Who Can I Network With?

Networking is a useful, easy and quick way to access relevant local and other information, support and resources.  You can let other groups know who you are and what you do in your area and can often find valuable ways to work together with others for mutual benefit.  Networking can also help you to influence local issues. As such, networking is central to supporting equalities communities.   Where do we start?  Look at some of the suggestions below:

 

Specialist Equalities Forums/Networks
There are a number of forums/networks in Bath & North East Somerset specifically to support particular equalities communities:

 

	Community Equalities Forum – for all 6 Equalities Strands groups and run by Bath Racial Equality Council (BREC).
	Equality Bath & North East Somerset – a voice for disabled people run by Bath People First
	Faith Forum – for all faith groups. The Faith Forum Community website is hosted by Bath & North East Somerset Council
	Children and Young People’s Network – for Children and Young People’s  groups – run by Bath Area Play Project  (BAPP)

 

There are a number of smaller equalities voluntary sector organisations supporting a wide range of equalities communities in Bath & North East Somerset eg: children and young people; older people; BME; LGBT. Some of these groups have public access websites. Contact  DEVELOP for Directory of Services/Signposting.

 

Other Third Sector/ Voluntary and Community Sector Forums

There are other forums you could join where a range of groups from across the sector come together to look at issues that we want to comment on or where we want to see action taken.

	Voluntary Sector Forum –The Voluntary Sector Forum is the formally structured body and meeting which allows all Voluntary and Community Sector /Third Sector groups delivering services within / to Bath and North East Somerset to come together to discuss issues affecting the sector. It is the formal voting body for the sector. VSF website  (This Forum is funded from the ChangeUp programme and delivered through West of England Consortium member organisations. ChangeUp is a government initiative, managed by Capacitybuilders, to strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors by encouraging and enabling the delivery of effective infrastructure services).
	The Care Forum runs the following networks/forums for groups wanting to be involved in health & social care issues: Mental Health Network; Health and Social Care Network; Older People’s Network. The Care Forum website.
	The Volunteer Centre Bath & North East Somerset runs the Volunteer Managers Network.  Volunteer Centre website.

 

Other Networks

 

Chief Officer's Network - Quarterly meetings to discuss topical issues, to find out what is happening in the VCS and to network with colleagues. Opportunities to join Action Learning Sets, where a small group of Chief Officers meet for 2 hours once every 2 months to help each other solve practical problems. Regular newsletters alert members to funding streams, conferences and training courses. Paula Cannings facilitates the running of the Network, responding to feed back from Chief Officers. Further information CO Network

 

Trustees Support Network - Meets every 2 months, usually with a speaker to set the scene for discussion, followed by informal networking. Members who do not attend meetings still receive the regular newsletters, alerting them to changes in legislation, events they may like to attend, training courses,  web based information and feedback from the Trustees' Network meetings. Paula Cannings facilitates these activities and can visit trustee boards to discuss their needs. Further information Trustees NW     

                                                                    

 

These networks are supported by funding received from the ChangeUp programme and delivered through West of England Consortium member organisations. ChangeUp is a government initiative, managed by Capacitybuilders, to strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors by encouraging and enabling the delivery of effective infrastructure services.

 

 

Community Centres Network 

 

The Community Centre Network is a self-help network of Community Centres and Community Halls operating in the Bath area. The network is open to staff (both paid and voluntary) and trustees from community centres and halls and meets four times per year. The aim of the network is to provide an informal space where members can meet to share information, problem solve and offer peer support. For further information contact Katherine Tanko

                                                                                                                      

Community Lunches

 

These are networking events organised by the Third Sector Project.  They are based around a topical theme, with visiting speakers.  An optional light lunch is provided for minimal cost.  Further information - Community Lunches.

 

 

Bath & North East Somerset Council - Councillor Champions

 

The Council has appointed 10 Councillors to “champion” certain interests within the Council and in the community. "Champions” generally DO NOT have decision making powers but they can help support particular interests. The interests that they represent are :

 

	Children
	E Government and Customer Access
	Energy / Climate Change
	Heritage / Historic Environment
	Human Rights
	Older People
	Public Realm /Design
	Procurement
	Regulatory Services
	Vulnerable People

 

For further details about these roles and who is currently holding each post please see  Bath & North East Somerset website



 

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