Dear Colleagues,
Yesterday, I attended the NAVCA Annual Conference 2026. The theme this year was ‘Neighbourhoods and Communities’ and the conference highlighted the vital role of Local Infrastructure Organisations (LIOs) in building connection, resilience, and power in the places people call home.
The conference was very well attended by partners from up and down the country, and it was fascinating to hear that everyone is facing the same challenges in their respective areas and having very similar conversations.
The message from the conference was clear: Local infrastructure is the “hidden wiring” that enables communities to thrive.
Here are the key takeaways:
- Good Infrastructure is About Relationships, Not Just Structure
The new NAVCA report What does good local VCSE infrastructure look like? highlights that effective infrastructure isn’t just about structures, but about trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Our role as convenors and capacity builders is crucial, but it is our trusted relationships that allow us to make a difference. - Building Resilience on the Front Line
We are facing a moment where local cohesion feels fragile, with rising social disconnection and unrest. NAVCA members are stepping up to build common ground, connecting communities, and helping them move toward a more compassionate future. As we look forward, we must continue to focus on building community resilience, helping our local VCSEF sector to not only survive but grow. - Collaboration is a Necessity, not a Choice
As noted in the session “Stronger together: how local infrastructure is collaborating through change,” many organisations are asked to do more with less.
Black Country Together CIO is made up of WVCA, SCVO, Dudley CVS and One Walsall and is a powerful example of what can happen when local infrastructure organisations come together around a shared purpose. In the video, which you can access through the above link, Vicki Hines (One Walsall) and Mark Davis (SCVO) reflect on how trust, shared ambition and a clear process brought our organisations together to enable collaboration at scale while staying rooted in local place.
We must also continue to work in partnership with our city council and health systems, through for example, the One Wolverhampton Board and the Health and Wellbeing Together Board, to ensure that the VCSEF voice is heard, and that we can effectively champion the needs of our communities.
Moving Forward
The conference reinforced that our work has never been more urgent. We need to invest in our local infrastructure capacity—our ability to connect, convene, and bridge.
I look forward to discussing some of these issues with you all at our next VCSEF Alliance meeting:
Book here: VCSEF Alliance Meeting at 10-12 on Wednesday 20th May 2026 at The Workspace
Finally, if there are any issues that you would like to raise or anything that you would like to hear more about, please contact me.
If you would like more information, please remember to check out our website and newsletter regularly – there is always new information, and opportunities are always presenting themselves.
Thank you,
Sharon Nanan-Sen
Chief Executive Officer