Membership Forum 21.11.18 - News Update

DVSC MEMBERSHIP FORUM

Wednesday 21st November 2018 - 11.40am – 12.30pm

Chaired by Helen Wilkinson (HW), Chief Executive, DVSC

The Membership Forum is a shared space where DVSC members can come together, exchange ideas, share knowledge and best practice, discuss issues of mutual concern, and develop the third sector voice by feeding in to the Third Sector Influencing Group and influencing/raising issues with external bodies.

Members came together as a small but perfectly formed group to discuss the agenda items. HW explained the purpose of the forum and also gave an overview of the Third Sector Influencing Group’s activity at the last meeting on 23rd July.

After a buzzy meeting of the #DenbighshireVolunteers Third Sector network, people peeled away leaving the Membership Forum poorly attended. There was a discussion about the time and resource pressures on the sector, the risks of engagement fatigue and the fact that there is not currently enough difference between the #DenbighshireVolunteers Third Sector Network, Wellbeing Network and Membership Forum. Helen Wilkinson (HW) proposed that as #teamDVSC is small and stretched, and as we facilitate a range of networks, and engagement at outreach events and social media, it was a better use of resource to hold two meetings annually rather than the current four.

Helen suggested that future Membership Forum meetings take the approach of workshops, with a specific theme or topic. Helen suggested that DVSC is interested to develop Denbighshire as a Social Enterprise Place, and that perhaps we could focus the next meeting of the Forum on social enterprise, and community led regeneration.

The meeting concluded with discussion around the ongoing consultations with DCC Working Denbighshire and the BCUHB Third Sector Strategy. A conversation was held around different ways of engaging such as digital and other networks. It was also recognised that DVSC could facilitate and strengthen the digital engagement skills of members by running a training course on the use of twitter, Facebook and other tools for digital engagement. This would be fed back into planning for training events in the new year.

It was agreed that for future meetings DVSC will use Eventbrite as the tool that people to confirm attendance. This approach had been trialled with training courses and was deemed to have been successful.

Do you have views about workshop themes or other ideas for the next Membership Forum? Let Julie, our Marketing and Engagement Office know; julie@dvsc.co.uk

ACTION POINTS

Following the last TSIG, DVSC has asked DCC to revisit the funding paper they prepared and provide more information. Once finalised, this paper will be shared with DVSC members. Actioned by - DCC. Deadline - Once completed by DCC.

We welcome agenda items for the next meeting of the Membership Forum, please send them ahead of the next meeting to julie@dvsc.co.uk. Actioned by - Members - Deadline - 11th February 2019.

DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS