Article: Leadership in the Voluntary and Community Sector Supporting the NHS

“The voluntary and community sector is very diverse, ranging from large national charities to small volunteer-run support groups. All of these organisations play a key role in health and wellbeing – reaching into communities, keeping people well and sometimes picking up the pieces where other initiatives haven’t worked.

Leaders in this sector are juggling multiple demands, and often struggling to be heard as the NHS is focusing on sustainability and transformation partnerships, integrated care systems and a move towards population health. Their role has become more complex, requiring leaders who are expert negotiators and collaborators, have entrepreneurial flair, and can hold their nerve when funding is tight.

We launched the Cascading Leadership programme two years ago, as a way to help voluntary and community organisations develop their leaders effectively and affordably. We recognised a huge wealth of knowledge, assets and skills within the sector, and wanted to support the wider use and dissemination of this to help meet leadership needs.”

The Kings Fund