Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire VCSE
Brokerage Framework

How it works

The Framework is hosted by the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance and co-developed in partnership with NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and ICS partners. It is funded by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB and is being piloted in 2024, with an anticipated full launch in 2025.

The VCSE Brokerage Framework is being co-designed and tested by a partnership of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance, NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and ICS partners, including Sirona care & health, the local authorities and VCSE sector.

The Framework will help integrate thousands of VCSE organisations with public sector bodies in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It offers a fair and simple way for public sector managers to engage diverse VCSE groups, including smaller organisations.

Public sector requests of VCSE organisations on the Framework might include:

• Proposals to provide community preventive activities.
• Data, insights and/or intelligence on a particular issue.
• Co-production of new services.

To develop proposals for the pilot programmes, VCSE organisations need to join the Framework.

Benefits of joining

The benefits of joining the Framework include:

• Easier funding applications.
• Fewer entry barriers to the public sector – process is proportionate to the size of your organisation.
• Networking and relationship building with VCSE peers.
• Skill and practice sharing.
• Greater community voice in public sector decisions.
• Collaborative system reform and service design.

Who can apply to join

Any VCSE organisation operating for over 12 months can apply to join the Framework if they meet the following criteria:

• A registered charity, unincorporated association, Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Community business (company limited by shares with a clear community purpose and benefits), Community Interest Company limited by guarantee (CIC, the common form of social enterprises), Community Interest Company limited by share (Schedule 2 with 100% asset lock), Community Benefit or Industrial Provident Society, or company limited by guarantee.
• Have robust governance and sound financial management proportional to organisation size, as set out in the Brokerage Framework Quality Assurance requirements.
• Based in and/or already delivering services and conducting activities within Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire.
• Focused on at least one of the many aspects that affect health and wellbeing – including things like inclusion, work, housing, education, money, air quality, safety, transport, social and community connections alongside health and care advice, support and services.
• Be willing to collaborate with other organisations on the Framework.
• It is recognised that a community business, which has clear community purpose and benefits, may be a company limited by shares.

We encourage all VCSE organisations, even the very smallest, to apply. The joining process has been intentionally designed to be proportional to size.

How to join

Applications to join the Framework can be made by completing the VCSE Brokerage Framework application forms.

VCSE Brokerage Framework Application Form - part 1 VCSE Brokerage Framework Application Form - part 2

Once you have completed the application form, it will be reviewed by the Brokerage team and the assurance panel. We will aim to tell you the outcome of your application as soon as possible.

Questions and feedback

The VCSE Brokerage Framework is in a test-and-learn pilot year during 2024 and 2025. The learnings and feedback gathered during the pilot will be used to further refine the Framework, with the intention of a wide-scale launch in 2025. Please share your experience of participating in or using the Framework by completing our feedback form.

We are also developing a Frequently Asked Questions overview which will be available on this webpage shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding the Framework or require assistance completing the application forms please email contact@bnssgvcsealliance.org.

Pilot programmes

The VCSE Brokerage Framework will be tested via four pilot programmes during 2024 and 2025. Learnings will be gathered through this process and used to inform the further development of the Framework.

The summary information about the four intended pilot programmes is presented in the table below. Please note that all pilot programmes are currently in development and not finalised. Detailed information will be available in due course. The pilots are expected to open in Autumn 2024.

Key dates and supporting information

Applications will be assessed by the VCSE Brokerage Framework Assurance Panels. The first Assurance Panel will be held on 5 September 2024 and then monthly, in the first week of the month.

Applications submitted up to the end of the third week of the month will be reviewed at the upcoming panel. Applications submitted after the third week of the month will be reviewed at the following month’s panel.

Assurance panel and application dates

To ensure applications to join the Framework are assessed in time to allow participation in the pilot programmes, VCSE organisations are advised to submit applications by 20 September 2024. Applications will remain open after this date, but the Brokerage Team cannot guarantee that applications will be assessed in time for participation in the pilot programmes.

Drop-in support sessions

If you require support in completing your application or to ask any questions please register for our Brokerage Framework Drop-in Sessions.

Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday 4 September at 11am to 12pm

Register for a Brokerage Framework drop-in session

Application summaries

To help you gather relevant information to complete the application, these summary documents show all of the questions included in the application form:

• Brokerage Framework Application part 1 – summary of questions (PDF)
• Brokerage Framework Application part 2 – summary of questions (PDF)

Overview of the Brokerage Framework Quality Assurance requirements