Voluntary & Community Action Trafford VCAT’s Role in Health and Wellbeing in Trafford Gill Fairclough 50+ Involvement Officer

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford VCAT was established in 2000 to support the development of the voluntary and community sector in Trafford

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford We have five priority areas: Community Development Funding Support Service improvement Volunteer Development Committee Development

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford We have four service areas: Advice and support to groups Information dissemination Forums and networks Training

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford VCS in Trafford not well developed – historically poor funding and support VCAT now has approx. 450 members – local groups and branches of national organisations

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford VCAT ‘inherited’ two mental health projects: MERIT (peer research project) TMHAS (advocacy project) Both work directly with service users

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford 2003 – VCAT established FASNET: Family support network for VCS working with children, young people and families Funding from Trafford Children’s Fund Over 100 members

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford 2005 – 50+ Involvement project: Involving people aged 50+ and VCS working with older people, in planning and reviewing local services Joint recruitment with Trafford Council and Trafford PCT 50+ Voice Network members

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford 2007 – Rewriting Trafford COMPACT with specific ‘protocols’ on: Workforce development and volunteering VCS engagement Funding and commissioning

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford 2007 – COMPACT conference Examples of good practice ◦ Commissioning carers’ services ◦ Involvement in Children’s Centres and Extended Services in schools Future work ◦ Health and social care forum