Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Winter Funds Investment in the VCFSE

The Integrated Care System (ICS) committed 2% of the Winter Pressure funding for 24/25 to the VCFSE sector to support unnecessary attendance at UEC and/or to facilitate safe and supported discharge from hospital. 

The Alliance selected 2 pilot areas - BwD and Blackpool - to test and learn from the inclusion of the VCFSE sector in supporting system partners with an equal split of the funding to both areas. 

Following an open bidding process, Spring North were appointed as the managing organisation for this work. 

Consultation was undertaken with place partners in the 2 areas to identify the target populations based on supporting evidence of need. 

Key learning for the Alliance

Receiving NHS funding and setting up the right governance around it has been a real learning journey for the VCFSE Alliance. Working hand in hand with colleagues at the ICB, the Alliance Programme Team developed a new model for managing this funding - one that really fits the way the VCFSE sector works. This represents a leap of faith for our system and a step closer to the VCFSE becoming an equitable and trusted system partner.

Instead of using the evaluation framework designed for UEC within NHS acute trusts, we were able to co-create our own approach, one that reflects the strengths and ways of working of the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations. This has helped us agree on how to measure the difference this work makes in a meaningful and practical way.

Through this process, our relationships with the ICB - including at Place and with Population Teams - have grown even stronger. Together, we’ve created a transparent, collaborative system for directing funding where it can have the greatest impact, supporting some of the most vulnerable people and communities in areas of high deprivation.

Spring North's Overview

Spring North collaborated with six local delivery partners across three key areas. In Blackpool, individuals with long-term respiratory conditions received support through health advice, warm homes, and help staying connected. In Blackburn Central Ward, adults and families facing challenges such as homelessness, substance use, or poor mental health were provided with tailored, practical support. In Darwen, older residents at risk of falls were provided with advice, home adaptations, and exercises to help them feel safer and more confident in their own homes. 

The programme reached over 16,500 people through local awareness campaigns and provided direct, one-to-one support to more than 1,170 individuals. More than half of those supported said they would now turn to their GP, pharmacist or local services instead of going directly to A&E.