Stephanie Peacock MP for Barnsley South and Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth, visited York on 2 March to meet with local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations and statutory partners, to learn how pioneering local projects demonstrate the principles of the Civil Society Covenant.
Local infrastructure organisation, York CVS, who support and connect York’s VCSE sector with statutory partners to strengthen communities and tackle social issues, hosted the visit alongside national bodies, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) and National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Demonstrating the Civil Society Covenant in action across York
The visit, which took place at the Priory Street Centre, Micklegate, showcased three key areas of innovation in the city, including:
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The York Poverty Truth Commission
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The York Citywide Volunteering Strategy
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The Connecting our City Project
The Civil Society Covenant is a national initiative designed to strengthen partnerships between government, civil society, and communities. During the visit, Ms Peacock met with experts by lived experience, volunteers, civic and community commissioners, representatives from local VCSE organisations York CVS, Healthwatch York, York Volunteers, York Mind, and Mokkha CIC, and representatives from statutory bodies Tees, Esk, Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), Humber and North Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) and City of York Council (CYC).
Discussions focused on the principles of the Civil Society Covenant and how these have been embedded within the projects. The principles include:
Recognition – ensuring a strong, independent civil society able to support communities effectively.
Partnership – strengthening collaboration between government and voluntary organisations to improve services and share best practice.
Participation – giving people and communities genuine influence in decisions that affect their lives.
Transparency – improving access to information to support effective service delivery and public trust.
Ms Peacock heard directly from Community and Civic Commissioners involved in the York Poverty Truth Commission, who shared how the project led to the creation of the Charter for Organisational Standards. These standards offer practical steps organisations can take to embed dignity, equity, and lived experience into daily practice – moving beyond policy statements to real-world change.
York Volunteers showcased how these principles are being put into practice across York through the co-creation and delivery of the York Citywide Volunteering Strategy – a five-year strategy for the city created by representatives from local charities, voluntary organisations, City of York Council, volunteers and prospective volunteers. The partners came together to discuss what was important to them when it came to volunteering and created an action plan for the city, including the delivery of the Supported Volunteering Project, Diversity in Volunteering Project and through the launch of the Volunteering Quality Mark.
The multi-agency Connecting our City project brings together people with lived experience, charities and voluntary groups, City of York Council, Primary Care and Tees, Esk, Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), to deliver a different approach to support people with mental ill-health in York. Ms Peacock heard how the mental health hubs were co-produced, how grants were distributed to local VCSE organisations and the benefits this has brought to people across York, as well as hearing about how great partnerships and collaboration across the different sectors has brought about meaningful change.
The visit also demonstrated the vital role that York CVS, as the city’s local infrastructure organisation, plays in bringing people and partners together to make this happen.
Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth, commented:“Government works best when it works alongside local people, not just for them. My visit to York CVS showed me how neighbours and local groups are stepping up to support one another every day. It is this kind of community spirit – people helping people – that is at the heart of our mission to build a stronger country.”
Reflecting on the visit, Alison Semmence, Chief Executive of York CVS, said:“It has been a real pleasure to welcome the Minister and others to York to share some of the great work we are doing together. By working through partnerships, collaborating and trusting and respecting the expertise each party brings, we can really make a difference to the lives of people in York.”
Rich Warrington, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, NAVCA, added:“York shows what’s possible when strong local VCSE infrastructure brings voluntary organisations, statutory partners and people with lived experience together around shared goals. York CVS is playing a crucial role in turning the principles of the Civil Society Covenant into practical action – strengthening volunteering, tackling poverty and improving community mental health. Across the country, local infrastructure organisations are the backbone of resilient communities, connecting partners and creating the conditions for lasting change.”
Rebecca Young, Policy and Public Affairs Lead, NCVO, commented:“It was excellent to see the principles of the Civil Society Covenant brought to life so clearly in York. What stood out across every conversation was the importance of trust between communities and institutions, between people with lived experience and decision-makers, and between voluntary organisations and statutory partners.This is exactly the kind of place-based collaboration we hope the forthcoming Covenant Local Partnership Fund will support in communities across the country – creating the conditions for civil society and public services to work side by side, grounded in trust and focused on lasting change.”
