Facilitating Engagement in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS)
Engagement starts with making a connection. At Dorset VCSA (voluntary and community sector assembly), we help voluntary organisations, charities, and community groups share ideas, and work together to create lasting change. By bringing people together, we create opportunities for learning, partnerships, and innovation—helping organisations grow and thrive.
We don’t believe in networking for the sake of it. Instead, we focus on meaningful engagement, making sure that every connection serves a purpose. With so many existing networks across the voluntary sector, our role is to enhance what’s already working, not duplicate efforts. That’s why we meet organisations where they are, working within established groups while also creating new spaces for collaboration when they’re needed.
How We Strengthen Connections
- Bringing Groups Together with Purpose– When there is a need to work together, whether that is to find answers to community problems or to help commissioning of services we will work with our communities to link organisations, helping them find the right partners, share their expertise, have a voice over issues they have expertise in and help them access specialist support.
- Amplifying Voices – We gather insights from voluntary sector groups and ensure their perspectives are heard by decision-makers, funders, and commissioners. Through empowering those who currently feel they are not heard to become representatives for the sector we will make decision-making voices more diverse and inclusive for our communities.
- Creating New Opportunities – When there’s a clear need, we bring organisations together for targeted discussions, joint initiatives, and sector-wide collaboration. Not just to access commissioning opportunities but also to shape these discussions and the implementation of funding allocations and processes.
How You Can Get Involved
- Share Your Networks – Let us know about existing groups so we can promote and strengthen them. We would like to share what you are doing with as wide an audience as possible.
- Help Us Connect – Introduce us to organisations that would benefit from stronger links within the sector. Follow and share our news, look out for opportunities and get involved.
- Join the Conversation – Take part in events, discussions, and initiatives designed to bring people together.
A Stronger Sector, Together
By fostering real connections, we make the voluntary sector stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to support communities. Whether you’re a small grassroots group or a well-established organisation, we’re here to help you build relationships that make a difference.
Let’s connect, engage, collaborate, and create impact-together.
Want to stay informed and be part of the conversation? Join our network and let’s build a more connected Dorset together. Contact us via email:contactus@dorsetvcsa.co.uk