The latest local and national VCSE sector news

Nominate An Unsung Hero in Wakefield District

It’s that time of year again, where we pay homage to the unsung heroes who give their time and passion selflessly to their local communities.

Mar 31, 2025

Plans To Abolish NHS England

What will this mean for VCSE organisations?

Mar 14, 2025

4 Ways To Support Women in Your VCSE Organisation

67% of the VCSE workforce in the UK is female.

Mar 6, 2025

Sport For Good: New Workshops for Sports Clubs and Organisations

Running a sports club isn’t easy, but you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Join other local organisations learning how to adapt and finding practical advice at these free workshops.

Mar 6, 2025

Survey Open: Use Of Research in the Wakefield District VCSE Sector

Share your experience of using research in your work, and what barriers there might be to doing so.

Feb 27, 2025

New workshops and mentoring for grassroots sports organisations launching this Spring

We’re working with partners on Sport For Good West Yorkshire, a free programme of mentoring and workshops on key priorities for sports clubs and organisations. This project is funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Feb 27, 2025

Wakefield District VCSE Collaborative Turns 1: Progress and Future Plans

Senior leaders across the VCSE and statutory sectors have met regularly to discuss a common vision for the VCSE sector and take practical steps towards it.

Feb 27, 2025

Opportunity to Join Research Study: Supporting the VCSE Paid Workforce

This new research project is focused on improving professional and wellbeing support for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) paid workforce.

Feb 19, 2025

Abacus Project Update: Growing Success!

Since its launch in July 2024, the WYCAS Abacus Project has made remarkable progress in connecting skilled individuals with local charities in need of financial management support.

Feb 11, 2025

New Funding Available: Live Well Wakefield Small Grants

Round 16 of Live Well Wakefield Small Grants is here to help you provide low level mental health support for working age adults (ages 26-50).

Feb 3, 2025

Scam Warning: Please Be Aware of People Pretending to Be Nova

We have been notified by members that they have received scam emails.

Jan 30, 2025

Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Allowance for Wakefield District Residents

Up to 850,000 pensioner households may be entitled to Pension Credit, but do not claim it. Encourage the people you support to check their entitlement.

Sep 30, 2024

Applications Open for SEYH Awards 2024

The 2024 SEYH (Social Enterprise Yorkshire & Humber) Awards are now open for applications and it would be great to see some finalists from Wakefield District!

Sep 24, 2024

New Good Practice Guide for councils working with LIOs and the VCSE sector

The Local Government Association has just published a new guide on working with local infrastructure organisations to engage smaller VCSE organisations.

Sep 19, 2024

New Resource for Communities and Local Businesses On Stopping Child Exploitation

Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) has launched phase 2 of the Speak Up Stand Up Stop Exploitation Campaign.

Sep 18, 2024

WYCAS Launches The Abacus Project

This exciting initiative is designed to connect skilled individuals with local charities in need of financial management support. Could you benefit?

Sep 18, 2024

Core20PLUS5 Project Update: Incredible impact of supporting people to attend healthcare appointments in Wakefield District

Live Well Wakefield are six months into their brilliant project that's helping local people attend healthcare appointments.

Aug 29, 2024

VCSE Organisations Receive £60k To Boost Neurodivergent Support and Activities for Young Adults in Wakefield District

Live Well Wakefield Small Grants has funded seven local organisations to offer important health and wellbeing support.

Aug 28, 2024

Healthwatch Wakefield want to recruit 100 new members!

These are exciting times for Healthwatch Wakefield, and they would love more people to be involved.

Aug 28, 2024

#TellTracy about Policing and Crime

Consultation on the new Police and Crime Plan has now begun and will run until October 2024.

Aug 12, 2024

Improving the health of people living with severe mental illness in Wakefield District

People living with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) face one of the greatest health equality gaps in England.

Aug 5, 2024

Funding Deadline Extended: Placing Communities At The Centre of Grant-Making

We’re doing things differently for our new funding: giving VCSE organisations the power to decide who and what to fund.

Aug 1, 2024

How to improve access to social prescribing for people with severe mental illnesses?

Researchers at University College London are interviewing stakeholders to understand how access to social prescribing can be improved for people with severe mental illnesses.

Jul 29, 2024

Culture Grants Information Sessions

Culture Everywhere Micro Grants from Wakefield Council are now open for applications - attend an information session to learn more.

Feb 21, 2023

What matters most for the VCSE sector in Wakefield District?

Attend our workshop to have your say on Nova's priorities for the next 3 years and how we can improve.

Feb 21, 2023

Looking for a space to hire in Wakefield District?

We've got an updated list of community venues across Wakefield District for your meetings, groups or events.

Feb 21, 2023

Is there just too much uncertainty to plan financially for the future?

Embrace Finance believe there is always scope to ready ourselves for whatever conditions we might be faced with.

9 New Nova Members!

We were thrilled to welcome 9 new Nova members in January 2023, bringing us to 462 members across Wakefield District.

Member Spotlight: Families and Babies

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District. We hope you enjoy hearing from Families and Babies!

Thinking Differently: Peer Meeting to share inspiring progress

We met with the five organisations taking part in Thinking Differently to hear about their areas of development and the amazing progress they've made towards them.

Get ready: Neurodiversity Celebration Week

13 to 19 March is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, and the schedule of events has been announced.

Feb 17, 2023

We're committed to being a menopause friendly employer

We're reviewing our policies, practices, training and more to make sure our staff have the guidance and support they need.

