NHFT achieve Advanced Foundation Status

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Following a robust and rigorous assessment by NHS England, NHFT have achieved Advanced Foundation Status as a Trust (AFT).

This is an important milestone for NHFT and for the wider health and care system in Northamptonshire. Advanced foundation trusts will be the new marker of excellence for providers that drive delivery of the NHS’s three shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention; improve access and health inequalities; and work with partners to improve population health. For NHFT, this recognition reflects the strength of the partnerships and pathways of care we have built with patients, carers, service users, community and voluntary groups, other NHS providers, and local authorities over many years.

As a first-wave adopter, NHFT will help shape how this model develops in practice. AFT status is also expected to bring greater autonomy and less bureaucracy, creating more opportunity to transform and improve pathways for local communities.

The CEO for NHFT Angela Hillery states:

In Northamptonshire, we are committed to continuing our work with NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board and partners across the system to strengthen the knowledge and skills needed to support the county’s population. With a clear focus on improving outcomes for children and young people, people with mental health, learning disability or neurodiverse needs, supporting frailty, and supporting people with long term conditions.

As an Advanced Foundation Trust, NHFT will also be eligible to hold an Integrated Health Organisation (IHO) contract, which would give us responsibility for improving the health of a defined population and the associated health budget. NHFT is one of two organisations in the first wave undergoing this additional assessment, and we expect an outcome of this process later in the year. We are also working closely with the ICB to explore this together.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. This recognition reflects the strength of our shared commitment to improving care and outcomes for the people and communities we serve, and we look forward to continuing this work together.

 

NLive Radio announces date for this year Northampton Volunteer Fair

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NLive Radio, the local radio station for Northampton, is excited to announce this year’s Northampton Volunteer Fair, the second event of its kind, will be taking place on Tuesday 2nd June at Weston Favell Shopping Centre, from 10am to 3pm.

Organised as part of National Volunteers’ Week, the event aims to promote volunteering and support local charities and community groups in recruiting new volunteers.

Rebecca Steers, Station Manager at NLive Radio, said; “As Northampton’s local radio station, we’re proud to support and celebrate the spirit of volunteering in our town, and work with charities and community groups to provide a platform recruit volunteers”

This vibrant, in-person event at Weston Favell shopping centre invites residents from across the whole of Northampton and the surrounding area to discover how they can give back, get involved, and make a real difference in their community.

Kevin Legg, Centre Manager said; “We’re proud to support this event at Weston Favell Shopping Centre and help create a great experience for our visitors and community.”

Several charities and community organisations will be present, ready to share the inspiring work they do and how you can become a part of it. Whether you’re looking to develop new skills, meet like-minded people, or support a cause close to your heart, the Northampton Volunteer Fair offers the perfect opportunity to get started.

The event is being held in partnership with Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire, their Chief Executive Officer Russell Rolph, said; “Volunteering remains vital to individuals and communities. While there are many different reasons why people volunteer, the result is that local organisations benefit from that knowledge and passion, and in many cases, could not deliver the raft of services without that volunteering input.

“Volunteering Fairs are a great way of bringing potential volunteers in contact with organisations that need it, and because of that this event has my full support. Volunteering Fairs are a great way of bringing potential volunteers in contact with organisations that need it, and because of that this event has my full support.”

The station will also be broadcasting live from the volunteer fair with its Undiscovered Northampton Show 10am to 1pm, the regular show which normally provides coverage of local community groups and charities, faiths, arts and culture will be focusing on some of the local groups, the power of volunteering, and the opportunities that are out there.
For more information or if you’re a charity or community group that wants to book please head to https://nliveradio.com/volunteerfair

MHNC Inclusive Volunteering Training

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MHNC have launched their Inclusive Volunteering Training, as part of the Volunteers for Health Northants project.
This training has been co-designed to:
  • Improve the practices of involving and supporting volunteers with mental ill-health, learning disabilities, and/or neurodivergence
  • Challenge unconscious biases about who can and can’t volunteer (spoiler alert: everyone can!)
  • Raise awareness of hidden barriers
  • Provide ideas, tools and resources that can be implemented to ensure volunteering opportunities are more accessible
Through this training, we hope to increase the diversity of people volunteering across Northamptonshire.
If you think this sounds great, book yourself on a session here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mental-health-northants-collaboration-70371253553

Neighbourhood Health Development

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At the recent VCFSE engagement Group of West Northamptonshire, Anne Rackham of NHFT gave an update on the framework for Neighbourhood Health across Northamptonshire.

The slides for this session can be viewed here

In essence, Neighbourhood health is about bringing health approaches to local people, in local communities or Neighbourhoods. The framework is complex and complicated and is full of many moving parts.

How health will be delivered within this context is a matter for the Health and Wellbeing Boards of both West and North Northamptonshire, but in many cases, the VCFSE could provide valuable and cost-effective solutions at a local level.

Attendees noted a few key and salient points for further consultation and discussion:

  • How will the wider VCFSE be able to contribute to discussions?
  • How will organisations bid for funding at a Neighbourhood level?
  • How can VCFSE organisations be kept informed of decisions and updated on further relevant trends?

