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.

Matt Buttery is one of the two Co Chairs. Matt works on a voluntary basis for VOCypf. 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 and the family and parenting agenda 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.

Sue Henderson is the other Co Chair.  Like Matt, Sue works for VOCypf on a voluntary basis. Sue is the Chief Executive Officer for Christian Family Care (CFC) a social care provider for Children and Families across Bedfordshire. Projects currently operating in the locality are commissioned direct services for Family Support, and five Children’s Centres. CFC also operates Manor Farm Family Centre a resource centre in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire. A renovated and accessible building offers delivery spaces for a range of activities suitable for all family groups. Professionals may also benefit from meeting and training room facilities.

Click to view the Christian Family Care website.

Linda Johnson is one of the two Co vice Chairs, again a voluntary role within VOCYpf.  Linda is Manager of Home-Start Central Bedfordshire, a family support charity with 6 paid staff and over 100 volunteers. Home-visiting parent volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to families with young children who are struggling to cope. The charity also runs a variety of parenting groups and programmes.

Click to view the Homestart Central Bedfordshire website.

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.

Emily Herman is the VOCypf Communications Assistant and her current role is 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 on a part-time basis and her post is funded by match funding secured by VOCypf.

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.