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Our alliance structure

Our alliances enable VCSE organisations, groups and individuals to come together to:

  • share challenges and opportunities
  • provide peer support
  • lobby
  • collaborate with each other and our statutory sector partners.

We use these forums to bid for funding, design services, collaborate on issues of sector importance, undertake research and lobby for change.

  • Each alliance has between 10 and 60 VCSE organisations participating. These range from small food growing community groups to our larger organisations, managing significant mental health services.
  • They set their own agenda and workplan as well as responding to issues in the wider environment.
  • They have a budget which enables them to participate in and commission pieces of work. (e.g. co-designing a VCSE early-years service, supporting development of a food access strategy or bidding for ICB contracts.)
  • Our strategic alliance focuses on cross-sector issues and helps Cornwall VSF and other infrastructure organisations direct our work. (e.g. workforce wellbeing, resilience and development.)
Cornwall VSF Alliance Structure
WILD Young Parents Project at Eden Project to celebrate 30 years of WILD. Image shows CEO Jo Davies giving heartfelt thanks to the young parents and children who help change the world.

Our Strategic Alliance

The Strategic Alliance in Cornwall is made up of community organisation leaders.

Our CEO, Emma Rowse chairs the Strategic Alliance.

In 2020, when the pandemic began, Cornwall VSF formed this Alliance to help communities that were affected the most.

Each member of the Strategic Alliance is a system leader who represents part of the community sector.

Image shows Peter Giddings, the area manager for Biffa who asked people in his team to donate Easter eggs. He then reached out to our Food Access Alliance and some other amazing charities in Cornwall.

Our thematic alliances

Our thematic alliances come together around a specific theme. For example, to eradicate homelessness, food poverty, or to support people with a disability. Thematic alliances also help charities to strengthen their engagement and work together to improve outcomes for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly residents.

Each thematic alliance is chaired by a leader of a community organisation in Cornwall, voted in as Chair by members of the alliance. Alliances receive support from Cornwall VSF in the form of a dedicated Engagement Officer. We also add communications support and financial remuneration for their time and commitment to the cause.

Upcoming alliance meetings

Homeless senior male sits on cardboard in a dark tunnel
Alliances

Housing and Homelessness Alliance March

13 March 2024
10:00am

This event has finished

Students at Newquay Orchard harvesting food
Alliances

Cornwall Food Access Alliance March

6 March 2024
1:00pm

This event has finished

a road flooded due to climate change
Alliances

Climate and Environment Alliance March

25 March 2024
9:30am

Our alliances are open to all member organisations to join

If you want more information about joining an alliance, contact our Engagement team.

Contact
Woman and Little Children Reading Book at Home

Children, Young People and Families Alliance

Working together to support children, young people and their families.

Image taken during the inaugural Cornwall VSF Climate & Environment Alliance held at Porthtowan Eco Park in June 2023. Image shows colleagues discussing the topic of climate change

Climate and Environment Alliance

Working together to tackle the climate emergency.

Image shows a man with a knife in his pocket looking to cause trouble

Community Safety Alliance

Working together to keep people safe in their communities.

image shows a disabled woman with her carer and a dog smiling with joy

Disability Alliance

Working together to support and represent people with long term health conditions or a disability.

Students at Newquay Orchard harvesting food

Food Access Alliance

Working together to end food poverty for all.

A professional carer holds the hand of an elderly lady

Health and Wellbeing Alliance

Working together to support our NHS by helping people stay healthy and well.

Rack of clothes for homeless people under a bridge with a sign that says Warm clothes for homeless, take what you need, give what you can.

Housing and Homelessness Alliance

Working together to end homelessness for all.

Attendees during the VSCE/ICS Cornwall conference and workshops, photographed for the VSF by Hugh Hastings.

Infrastructure Alliance

Working together to support the VCSE sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Image shows a young woman looking up to a mature man, who is putting a hand on her shoulder. The woman is sitting on a sofa while the man is standing, could be support, mentoring or counselling

Mental Health Alliance

Working together to develop and champion mental health provision.

Image taken during Refugee day in June 2023 at Falmouth Town Council,’s Princess Pavilion. Image shows Cllr Kirstie Edwards- Mayor of Falmouth crafting a heart to welcome refugees.

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Alliance

Working together to support refugees, migrant workers and asylum seekers.

Image shows Emma Rowse, CEO of Cornwall VSF and Chair of the VSF Strategic Alliance during Big Green Week

Strategic Alliance

Working together to lead the sector and promote a healthy working culture.