History
In 2005, Worthing Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) along with Worthing’s Social Services department collaborated on a review of voluntary services for older people in the town.
The review concluded that there is a broad range of excellent services for older people in Worthing. They provide vital support to many elderly residents, making a huge contribution to health, quality of life and independence. However, there was evidence of major gaps in services that are of critical importance to older people. Alongside this, researchers found that service availability varied according to which part of Worthing you happened to live in. Also, services were fragmented, with little mutual awareness from the groups of what each other was providing.
There was room for improvement with regard to cooperation, and scope for increased partnership working. The report concluded that there should be efforts to expand the provision of these voluntary sector groups so more older people could benefit, and that these efforts should be matched with and grow from concerted efforts to coordinate activity. A Neighbourhood Care Alliance was proposed to meet these aims, and the rest, as they say, is history.
A Social Services grant enabled the WNCA to take its first steps, and a Coordinator – Jane Haskins – was appointed. Now, POPP funding pays for a team of people to assist the WNCA and its member groups.
Aims
Worthing Neighbourhood Care Alliance (WNCA) aims to:
- develop the capacity and range of voluntary services for older people
- facilitate collaborative working of these services
- encourage wider community participation in what they do
To this end, we expect to:
- Enhance quality of life for older people and support their independence
- Prevent health and social breakdown of older people in Worthing
- Strengthen our communities to make them more neighbourly and supportive environments to live in
The team
WNCA has a staff team dedicated to support WNCA member groups and to work in the community to achieve our aims.
If you run a group or service for older people, or are interested in starting one in your neighbourhood, then WNCA can help you with:
- Opportunities to meet and network with other groups
- Direct support with fundraising applications
- Business advice and support
- Opportunities to recruit volunteers
- Advice and support with publicity and marketing
Find out more about the WNCA staff team.
Governance
The WNCA is made up of voluntary groups which provide any type of care, service or activity for older people in Worthing.
A Steering Group meets quarterly and oversees the development of the WNCA and the work of its staff teams. Current members include:
- Torch Fellowship (Durrington)
- Guild Care
- The Alzheimer’s Society (Worthing branch)
- Crossroads (Worthing & District)
- Worthing CVS
- Age Concern West Sussex
- Impact Initiatives
- Circles Network
Of our Steering Group members, Worthing CVS, Impact Initiatives and Circles Network employ staff which support the WNCA and its member groups. Guild Care employ staff which are a part of the Adur and Worthing Community Partnership Team.
To find out more about how the WNCA is organised, read our Terms of Reference.
Membership
If you run or know of a group that could benefit from WNCA membership, please contact Jane Haskins.