VCS Matters Autumn Summit 2009

The first VCS Matters Summit took place on Wednesday 9 September 2009, 9.45-16.15, at St George's Post 16 Centre – Newtown. This Autumn Summit saw strong progress on several fronts.

Main presentations and features of the Summit included:

· Vibrant Fusion opened the summit with an excellent display of street dancing. Singer Kezia Johnson from Change Makers – gave a great professional solo performance.

· The new VCS Matters priorities for 2009/10 and beyond, presented by Caroline Anson, VCS Matters Programme Manager. (see attachment below)

· A presentation by guest speaker Councillor Les Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families, on the formation of a new group called Play Birmingham, facilitated by VCS Matters, and on the role of the VCS in Birmingham’s Children’s Trust arrangements.

· Two workshops looked at local progress and plans in developing and training the one children’s workforce, both in the statutory and the voluntary and community sectors nationally and in Birmingham, with facilitators Angela Barnes and Robert Beard from NAVCA and Ali Ghanimi and Vicky Waldron from Birmingham City Council. (see attachments below)

· During breaks and over a delicious Caribbean lunch there was much networking, especially around the stalls and displays in the marketplace.

· Summit participants were offered two practical workshops on how to apply for funding by Melinda Connelly from BBC Children in Need and Peter Cunnison from the Lloyds TSB Foundation. (see attachments below)

An account of key aspects of the VCS Matters Autumn Summit was published in the October issue of BVSC’s Update magazine. (see article below)

The VCS Matters team would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that contributed to making the event a successful and well received day.