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 funded by NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

The VCSE Brokerage Framework is being co-designed and tested during 2024/25 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 aims to support the integration of 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.

After testing the framework with several health programmes during 2024/25, a review and learning exercise took place in April and May 2025.  A learning document has been produced to guide the further development of the VCSE Brokerage Framework, with some immediate changes already in place.

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.

Please be aware there is no save and return option when filling out the forms. To help you gather relevant information to complete the application, these summary documents show all of the questions included in the application form before beginning your application.

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

Questions and feedback

Please share your experience of participating in or using the Framework by completing our feedback form.

We have developed some frequently asked questions and responses, which we hope will help provide further information about the VCSE Brokerage Framework.

• Download the frequently asked questions and responses (docx)

Investments

We are excited to announce that VCSE organisations can now submit proposals for the Smokefree Peer Support programme. The information document, proposal form and budget template are below:

• Smokefree Peer Support Programme – Information and Guidance document (PDF)
• Smokefree Peer Support Programme – Proposal Form (docx)
• Smokefree Peer Support Programme – Budget Template (xlsx)

Please read through the information document and the budget template guidance fully before you start your proposal. Please email your completed proposal form, budget template and any supporting documents to proposal@bnssgvcsealliance.org.

Closing date for proposals is 5pm on Thursday 14 August.

How can I sign up for marketing events?

We are running two marketing events, where VCSE organisations can ask questions about the programme and/or about the proposal process.  They will both cover the same content, so you only need to attend one. These are taking place online and you can sign up via the links below:

• Marketing event: Monday 14 July at 10am to 11am
• Marketing event: Tuesday 2 July at 2pm to 3pm

What if I have further questions?

Please email the VCSE Brokerage Team at proposal@bnssgvcsealliance.org with any questions by midday on Thursday 24 July.

We will respond collectively to all clarification questions raised via this website weekly, up until the clarification question deadline of 24 July. Please note we will be unable to respond directly to you regarding any questions raised or respond to questions after this date.

Assurance panel and application dates

The purpose of the VCSE Brokerage Framework Assurance Panel is to ensure that organisations on the Framework meet the quality assurance requirements and criteria for joining.

The VCSE Brokerage Framework Assurance Panel has oversight of the assessment of applications to the Framework and plays the lead role in the quality assurance decision-making process. The membership of the Panel and the process it follows are set out in the Terms of Reference.

The Assurance Panel members use the VCSE Brokerage Framework policy checklist when reviewing and confirming the suitability and quality of core requirement policies (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Safeguarding and Complaints policies)

VCSE Brokerage Framework policy checklist

Assurance Panel Terms of Reference

The VCSE Brokerage Framework Assurance Panel meet every 5 weeks to review new applications received.

The dates for 2025 are as follows, but may be subject to change:

• Wednesday 29 January
• Tuesday 4 March
• Thursday 3 April
• Wednesday 7 May – cancelled
• Wednesday 11 June
• Wednesday 16 July
• Dates for August onwards will be published later this year.

Please ensure your application is received at least 10 days before the Assurance Panel meeting. Applications received after that date will be reviewed at the following Panel meeting.

The first year test and learn phase of the VCSE Brokerage Framework is now reaching a conclusion. We will be pausing some of our activity temporarily, so that we can carry out a review with all partners, to identify any changes to process to improve efficiency and ensure the Framework remains inclusive and accessible going forward.

This means we will be cancelling our planned Assurance Panel meeting in May and our next meeting will now be taking place on 11 June.  Any new Brokerage applications received will be reviewed then.  We also encourage any organisations with outstanding conditions on their Brokerage application to submit revised policies during this period.

Overview of the Brokerage Framework Quality Assurance requirements