Over the last 12 months, Hackney CVS has undergone significant change. We have refreshed our strategy and restructured our staffing to ensure we are best placed to support the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Hackney and the City of London.

We took the time to listen carefully and heard a clear demand for a more focused infrastructure organisation. We don’t want to presume what the sector needs or what grassroots organisations are witnessing. Part of this refresh has been about reflecting on our values and ways of working, and making sure we’re here to serve the sector, not compete with it.

Next year, Hackney CVS celebrates 30 years of working in and alongside the sector. We hold that history, and the legacy of our founder Adiaha Antigha, and the leadership that has followed, in the highest esteem. This gives us a strong foundation, but also a responsibility to keep improving.

Our new strategic priorities are focused around three pillars, shaped directly by what we have heard from organisations across the sector:

1. A stronger voice for the VCS – supporting organisations closest to communities to influence decisions, shape policy and challenge inequality.

2. A better-connected VCS – building the trusted networks and partnerships needed for collaboration, solidarity and collective action.

3. A better resourced VCS – supporting organisations to access funding, space, knowledge and tools to thrive.

At the heart of this approach is an ongoing commitment to keep listening and responding. This cannot be a one-off exercise. That is why we are reintroducing our annual sector survey. This is your opportunity to tell us what you need, how we are doing, and where we should focus next.

Take our survey

Please answer the questions as honestly as possible, sharing your experiences, telling us what support you need and giving feedback on the services we provide.