Kerry Prowting is the Co-ordinator for the Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Alliance in North Lincolnshire — a collaborative network of local organisations united by a shared goal: to strengthen community resilience through connection, advocacy, and collective action.

Formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alliance was created as a space for voluntary groups to come together in solidarity, share challenges, and amplify their voices outside of statutory systems.

Since joining the Alliance last year, Kerry has played a leading role in building strategic partnerships and championing the power of collaboration - not only to make services more efficient, but to create stronger, more cohesive communities.

The Alliance hosts regular assemblies, with the most recent drawing 26 attendees from groups such as HWRA, Community Vision, Westcliff Drop-in Centre, Mind, and Lindsey Lodge - evidence of both appetite and need for deeper inter-organisational support.

Project Highlight: Mediation Training Initiative

One of the most innovative and impactful initiatives championed by Kerry and the VCFSE Alliance has been the introduction of mediation training for voluntary sector workers.

This wasn’t about legal disputes or family law, it was about giving community organisations the skills to resolve tensions and conflict in their own settings: from village halls and food banks to drop-in centres and multi-faith groups.

A diverse group of local practitioners completed the training, each bringing different community experiences and insights. This variety ensures that mediation is now embedded in a wide range of community settings, enhancing how local groups support people experiencing stress, misunderstanding, or cultural tension.

The long-term vision is for every community hub in North Lincolnshire to have access to trained mediators, giving grassroots organisations practical tools to manage difference and reduce division.

The early results of the mediation training initiative and the wider work of the Alliance have already demonstrated:

Enhanced capacity for local organisations to manage community conflict internally.

Greater inter-group collaboration, with increased willingness to share knowledge and resources.

Elevated visibility of the voluntary sector’s role in creating social cohesion.

Development of new, transferable skills for volunteers and staff - giving them tools that benefit both their organisations and the broader community.

While the Alliance itself doesn’t deliver frontline services, it plays a crucial role in amplifying the sector’s collective voice and offering strategic tools, like mediation, that help groups move from reactive to proactive support.

The Alliance doesn’t shy away from confronting the real issues its members face. During recent assemblies, organisations shared common concerns:

Volunteer shortages: Many groups struggle to recruit and retain volunteers. Austerity and changing attitudes have made unpaid commitment harder to sustain.

Operational pressures: Rising costs are threatening the sustainability of many small organisations.

Power imbalances: Many voluntary groups feel shut out of key decision-making structures, leading to frustration and burnout.

To protect sector integrity, statutory services are deliberately excluded from Alliance meetings, allowing space for voluntary voices to speak freely and without influence.

Kerry and the VCFSE Alliance are committed to building a voluntary sector that is resilient, skilled, and collaborative. Their goals include:

Expanding mediation training, with a broader cohort of volunteers across all corners of the community.

Creating a network of community mediators, embedded in spaces like youth hubs, community centres, and village halls.

Championing sector-wide advocacy, pushing for more investment in volunteer support and sustainable infrastructure.

Continuing to host assemblies and learning events that foster honest dialogue and shared action.

The Alliance believes that conflict doesn’t have to divide us - it can be a pathway to stronger relationships when handled with care and skill