Thanks to everyone who attended the 3rd Devon, Plymouth & Torbay VCSE Assembly Mental Health Hub meeting
On Thursday 25 April 2024, over 60 attendees came together at the Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel from across the Devon area for the third Devon, Plymouth & Torbay VCSE Assembly Mental Health Hub meeting.
We would like to give a huge thanks to colleagues from the research community who took the time to contribute and provided a platform for rich discussion, alongside the chance to connect across sectors.
In addition to the opportunity to hear about some of the research activity taking place within our field, this event launched the VCSE Assembly Research Community of Practice. This will be an ongoing connection point between VCSE organisations and researchers, funded through the REN programme, with the aim of promoting best practice.
We were lucky to have a great panel of speakers leading the session — ably managed by Matt Merriam, our Community Development lead for Exeter, East & Mid Devon — which included:
Charley Hobson-Merrett, Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, who provided an overview of NIHR work and articulated the value of VCSE involvement;
Ginny Snaith, Director of Population Health Management and Improvement at the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board and Pauline McGlone, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at NIHR, who provided a REN programme overview;
Participants in the REN programme, who gave a presentation and summary of its themes; and
Nicola Frost, Head of Impact, Insight and Learning at the Devon Community Foundation, who led on the launch of the VCSE Assembly Research Community of Practice.
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About the Mental Health Hub
We know that there are lots of great networks already up and running, so the Devon VCSE Assembly Mental Health Hub is not intended to cut across any existing activity. Rather, it will be a collaborative conversation space to meet colleagues from across the VCSE and statutory services with the intention of sharing challenges, best practices and thinking, in the hope that this will organically enable opportunities to improve outcomes for the people we support.
The VCSE Assembly’s Mental Health Hub will meet on a quarterly basis, reporting into the overarching One Devon governance structure to share feedback and recommendations for system change. Whether you’re a grassroots delivery organisation or already work at a more strategic level, everyone is welcome to attend. We recognise the strength and insight that will be gained through the participation of a wide variety of people.
About the Devon, Plymouth & Torbay VCSE Assembly
The Devon, Plymouth and Torbay VCSE Assembly is a ‘community anchor’ bringing together independent charities and community-led organisations across the county. Together, we are multi-purpose and aim to provide holistic solutions to local problems and challenges. At a local level, our members are often the driving force in community renewal. We aim to support, complement, and add value to local VCSE networks and partnerships, including Local Care Partnerships.
The Assembly is not a membership organisation — anyone who wants to be involved can be. Instead, we are a space where people, communities, and organisations can contribute and engage in improving how important services are designed and delivered in Devon. For more information, visit the Devon Communities Together website.
If you haven’t already signed up to be a part of the Assembly and receive regular communications, please complete this form. If you have any queries or would like to get involved, please email dptvcseassembly@gmail.com.