Blog | Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency

Losing control

7 February 2019 - 3:56pm

So… this week I have spent two days in Birmingham being energised, inspired and challenged with bells on* by the people I met at Losing Control (a conference hosted by Practical Governance and the Social Change Agency).

How can we get the JSNA to talk our language?

18 June 2018 - 12:38pm

Anyone who has “read” a JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment) will understand that sometimes it is speaking a different language. The JSNA looks at the current and future health and care needs of local populations, to inform and guide the planning and commissioning (buying) of health, well-being and social care services within a local authority area.

Is Community Intelligence the way forward for better commissioning?

28 February 2018 - 4:25pm

You’ve heard it said numerous times before and so have I, that one of the key strengths of the VCS is it supports people within communities and in doing so understands their requirements and is able to describe gaps in provision or priority activities which need to be undertaken.

As public confidence in charities knocked, why bigger isn't always better

26 February 2018 - 2:04pm

Guest blog by Becky Rogerson - CEO, My Sisters Place

We're off out

30 June 2017 - 9:21am

"A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world" – John le Carré

At MVDA, we’ve been exploring what it is to be a social leader. For me, it starts by understanding who it is you are leading.

Those of us working in the local voluntary sector have the privilege to be seen as part of the communities we work to serve. Although this is sometimes a barrier to overcome, people boxing you off as ‘grass-roots’, often hosting your presence at the table as a tick box exercise rather than valued contributor, it is still vital to the success of our mission.