The conversion continues: Southwark Voluntary Sector Strategy

Feedback from event 25 May 2016

Most useful aspects

[12 people said networking]

  • Having the statutory persons.
  • The diversity of the attendees was very helpful, a good breadth of interest and knowledge.
  • Meeting potential new partners.
  • All different organisations were great to hear views that can link to similar views + information that can open up discussion + hearing of council working strategies + information that does not get to citizens + organisation.
  • Opportunity for discussion.
  • Collaborating with the statutory organisation – council to help ensure that projects [work?] together to ensure good results. Grants needed to support voluntary org in their project. Communication needed. In short all were useful, need to be taken one after the other.
  • Networking and hearing the views of voluntary sector and the ‘ask’ of commissioners and statutory providers.
  • Feedback from last session and build on this conversation.
  • Networking and sharing ideas, hearing from VCS colleagues.
  • Liked the post-it note and prioritisation exercise.
  • Networking.
  • As ever, the fantastic networking. It was great to meet various members of Southwark Council and other VCS people. Also seriously learned some new things.
  • Meeting other VCS organisations + statutory / council + NHS,
  • Listening to common themes which will inform the rest.
  • Touching based with VCS already known.
  • Seeing how the council invests in VCS engagement.
  • Finding out about other VCSs I wasn’t aware of.
  • Round table conversations with colleagues.
  • Sharing concerns and contributing to developing a strategy plan for the voluntary and statutory sector. With the aim of partnership work.
  • Chance to listen to other views & ideas from VCS, CCG and council.
  • Thinking specifically about the public agencies contributions. Interacting on a table with both council people and vol sector people.
  • Being able to have an input into the elements that I think are most important for the strategy going forwards.
  • Thinking through the ideal and how to get there.
  • Networking.
  • Opportunity to talk to council + CCG + share thoughts.
  • Networking.
  • Talking to commissioning team.
  • Explaining challenges.
  • Learning about services. Decommissioning.
  • Meeting people from different areas, hearing views of what’s important for the VCS. Very productive event, good pacing, and time to allow focus groups bounce ideas.
  • Meeting new organisations.
  • Getting a better sense of the key issues affecting the VCS and the things that could help improve their ability to deliver – in partnership with council and CCG.
  • Post-its voting.
  • Good to have LBS and the CCG at the same table.
  • Networking. Meeting the community of voluntary sector providers.
  • Meeting other participants – from all sectors.
  • Feedback / last meeting / update & next steps.
  • Networking.
  • Understand council / CCG perspective on where they can bring value. Meeting new people / networking. Considering areas to focus strategy.
  • Sharing ideas.
  • Exchange of ideas in the small group discussion.
  • Networking.
  • Meeting a councillor.
  • Hearing other ideas.
  • The workshop.
  • Always useful to come out of the office environment and have space to think about wider issues.

Least useful aspects

  • Only having 3 dots.
  • None.
  • I feel on the whole it was run well. It would have been gone to be provided with copies of presentations in front of us to have + also help with communicating back to the people were are representing.
  • All aspects relevant and appropriate.
  • NONE: all points discussed today were very useful and is needed for successful improvement of the local communities.
  • No / limited diversity. No youngers / [juniors?]
  • Initial speeches – it would be better to hear how work from other partnership and organisations will inform the development of the strategy.
  • Not enough CCG reps to really develop conversation. If this is co-produced then they really need to be visible part of the conversation and contributing views and ideas.
  • None.
  • Word-clouds.
  • Nothing.
  • No refreshments but lots of sugar. Diabetes awareness.
  • It would have been helpful for Q1 to outline some of the ‘other partners’. As council were on table they were really put in hotseat.
  • Community groups on table hadn’t thought of business value apart from potential funding.
  • All pretty useful.
  • Pretty broad categories with little time to focus in.
  • Opening speech.
  • Only 3 dots?
  • Late start of agenda prior to meeting eg 1.30-2pm networking.
  • None.
  • Advertised to start at 1.30 but didn’t start until 2pm. Perhaps registration 1.30 start 2pm.
  • Would be good to have an agenda.
  • Request please for analysis of groups represented – where are gaps – how will people missing be proactively engaged in developing the vol sector strategy [from Sally Causer I think].

Other comments

  • Good to have: would like quick short reports of the event of the outcome / findings.
  • Would like to ensure that the small groups planned allow non-organisations to attend as part of the integrated care strategy – to keep with not leaving out voices. I see planned groups have banned citizens with interest from attending – showing the feeling of inferiority.
  • Should ensure information what the council and CCG is doing is communicated. That may help with understanding the situation we are in that will help with supportive modes rather than fighting shock. Bringing facts to all where we are that is not being communicated well.
  • Nothing really, just to say it was a very good afternoon.
  • Good to include a networking element as an opportunity to meet up is rare!!
  • A few VCS services informed us that they keep a directory of VCS services. It would be good for those VCS to make themselves known to everyone in this cohort, and any limitations ie just for mental health. That was VCS can send over their information to be uploaded onto the / those directories.
  • Good team interaction but it did slightly lose focus – a defined facilitator may have helped.
  • Helpful to write ideas about the relevant sections – seemed an appropriate amount of time on each section.
  • Looking forward to the feedback.
  • Engagement of grass roots communities. To include outreach working.
  • Delegates not reflective of LBS community (diversity) grass roots missing.
  • Mental health first aid 9 weeks protect positive.
  • It would have been helpful to have the questions for consideration beforehand.
  • Possibly too much focus on what had happened at the last session.
  • The ‘us’ and ‘them’ nature of the discussion around our table – though this didn’t happen the whole time! More work is needed to improve collaboration between sections – and more CCG presence would show they are interested in this idea!
  • Thank you. This is a huge challenge and it’s hopeful that people are looking into it.
  • An issue that emerged in various ways throughout the afternoon, I felt, were the gaps that allow people to fall through and become invisible. How do you fill the gaps and build the bridges. In a kind way, not a blaming environment.
  • Enjoyed the participative nature.

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