While the Health and Wellbeing Boards will set the general direction of travel, the Executive Place Boards and what sits below (Local Area Partnerships or Neighbourhood Forums) will convert that general approach into service delivery workplans.

Neighbourhood health is a moving feast, with more discussions to come.

What is clear, though is that one singular VCFSE organisation may not be enough to bid for commissioned work around health.

Russell Rolph, the CEO of VIN, states:

I think the VCFSE will need to come together to form collaborations at the neighbourhood level to best take advantage of any health funding that’s on offer. Commissioners work to assurance, and one singular VCFSE organisation might not be able to provide that. The strength is in the collective, and that’s something that VIN is looking towards, but first we must understand the priorities within each Neighbourhood and how they might be funded. Stay abreast of these updates by joining our next VCFSE Engagement Group. The date has yet to be decided, so come back to the website regularly for further guidance and possible dates.

Test, Learn and Innovate Programme

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Northamptonshire Community Foundation has opened the second and final round of its Volunteering for Health Test, Learn and Innovate Programme.

Grants of £7,500–£10,000 are available to small, local VCSE organisations in Northamptonshire to pilot new or adapted volunteering models that improve health and wellbeing and tackle health inequalities.
The fund particularly encourages community‑led approaches, increased volunteer diversity, and projects supporting underrepresented groups through volunteering in health and care settings.
Deadline: 18 May 2026, with projects expected to start from July 2026.

Community Action Northamptonshire (CAN)

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Community Action Northamptonshire (CAN) is a site where VCFSE organisations across West and North Northamptonshire can Advertise their volunteer roles.

The website is supported by SAWN (Social Action West Northamptonshire, the infrastructure partnership of VIN and SNVB and by (Aspire NN), the infrastructure collaborative for the North of the county.

To Find out more about CAN please visit: Community Action Northants – Volunteering opportunities in Northamptonshire

If you need more information and support in placing an advert please contact Sophie Negus at Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire:  Sophie.negus@voluntaryimpact.org.uk

If you have a great volunteering item or case study that you wish to share via CAN then contact Sophie and we can add this to the website New Items.

Sponsor a Beneficiary

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VIN is calling out to all VCFSE organisations across Northampton to support a beneficiary of their choice.

Everyone knows someone who could benefit from a Community Transport membership, so why not identify and support a resident of your choice.

For £60.00, you can offer someone free transport for a year. Imagine the independence such an offer would provide.

More information is provided here:

Better still, when thinking about your community-based funding applications, include some memberships in your bid. These memberships will assist in the alleviation of vulnerability and loneliness.

For an informal conversation please contact Russell Rolph, CEO of VIN on 07592 501770.

VIN seeks new Trustees

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VIN is anticipating some changes to its current board in the summer of 2026.

As a result, we are now actively recruiting for new Trustees.

Passion and enthusiasm for the sector and its challenges is seen as an important characteristic, as is working with the current board members.

More information can be found here: Being a Trustee at Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire

For an informal conversation in the first instance please contact the VIN CEO at russell.rolph@voluntaryimpact.org.uk

Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF)

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The Household Support Fund is being replaced by the Crisis Resilience Fund from the 1st of April 2026.

Whilst crisis and hardship payments will remain a part of the new approach, there are also further opportunities around both Crisis Residence and Community Co-ordination (known as segments 3 and 4).

Government guidance on the fund can be seen here: Crisis and Resilience Fund: Guidance for local authorities in England (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029) – GOV.UK

West Northamptonshire Council are required to submit their overall plan for all 4 segments by the 1st July 2026 and will concentrate on the operation of hardship payments in the first instance.

The Cabinet Paper can be viewed here at item 448: https://westnorthants.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=143&MId=2735&Ver=4

Further local guidance will be issued in due course.

Introducing the New Toolkit, Strategy and Charter from Volunteers for Health, Northamptonshire

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Good Practice Volunteer Management Toolkit
We are pleased to share our new Toolkit, created to help local organisations strengthen their volunteering and increase their impact.
The Toolkit is free to access and designed for organisations of all sizes across Northamptonshire.
Access it here.
 
Volunteers for Health Strategy Launch
The new Volunteers for Health Strategy for Northamptonshire sets out a shared approach to strengthening volunteering across the county. It focuses on improving access, inclusion and volunteer experience, based on feedback from partners and volunteers. Read the full strategy and download the summary here.
Volunteers for Health Charter
Volunteer Charter developed by the Volunteering for Health (VfH) Northants Steering Group, sets out a shared framework for volunteer engagement across our system, supporting consistency, inclusivity, and strategic alignment with ICS ambitions.
The Charter outlines our collective values, commitments, and expectations for volunteers and organisations, and alongside the VfH Strategy Document, and the Good Practice Volunteer Management Toolkit, it will support the VFH’s delivery of its strategy.
We invite you to look at the attached summary and full Charter, and to consider how it can support your organisation’s volunteer practices. Your endorsement and engagement are key to building a unified and impactful volunteering system across Northamptonshire. View it here.
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For more information please contact Project Lead, John Soto – john.soto@voluntaryimpact.org.uk