Shifting Sands – Making Sense of a Changing Landscape

This year’s annual WSCVYS conference ‘Shifting Sands’ was a great success. More than 45 delegates attended bringing together many different VCS organisations as well as other sector partners.
 
The aims of the day: Supporting the voluntary and community sector in developing a shared understanding of the vital role we play in the changing environment around supporting children, young people and their families and To build confidence in the sector’s essential role in universal safeguarding and to ensure that as a sector we are working in partnership to provide the right support at the right place at the right time for the right child were explored through a range of presentations and practical workshops.
 
The day started with WSCVYS President Ken Pritchard OBE welcoming everyone and setting the scene with his usual lyrical yet profound perspective of the work of the sector relating it to his own experience of desert sands. Chief Executive Hanna Moore talking about the ‘shifting sands’ in the current climate and the challenges we face. Emphasising the need for stronger partnerships, highlighting opportunities as well as the local challenges and the pending select committee proposal as the youth service continues to withdraw services for young people and funding to the sector.

An excellent presentation was then made by Esther Smyrl on the Continuum of Need and the vital role that the VCS plays in terms of universal as well as targeted support. This was followed by round table discussions, building on the Continuum of Need and relating it to individual organisations’ services. The day also provided an opportunity to attend a workshop on CAMHS, The Continuum of Need - Home Start case study, Youth Support Development Service (YSDS) and Building resilience through Play.

There were two further update presentations – firstly by Daniel Cheesman on the work of WSCVYS – Our response to the changing landscape and a second by Graham Vagg on the YSDS Targeted Provision.

The day closed with a short whole group discussion and some actions to further develop the work started at the conference.

Conference Schedule (with links to presentation materials)

9:00 – 9:45:  Arrival /Registration / Coffee

9:45:  Welcome

10:00:  Shifting Sands – the Challenges that we face in the VCS as a sector supporting Children and Young People in West Sussex – Hanna Moore, WSCVYS

10:20:  Continuum of Need - the vital role the VCS plays in terms of offering children, young people and families support in West Sussex – Esther Smyrl

11:00:  Coffee Break

11:20:  Making the Continuum of Need Work - Table Discussion

12:00:  Workshops

Supporting a CAMHS Referral in West Sussex
In this workshop we will be exploring how the VCS can support a child & young person’s route though a CAMHS referral.

Home-Start & the Continuum of Need Case Study
In this workshop we will be exploring one VCS organisation has interpreted the Continuum of Need and the benefits that it has for the children and families that it works with.

Building Resilience in Children, Young People & Families in their local communities   (reference material)
In this work shop we will explore the importance of play to build resilience and improve emotional health and wellbeing in a changing environment.

Youth Support Development Service
In this workshop we will look at the changes that there have been in the West Sussex Youth Service and learn about the support that the Youth Support Development Service is offering to the VCS.

1:00:  WSCVYS – Our Response to the Changing Landscape – we will explain how WSCVYS has responded as an organisation to the changes that are happening around us.

1:30:  Lunch

2:30:  Youth Service Development – An Update from Graham Vagg WSCC Service Manager (website)

3:00:  Discussion and Questions

3:30:  End