We are a small, friendly team at VOCypf!  

Each of us are passionate about the role the voluntary and community sector plays in planning and delivering services for the Children, Young People and Families of Bedfordshire.

Doug McWilliam is one of the two Vice Chairs. Working for VOCypf on a voluntary basis, Doug is the Chief Officer of Youth Matters, bringing experience, passion and dedication for the Youth Agenda.
Doug’s role in VOCypf is to support the link between the youth practioners, voluntory youth groups and organisations enabling VOCypf to be a meaniful and positive concept in the mind of all those working on childens and young people agendas.

Click to view the Youth Matters website.

Matt Buttery is the second Vice Chair. As in Michele and Doug’s situation, Matt works on a voluntary basis. He is the Chief Executive of the Family Matters Institute (FMI), a national research and education charity based a Moggerhanger Park. FMI undertake sociological and contract research, deliver accredited training, and direct services to dads, mums & families including www.DadTalk.co.uk. FMI take a lead for VOCypf on issues relating to Workforce Development. Matt is also very able advocate of the sector in participation, commissioning & strategy. Matt is a trustee of the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners, has four children and fosters for the local authority.

Click to view the Family Matters Institute website.

There are three dedicated Officers working for VOCypf, 2 are funded via the Children’s Trust’s in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire

Linda Bulled is the VOCypf Officer, predominantly focusing on agenda’s relating to strategic direction, safeguarding, children and families.

Linda reads vast quantities of paperwork and emails plus attending numerous meetings so you don’t have to! She keeps up to date with the new Government agenda’s and initiatives and their implementation within the two unitary authorities. These often lead to developing and planning new services. Linda ensures the voice of the voluntary and community sector is heard at the table and consulted with alongside the local statutory partners. Linda is instrumental in keeping the voluntary and community sector up to date with the latest information, funding and training opportunities. She works alongside regional partners to share good practice and expertise which benefits the voluntary and community sector in Bedfordshire. Linda's post is funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council.

Carol Solaiman is the VOCypf Youth Officer, predominantly focusing on agenda’s relating to youth, BME and community groups within Bedford Borough.

The role of the Youth officer is to represent and voice the views  of the Voluntary and Community sector working with young people and families at a strategic level, especially at the Children’s Trust, their sub groups and in particular with Integrated Services 0-19. As well as acting as a conduit for the flow of information, the youth officer is keen to locate  community and faith-based groups that provide activities or services for children and young people so that their contribution is recognised, and to drive up standards through enabling access to training and other resources. Carol links into the seven Community Networks, information exchange forums for those providing youth services across each of the cluster areas; she also attends the Bedford Youth Practitioners Forum and Children & Young People Involvement Network. She supports the VOCypf Counselling Collective and links to the Mental Wellbeing Strategy group led by the NHS. Carol took up post in February 2010 with a strong background in community development and equality and diversity. This 18 hour post is funded by Bedford Borough Council.

Emily Herman is the VOCypf Marketing & Communications Officer. After the recent exciting transition from the old, to the new 'face' of VOCypf, she has come on board to continue to maintain and update the website with the latest information so that you, the voluntary and community sector can make the best use of it. Emily currently works part-time for VOCypf and part-time for Community and Voluntary Service as Senior Administrator.

Click to view the VOCypf Structure Chart.

The staff of VOCypf, alongside the Chair and two vice Chairs, form the Executive Committee which is the decision making hub, in turn informed by the Strategy Group.

The Strategy Group is made up of members who are from Voluntary & Community Organisations that work with children, young people and families in Bedfordshire; they have a heavily invested interested in ensuring VOCypf is working to optimum capacity and focusing on the most pressing agendas. The Strategy Group meets four times a year.

Click to view the current Strategy Group members. These include the executive group which is the Chairs, vice Chairs and paid officers. All VOCypf representatives sit on various groups on behalf of VOCypf and these include a Government Office East regional VCS representative, representatives from National and Regional organisations, Bedford Borough Head of Partnerships and Business Support and Central Bedfordshire Head of Partnerships and Workforce Development.

VOCypf Representatives
We have a range of organisations that represent VOCypf at the many Children’s Trust Board meetings.  These representatives give a voice to the sector and contribute with their knowledge and expertise to partnership working which improves the outcomes for children, young people and their families.  It is important that the issues of the sector and the participation of the sector in all aspects of the Children’s Trust is encouraged.  VOCypf representatives are at the table to contribute to the strategic overview of the meeting agenda with their understanding from an operational perspective.  By being at the various Children’s Trust meetings the representative will also gain knowledge of both local and national agendas which affect the work they do in their own organisation.

Please click here to view the current representation and click here for representative guidance.

We have several vacancies if you are interested in taking a place please email Linda@voc-ypf.org. If you attend a meeting which is not on this list please email Linda as it would be useful to know the wide range of engagement the sector has.