Voluntary Organisations for Children, Young People and Families (VOCypf) is a network of over 130 voluntary and community organisations who work with children, young people and families in Bedfordshire.
The network is supported by CVS which provides infrastructure and staff support to the network and VOCypf officer. The principles and aims of the network are detailed further on the about VOCypf page, together with the latest annual report and governance documents.
VOCypf has provided a wide range of well-received services for the children’s sector since its launch eight years ago. VOCypf aims to inform the voluntary sector about children’s sector issues as well as helping to build the sector’s capacity to have a stronger voice, and a greater involvement in and understanding of, local and national agendas.
The network is funded by, and works in partnership with Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Councils, alongside CVS and is active in the following ways:
- acting as key partner in the local safeguarding agenda in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire
- attending, or directly engaging with, over 20 local strategic networks or working groups, to influence the statutory decision making processes in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire
- inputting into consultations in the children’s sector in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire
- distributing information on children’s sector issues to over 200 organisations and contacts on the VOCypf database – including the production and distribution of a regular VOCypf updates
- promoting the voluntary sector in general through its links with CVS