The East Sussex Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Alliance ‘Our journey – evolving together’
The East Sussex Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Alliance are delighted to share ‘Our journey – evolving together’; a reflection on the work that took place throughout 2025.
Commissioning Excellence in East Sussex: strengthening trust, transparency and partnership
The East Sussex VCSE Commissioning Excellence Programme (2023–2025), co-created by the East Sussex VCSE Alliance and East Sussex County Council, brought together VCSE, local authority, and NHS Sussex partners to test a more collaborative, trust-based approach. Participants strengthened relationships and explored what good commissioning looks like in practice.
The East Sussex VCSE Alliance would like to say a warm welcome to its two new members!
We proudly welcome “Education Futures Trust” and “Rye Foodbank” to the Alliance!
If you would like any further information or would also like to join the Alliance, please get in touch.
The East Sussex Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector Alliance is made up of 34 of the county’s VCSE organisations.
All members are active participants and commit to operate according to the following three principles:
Alliance priorities for 2026 – 2027
Alliance priorities for 2026 -27. Alliance members reviewed their priorities in April and agreed the following four areas of work for the coming year.
We consistently demonstrate the sector voice and live the values of Collaboration, Accountability and Generous Leadership
Neighbourhood Health & Integrated Community Teams (ICTs)
- Championing community wellbeing
- Influencing health system priorities
- Ensuring the VCSE sector is recognised as a key and valued partner in prevention, care and support
Financial Inclusion
- Fighting against poverty and inequality
- Working with partners to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, debt, access to essentials
- Responding to the systems that shape financial wellbeing
Children & Young People
- Shaping a brighter future for East Sussex’s young people
- Collaborating on early help, youth voice, family support and mental health
- Focusing on actions that help children and families to thrive
Commissioning Excellence Programme
- Influencing funding and commissioning practices
- Co-design and deliver effective services
- Strengthening partnership approaches across the county
This work is underpinned by two golden threads that run through all of the Alliance’s priorities and wider work. These are:
Representation and Reimbursement
The East Sussex VCSE Alliance works to strengthen two-way communication between strategic partners and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across East Sussex. The Alliance supports a network of Representatives who can bring sector insight, share agreed priorities and ensure wider VCSE voices are heard.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The VCSE Alliance EDI Charter sets out our shared commitments to inclusive practice, anti-discrimination and collaborative working across the sector and with our statutory partners. It is designed to encompass six principles that demonstrate best practice and leadership in this area.
The Alliance Chair and Vice Chair
Jennifer Twist, Chief Officer of Care for the Carers, is Chair of the Alliance. Jennifer brings over 16 years of experience of speaking up with, and for, carers to achieve strategic change, and has over a decade of experience as a VCSE representative on many strategic Boards with the NHS, local authorities and cross sector partnerships.
Steve Hare, Chief Executive of Age UK East Sussex, is Vice Chair of the Alliance. Steve is a committed champion for the VCSE sector, with over 30 years’ experience as a strategically important voice for local people and communities and for its demonstration of generous leadership and collaborative working principles.
Alliance hosting organisation and support team
East Sussex Community Voice hosts the Alliance – CEO Vicki Harrison-Carr, has extensive senior leadership experience in supporting communities in both the public and voluntary sectors. Her specialisms include strategic, organisational, people and community development. She is committed to cross-sector collaboration to maximise impact.
The Alliance Development Manager manages the day-to-day coordination of the Alliance – Anna McCollin-Moore previously supported an Alliance of coastal local authorities whose aim was to boost coastal productivity, and managed a handyman service enabling people to remain living safely and independently in their own homes.
East Sussex Community Voice also provides communications and marketing, administration support, project management, and wider business support for the Alliance.
Keep up with Alliance events
For more information about our news and what we’re up to please visit our news and activities and events page