Programme

Once again the NAVCA annual conference has attracted high profile plenary speakers, and experts in a wide variety of subjects for workshop sessions.

We are delighted this year to have Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund, and Greg Clark MP, Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering addressing the conference with their views on future funding for the sector.

Both these speakers and their visions for the future of the third sector are of significant interest to NAVCA members and local infrastructure groups, so come and have your say!

September 16th

9.00 Registration and coffee
9.15 Introduction to the local third sector & NAVCA meet and greet
10.00 Welcome to Nottingham – Helen Voce, Chief Executive, Nottingham CVS
10.10 Conference welcome and introduction from the Chair – Kevin Curley, Chief Executive, NAVCA
10.20 Plenary: Big Lottery Fund – Looking to the future – Peter Wanless, Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund (Including questions)
10.50 Plenary: Working with the local third sector – Greg Clark MP, Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering (Including questions)
11.20 Floor discussion
11.30 Coffee break
12.00 Peer groups (Please use the ‘Leave a reply’ box to suggest topics you would like to raise with your peers)

• Chief officers
• Deputy chief officers & senior managers
• Chairs and trustees
• BME support
• Development
• Funding
• Information & policy
• Marketing & communications
• Learning & training

1.00 Lunch
2.00 – 4.15 Choice from the following

• Visit to Nottingham Voluntary Action Centre. Nottingham CVS is in the centre of the city, a short coach journey from the EMCC. You will be offered a speed dating style event to bring you quickly up-to-date with what’s on offer at Nottingham CVS and tour the impressive Voluntary Action Centre, developed at a cost of £1.6 million. You will also hear from the group development and information & communications teams, the volunteer centre and the community empowerment network, and find out how the CVS works with other infrastructure bodies across the city.

• “NAVCA projects, NAVCA projects, riding through the glen”. Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times but remains significant in popular culture where he is painted as a man known for robbing the rich to give to the poor and fighting against injustice and tyranny. NAVCA supports local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) to play a similar role today. Through its projects and work programmes, NAVCA helps LIOs develop as effective organisations and better support local groups across a range of specialisms. This interactive two-part session chaired by NAVCA’s very own Sheriff of Nottingham, Bill Freeman, will introduce you to the full range of NAVCA programmes and give you the chance to find out more about them in smaller groups. After the first session in plenary, you will be able to visit as many or as few tables as you wish to talk to key project staff.

• Policy panel. This question and answer session with our invited panel members is a unique opportunity to quiz experts on the policy issues of importance to you and your region. Chaired by Neil Cleeveley, Director of Policy and Communications at NAVCA, this session will be led by questions from the floor, so come armed with your ideas, comments, questions or gripes, and get answers from our panel. There will be a coffee break at 3pm.

4.30 – 6.00 Again a choice from:

• Meet new mates. Join us for a fun, facilitated networking session designed to help you connect with others from your region and beyond.
• Open Space – your agenda, rooms will be made available for groups wishing to network together on specific issues. Issues and items suggested by delegates will be posted throughout the day. You can arrange to meet people with similar topics to discuss by registering at the conference social networking site.
• Networking on the move. Take this opportunity to shake off that conference feeling and stroll around the campus Tree Walk with a volunteer guide from the University Friends Group or for the more energetic, join us for a run around the university campus. Led by qualified fitness instructors from the University Fitness Centre, this is the ideal way to re-energise! All levels welcome.

7.30 Drinks reception followed by gala dinner with Special guest Cllr Gul Nawaz Khan, Lord Mayor of Nottingham

September 17th

9.45 – 10.30 AGM for NAVCA members or Introductory session repeat (see details at 9.15am, day one)
10.30 Does my bum look big in this? Andrew Robinson, CCLA
11.00 Coffee
11.30 Workshop session 1 – choose 1 option from the 13 workshops available
1.00 Lunch, Including informal networking meetings for BME delegates and members of the Sexuality Issues Network Group (SING) – new members welcome
2.00 Workshop session 2 – a second choice from the 13 workshops available
3.30 Developing NAVCA’s relationship with the Conservatives – Kevin Curley, NAVCA
Your opportunity to influence NAVCA’s relationship with national figures in the Conservative Party and to share your views on the Conservatives’ Green Paper ‘Voluntary Action in the 21st Century’.
4.00 End of conference

The full conference brochure can also be downloaded from this link. (1.28MB – PDF file)