Feb 17, 2023

Free menopause sessions available for VCSE colleagues

Join one of these free sessions which will be led by Menopause specialists to help those who are going through the Menopause journey or to support someone who may be going through the Menopause.

Feb 15, 2023

Does your organisation work with parents? Tell them about BaBi Club

BaBi Wakefield is an exciting new research initiative which aims to create a picture of local people’s health and lifestyles over time, help to get more parents involved.

Feb 15, 2023

5 years as a Living Wage Employer!

It's our five year anniversary of paying our staff according to the cost of living.

Feb 15, 2023

We've been shortlisted as a finalist for the HSJ Partnership Awards 2023!

We're delighted to announce that Nova, Conexus Healthcare and Partners have been shortlisted for 'Best Not for Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS' in the HSJ Partnership Awards 2023.

Dec 6, 2022

Over £88,000 awarded to VCSE organisations through Live Well Wakefield Small Grants

We're thrilled to announce that over £88,000 went out to local VCSE organisations in Round 13 of Live Well Wakefield Small Grants.

Dec 1, 2022

Get involved: West Yorkshire Housing Needs Analysis

Campbell Tickell are undertaking a housing needs analysis for West Yorkshire - covering Leeds, Wakefield, Calderdale, Kirklees and Bradford - and they want your help!

Dec 1, 2022

Welcome to our new website!

It’s been months in the making, but we’re ready to share our brand new website with you.

Nov 28, 2022

How to talk to funders about the cost-of-living crisis

As costs rise and high inflation erodes the value of reserves and pre-pledged grants and donations, charities nationwide are being forced into impossible choices.

Nov 25, 2022

Connecting Locally: New report from NAVCA

Through working with and advocating for communities, and coordinating support, infrastructure organisations (like Nova!) are alleviating the worst impact of the cost of living crisis.

Nov 25, 2022

Volunteer recruitment a growing concern for small charities

Small local charities are increasingly concerned about volunteer recruitment, according to newly published research.

Nov 25, 2022

Get the basics right: Findings from the Funding Experience Survey by IVAR

"The things that matter most to charities are not wasting their time and giving them as much financial flexibility and stability as possible – some change here is within everyone’s grasp."

Nov 24, 2022

Wakefield District Sight Aid to run first art project for people with sight loss!

Our member, Wakefield District Sight Aid, are excited to share with you that they have secured a Culture Grant from Wakefield Council to run an art project entitled Art Beyond Vision! Art Beyond Vision will consist of eight weekly creative workshops in February and March 2023.

Nov 24, 2022

Support your staff's wellbeing using this free trial

Our member, Words for Wellbeing, are looking for feedback on their wellbeing text service that could benefit your staff. Get involved now!

Nov 23, 2022

Explore Census Maps for Wakefield District

Find useful data using these interactive census maps!

Nov 22, 2022

Introducing VCSE Voices!

Our new project recruiting senior leaders from the VCSE sector onto multi-agency, decision-making boards.

Nov 21, 2022

Member Spotlight: Memory Action Group

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Dec 17, 2021

Member Spotlight: Disability Sport Yorkshire

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Nov 18, 2021

Recipe Club Success

Residents of the Warwick Estate began sharing recipes in lockdown and the food initiative now reaches 70 families, in a programme managed by Warwick Ahead.

Nov 18, 2021

Member Spotlight: Grow Wakefield

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Oct 20, 2021

Additional income for VCSE organisations in Wakefield District

Funding is available for voluntary organisations, non-profits, charities and CICs in the Wakefield District through fundraising website easyfundraising.

Oct 20, 2021

Do you live in the Wakefield District and access government benefits?

The £20 Universal Credit uplift ended at the end of September. Did you know that you could receive additional support and advice around the recent changes to Universal Credit? Find out more here.

Oct 14, 2021

Member Spotlight: Portobello Craft and Camera Group

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District.

Sep 27, 2021

West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health and Care Partnership launch anti-racism movement

The movement is part of an ongoing commitment to tackle structural and institutionalised racism, as well as addressing health and social inequalities across the area.

Sep 1, 2021

Community>Wakefield is live!

Community>Wakefield - the new place for services, activities, opportunities and events across Wakefield District.

Jul 19, 2021

Member Spotlight: Wakefield Hospice

Each month we'll be showcasing the amazing organisations that make up our membership and the important work they do across the Wakefield District. We hope that you enjoy learning more about....

Jun 17, 2021

Volunteers' Week 2021: Nova's roundup of celebrations and opportunities

The Nova team would like to thank volunteers for their inspiring and incredible work to support people and organisations across the Wakefield District.

Jun 3, 2021

Case Studies from the Covid-19 Community Hubs

We have asked community organisations to provide us with information and stories so we can highlight the brilliant work that volunteers are doing throughout Wakefield District during the pandemic.

Jun 1, 2020

Projects funded through the Live Well Wakefield Small Grants – Coronavirus Resilience Fund

13 projects have been awarded funding through the recent Live Well Wakefield Small Grants – Coronavirus Resilience Fund.

May 21, 2020

#CANCon20 - What's Strong not What's Wrong

Our annual Community Anchor Network conference, #CANCon20 took place on 10 March 2020.

Mar 11, 2020

Wakefield District Third Sector Strategy 2020 - 23

The Wakefield District Third Sector Strategy 2020 - 23 has now been published.

Feb 16, 2020