Decision details

To award 5 contracts by Lots (based on District and Borough boundaries) to VCSE providers to deliver the Community and VCSE Development Programme.

Contract initial term:
From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028
Including 2 possible 12-month extensions from:
1 April 2028 to 31 March 2029
1 April 2029 to 31 March 2030

The Community and VCSE Development Programme aims to strengthen the shift to more person-centred and community-based approaches to health and wellbeing.

The Programme will embed these ways of working which will improve population health, mobilise assets within communities, encourage equity and social connectedness, and increase people’s control over their health and lives.

As this Programme is replacing or superseding 2 existing contracts, with a new resource envelope tailored to meet the Council’s financial challenges, the following options were considered for structuring the programme.

Option 1: Commission the programme as 2 separate elements, Asset Based Principles and VCSE Infrastructure, mirroring the current contract structures.

Option 2: Commission the programme as one complete package, blending support for people, communities, and hyper-local groups and organisations.

The preferred option is the latter (2), as this recognises that Asset Based Principles and VCSE Infrastructure are on the same continuum and present a connected model of support and development across all geographies of East Sussex.

Option 2 also ensures that a reduced resource envelope can be deployed in a cost-effective manner enabling better resourcing of the programme.
In line with this rationale at the time the intention was to commission the programme in 5 lots that follow District and Borough Council boundaries, as this had multiple benefits:

• Aligns to Integrated Community Teams’ (ICTs) boundaries, creating relationships that benefit the development of integrated health and care offer within local areas.
• Increases the potential for District and Borough Councils to work closely with providers and public sector partners on addressing local needs and building assets.
• Creates opportunities for collaborative working between and within sectors to address specific or unique local challenges facing people, communities and groups.