Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire VCSE vision and actions

Contents

• VCSE Vision and Framework for Action
• Commissioning Intentions – VCSE Strategic Investments

There are estimated to be around 8,000 VCSE organisations in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. These include small volunteer-led groups, large national charities, social enterprises and organisations that support marginalised groups and help people in crisis.

There are some significant challenges to VCSE integration. While local authorities have worked with the VCSE sector for many years, the NHS is still developing practices. Some of the challenges are common for all Integrated Care Systems, but some are specific to our area.

However, these challenges can be overcome, and we have made good progress by working together with the local VCSE sector and our system partners.

The documents included on this page outline how we aim to make it easier for VCSE participation, focusing on tackling culture, planning, governance and investments in VCSE structures.

VCSE Vision and Framework for Action

Following an engagement process with local VCSE organisations and system partners, we have developed a new VCSE Vision and Framework for Action.

This is the first time our integrated care system has outlined our vision for how we will include diverse VCSE organisations across the system. The approach brings together several years of collaboration and sets out both short-term and long-term goals.

The Vision and Framework for Action is supported by the VCSE Alliance Steering Group and the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB Board.

We are in the process of setting up a Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Strategic VCSE Group, which will help drive forward the vision and actions.

Read the VCSE Vision and Framework for Action

Commissioning Intentions – VCSE Strategic Investments

Our recent work with the VCSE sector has focused on establishing a new structure for VCSE engagement, introducing new VCSE Integration Principles and co-designing an inclusive, equitable and robust process for investing in VCSE activities.

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has committed to investing £250,000 per year toward VCSE structures and developments through the Proactive Care Fund. ICB Executives recently approved our strategic commissioning intentions for investments from 2025/2026 onward.

Read the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire VCSE Strategic Commissioning Intentions

In a listening exercise during May and June 2025, Healthier Together system partners and stakeholders provided feedback on the commissioning intentions. Since the commissioning intentions were published, there have been many changes in NHS and system policy, structures and plans. We have published a summary of the feedback received, the changing context and our next steps.

Read the Update to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire VCSE Strategic Intentions

The updated intention is to commission two services after some market and stakeholder engagement:

Pre-market engagement for the VCSE Structure and Strategy service

We are currently in the pre-market engagement phase for the VCSE Structure and Strategy service, which helps us understand who is interested in delivering, supporting, or using the new service.

A notice for the VCSE Structure and Strategy service was published on Find a Tender on 23 October 2025. We are inviting partners, including system partners and VCSE organisations, to share their views and ideas through this notice.

Go to Find a Tender - VCSE Structure and Strategy Service

If you are not registered on Find a Tender, you can still take part. Please download and complete this spreadsheet and email it to jamie.mackay1@nhs.net at NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) by 24 November 2025.

A second notice for the VCSE Support and Deliver service will be published on 27 November 2025.