Held at Pug Yard, Windsor Castle, the June VCS Partnership Forum brought together key voices from across Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s voluntary and statutory sectors.
🔹 Asma Aziz, CEO of SCVS/WAM Get Involved, opened the session with a presentation on the current health and wellbeing landscape in the borough—celebrating the voluntary sector’s role while spotlighting key challenges.
🔹 Kevin McDaniel, Executive Director of Adult Services & Health at RBWM, identified three major priorities:
🔹 Growing isolation among older adults, especially in care settings
🔹 A rising number of carers, both paid and unpaid, needing support and resources
🔹 Ongoing budget constraints, calling for innovative, partnership-driven approaches
🔹 Chad Witcher, Public Health Service Lead, shared updates on RBWM’s Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy, inviting further collaboration.
Q&A Takeaways
🔹The internal Heads Up Social Workers’ Directory may soon open up to community groups—contact RBWM’s Communities Team for more.
🔹RBWM’s offer to the voluntary sector includes:
💡Innovation Fund
🤝A growing support team + bid writing help
📘A VCS Directory
👥Networking events
📬Monthly comms via RBWM newsletter
🧑🤝🧑Partnerships with SCVS and I Love Windsor
🔹🧑⚕️ Social Prescribers like Roxanna highlighted the importance of person-centred care, with open referral periods and extended support.
🔹💡 Mental Health services have seen a funding boost, particularly for partnerships. For more information about making a partnership application, reach out to Asma.
🔹⚕️ Health Concerns and Initiatives:
🔹The borough’s aging population is contributing to a high stroke rate—stroke awareness sessions should be developed in response
🔹Community support models like Foodshare, Reform Road, and the
Community Hub were recognised as impactful initiatives.
Further presentations included:
🔹Anne Gilbert, Home-Start Berkshire East: on youth engagement and student volunteering
🔹Tim Walker, Men’s Matters: on the importance of sustained men’s wellbeing support
Asma closed with a powerful reminder:
👉 “We work with the community, not to the community.”
🗓️ Save the date: The next VCS Partnership Forum takes place on 11th September—venue to be confirmed.