Healthier Lancashire and
other health forums.

The voluntary sector representatives to map the formal and informal
partnerships across Lancashire to identify gaps where HAs could contribute
and be represented.
VSNW (Voluntary Sector North West) is the regional voluntary sector network for the North West.
The purpose of VSNW is to ensure that the voluntary and community sector (VCS), in all its diversity,
takes its full part in shaping the future of the North West.
VSNW works with 150 members which
 work across the region directly supporting and delivering services for individuals, or
 are VCS infrastructure organisations (LIOs) that work with local voluntary and community groups.
VSNW members provide community services, regenerate neighbourhoods, support
individuals, promote volunteering and tackle discrimination. The 40 generalist LIOs in
membership of VSNW have a membership of 6,780 VCS groups and are in contact with
19,800 local voluntary and community sector groups in the North West – just under twothirds (63%) of the region’s VCS groups.
Voluntary Sector North West (VSNW)
St Thomas Centre
Ardwick Green North
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.vsnw.org.uk
Registered charity no. 1081654
Company limited by guarantee
Registered in England no. 3988903
Registered office as above
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