Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly

[email protected]

News

Dorset VCSA Virtual Exchange – Series Four: Partnership through Collaboration 

9th March 2026

We are excited to launch the fourth Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA) Virtual Exchange series. This series is all about how people and organisations can work better together across our Integrated Care System (ICS). When we share ideas, listen to each other, and focus on what people need, we can make a real difference in our communities. 

There will be three one‑hour webinars, all led by Paula Bennetts, each with a special guest speaker. Every session will explore a different part of partnership working and how to foster a community that works together, shares information effectively and is able to access the support it needs.   

Everyone is welcome — people from charities, community groups, the NHS, councils, and anyone who wants to understand how we can lighten the load and  can help people live healthier, happier lives, by Working Better in Partnership. 

Webinar 1 

From Competition to Collaboration: Sharing and Keeping Each Other Informed 

This first session looks at how we can move away from working in competition and instead work as one team across the ICS. For many years, organisations have often had to compete for funding or attention. But the challenges people face today are too big for any one group to solve alone. Working together helps us share ideas, avoid repeating the same work, and support people in a more joined‑up way. 

This session is a useful platform to look at parts of the system that don’t always get a chance to share what they are doing and can then the work they do can be misinterpreted.  Our guest speaker will introduce a key part of the NHS 10-year plan that many overlook. 

We also hope to introduce funding approaches, pockets of good practice and opportunities that will be available for VCSE groups. 

Webinar 2 

Co‑Design and Co‑Production: Putting Communities at the Heart of Partnerships 

Paula Bennetts will be joined by Phil Morgan from Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust. Phil is the co‑lead for the Co‑Production Team for Neighbourhood Health and Wellbeing Teams working at Place in Dorset.  This is an exciting time for co-production with the VCS as part of the wider role out of more localised, community needs-led delivery of services. 

Paula and Phil will talk about simple, practical ways that people are being involved in around planning and decision‑making. Phil, will also explain how co-production fits into the structure of Neighbourhood Health & Wellbeing and how we can all get involved. 

By the end of the session, you will have a clear understanding of what “good co-production” looks like and how it is being embedded within Neighbourhood health.  You will also have better understanding of how you and your participants can get involved. 

Webinar 3 

Partnerships That Deliver: Interactive Workshop 

Paula and our guest speaker will share how partnerships are being developed across Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Places. 

They will explore what makes a partnership successful, including clear roles, shared goals, and good communication. They will also look at how different organisations can support each other and use their strengths to solve problems together. 

There will be time for group activities where people can talk about the barriers they face in their own work. Together, we will think about practical solutions and small steps that can help build stronger partnerships across Dorset. 

By the end of the workshop, everyone will leave with practical solutions they can use straight away to improve how they work with others and form partnerships. 

Missed any previous webinars, you can watch then via our YouTube channel here.

<