A Shared Commitment to Partnership with the VCSE Sector

As voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations working across Norfolk, we are united in our commitment to the people and communities we serve. Every day, our sector delivers vital services, builds trust, unlocks potential, and responds to complex social challenges. We don’t do this work alone, but alongside local authorities, statutory partners, and others who share our commitment to making Norfolk a fairer, healthier, and more inclusive place.

We know that effective collaboration between sectors makes our county stronger. But to achieve this, we need the right conditions: trust, respect, shared responsibility, and meaningful partnership. That is why, together, we have developed and agreed on a clear set of sector-wide principles and asks.

These asks reflect what VCSE organisations across Norfolk say is needed to sustain our work, strengthen local systems, and improve outcomes for our communities. They have been shaped by organisations of different sizes, working in different ways, but with a shared voice and vision.

We are asking all public sector partners, commissioners, funders, and system leaders to listen and respond not just with words, but with practical steps to embed these asks into the way we work together.

What we’re asking for:

Value our contributions

Measure and publicly report the unpaid time VCSEs give to partnerships and systems development work and the outcomes these lead to.

VCSEs must have a seat at the table

Provide consistent and transparent VCSE representation in decision-making spaces, with equitable opportunities for involvement.

Invest in our infrastructure

Fund VCSE infrastructure to strengthen collective capacity and support measurement of the sector’s economic and social value in Norfolk.

Track VCSE spending

Report quarterly on all funding and spending with VCSEs to increase transparency, strengthen relationships, and highlight opportunities.

Unlock in-kind support

Share unused space, training, and resources to reduce overheads, foster collaboration, and support sector development.

Fair procurement

Simplify processes, offer smaller contract lots, support consortia bids, and invest in VCSE capacity to ensure equitable access.

Create one central platform

Develop a shared digital space to promote consultation and co-production opportunities across Norfolk, making it easier for communities and organisations to engage meaningfully.

Enable VCSE-led engagement

Resource VCSE organisations to design and lead participation activities, ensuring they are inclusive, accessible, and shaped by those closest to communities.

Clear, prompt payments

Publish grant and contract payment terms at the application stage and report regularly on performance against these. Timely payments are vital to VCSE sustainability, especially as reserves shrink.

Open decision-making

Share decision-making timelines upfront, communicate delays promptly, and provide regular updates. Transparency builds trust and enables continuity of service delivery.

Set clear expectations and provide feedback

Ensure reporting requirements are proportionate and clearly outlined from the outset so VCSEs can plan and resource them effectively. Provide feedback on submitted reports to close the loop, recognise our work, and support continuous improvement.

A Shared Commitment to the Covenant

We ask all partners to adopt and embed the principles of the Civil Society Covenant into our shared work. This is not just a framework, it is a call to act with fairness, equity, and shared responsibility for the communities we serve.

We call on you, our partners, to work with us to adopt and embed these principles in your policies, funding processes, decision-making structures, and everyday interactions with the VCSE sector. We know that some of this is already happening and we want to build on what works.

Together, we can ensure that the VCSE sector is not just included, but valued, resourced, and empowered as an equal partner in creating positive change in Norfolk.

Signed,

Willow Farrell

Director, FUSE Network

On behalf of the Empowering Communities Partnership

With thanks to Voluntary Norfolk for their contribution to the development of this letter and their ongoing collaboration as lead partner in the Empowering Communities Partnership.