Introduction to AI for small charities

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Join us for introductory interactive training on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help your small charity improve efficiencies, enhance communications and support fundraising efforts.

You’ll learn about opportunities for your small charity or community organisation to use AI creatively and in an informed and safe way. You’ll take part in quizzes, discussions with peers and start using commonly used AI tools and techniques for your everyday work.

You’ll also gain a policy or guidance template you can adapt for your organisation along with further resources to support you to take the next steps in your AI journey.

This course is being developed in partnership with NAVCA, Superhighways, Councils for Voluntary Services in the UK and Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire. By taking part and giving feedback you will be supporting other small organisations to learn more about AI.

VIN AGM and Signed Accounts

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VINs Annual General Meeting took place on the 13th of November 2025.

The AGM Presentation can be found here, and VIN would like to thank all the speakers for their contributions:

The AGM Minutes can be found here

VINs Signed Accounts can be found here

 

Consultation on Draft Active Travel Strategy, Draft Mobility Hub Action Plan and Draft Rail Action Plan

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Over the past few months West Northamptonshire Council have been developing a series of supporting strategies following the adoption of the Local Transport Plan in March 2025. These draft documents set the policy and actions for the Council to take over the coming years to implement the infrastructure detailed in the Local Transport Plan. West Northamptonshire Council have brought forward the first three of these draft strategies for public consultation, which have now been published for an 8-week consultation period. The draft documents are:

  1. Draft Active Travel Strategy.
  2. Draft Mobility Hub Action Plan.
  3. Draft Rail Action Plan.

The consultation will be open for responses from the 3rd of December 2025 until the 27th of January 2026, and the documents and consultation forms can be accessed via the Council’s dedicated consultation portal. The link to the consultation is here:

 

https://westnorthants.citizenspace.com/place/transport-strategy-and-action-plans-consultation/

The Council greatly appreciates the contributions already made by our stakeholders at the in-person events, and through written feedback. Should you have any questions or feedback that you’d like to send to the team, please contact us with our dedicated email address:

LocalTransportPlan@westnorthants.gov.uk

Members of the Highways and Transport Planning Team will be hosting virtual events in early January 2026 for any stakeholders who wish to discuss these supporting strategies directly with the team. Further information on these events will be shared closer to the time.

  VACCINATION

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MMR and HPV Vaccinations

 

Exploring the NHS 10 Year Plan

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Shaping what our communities need together – a workshop for the VCFSE and NHFT (Northamptonshire Health Care Foundation Trust)

Join SAWN (the partnership of Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire and South Northants Volunteer Bureau) the VCSE Assembly Chair and NHFT at this workshop scheduled for the 28th January 2026 between 9.30AM and 1PM.

Explore:

What services NHFT provide and how those services may evolve to address the 10-year plan. This session will cover the long-term plan ambitions and focus on NHFTs CYP (Children and Young People), Mental Health and Community Health services.

Where the NHFT and VCFSE touchpoints are and how best we can increase awareness of each sectors service provision and identify areas of possible greater collaboration. This will involve a series of break out tables around CYP/MH and Community Health.

A reflective session on shared knowledge for the future – closer collaboration and better co-ordination between partners.

The venue is the Kings Park Conference Centre (Courtenhall Room). Refreshments will be served at 9.30am for a 10am start. A sit-down lunch is provided at 1PM.

Venue details can be found here: King’s Park Conference Centre – NAYC (Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs)

Tickets will be limited to 70 on a first come first served basis.

Book your space here

Asset Based Community Development

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West Northamptonshire have commissioned VIN with a piece of work aligning strongly to the principles of Asset Based Community Development or ABCD.

VIN is now looking for 20 individuals from 20 different organisations who might be interested in joining the programme.

The programme consists of:

  • A 2-day classroom course delivered by Forever Manchester at a Northampton venue. This is an accredited ABCD course.
  • A Community of Practice Meeting with VIN to digest the learning from the course.
  • A bursary of 1K to run a small project which distils the learning and shows trace elements of ABCD.
  • A reflective Community of Practice at Project end.

To be eligible VCSE organisations must be based in West Northamptonshire and must commit to all elements of the programme. Nonattendance will mean removal from the programme. In addition, eligible VCSE organisations must have 1 of the following 3 components:

  • Be undertaking some form of Outreach or Development work.
  • Have a hub which beneficiaries visit.
  • Be working with a specific health inclusion group.

Organisations can submit their interest by E-mailing russell.rolph@voluntaryimpact.org.uk

When E-mailing organisations must identify which LAP area they work in or more if that’s the case.

A list of interested parties will then be forwarded to West Northamptonshire Council for their final decision.

It is envisaged that this programme will commence in late January 2026. All selected organisations will be contacted directly by the VIN CEO.

Manager (Kettering Women’s Centre and Shop)

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C2C Social Action is seeking an experienced and passionate individual to manage our new Kettering Women’s Centre and Shop.
The Women’s Centre provides a safe, supportive environment for women at any stage of the criminal justice system, working in partnership with probation, health services and a range of community organisations. Alongside this, you will oversee the opening and running of our first C2C shop, creating opportunities for fundraising, community engagement, and volunteering.
As Manager, you will:
 Lead the day-to-day operations of both the Centre and shop.
 Recruit, train and support volunteers.
 Provide direct support to women through 1:1 and group sessions.
 Act as the designated safeguarding lead for the Centre.
 Build strong relationships with partners, stakeholders and the local community.
 We are looking for a female leader (Genuine Occupational Requirement, Equality Act 2010) with strong management experience, a trauma-informed approach, and the ability to engage and inspire women with complex needs.

For more information click here. 

VIN signs to the International Ethical Recruitment Charter

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The International Ethical Recruitment Charter for West Northamptonshire has been launched.

This is a significant achievement which VIN took part in and plays a pivotal role in creating a document that upholds the highest principles of ethical and respectful recruitment for international care workers.

The Charter is now live and available for sign-up on the West Northamptonshire Council website, where care providers can formally commit to its principles.

Explore and share the Charter: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/irec

STOPPING SMOKING

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Stopping Smoking Information Support and Signposting

Stop Smoking Information

Outcomes Matrix

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The Outcomes Matrix is a practical tool to help social impact organisations plan and measure their social impact.