CVA Networks

Empowering The Voluntary Sector
And Serving As Its Mouthpiece

CVA facilitates several networks with the aim of empowering local groups and enabling them to articulate their views and lobby for change.

Children & Young People's Network:

Brings together organisations that work with or for children and young people in order to have an overview of policy, legislation, practice and to ultimately ensure that the Network speaks with one voice.

Find out more about the Children & Young People's Network...

Contact: nicole.beckford on 020 8683 5913

Health & Care Forum

Provides networking and lobbying for community, user and carer groups on a range of issues relating to national and local community care policy.

Find out more about the Health & Care Forum...

Contact: nicole.beckford on 020 8683 5913

Community Network

Responsible for pulling together the views of the community, including excluded groups, so everyone has an equal say in strategy and spending decisions

Find out more about the Community Network

Contact: Jill.Wilson on 020 8683 5909

Croydon Older People's Network

The aim of the Network is to enable local older people to come together to discuss the issues that matter to them and to influence the planning and delivery of local services.  The Network is meant to complement the work of Age Concern and other local organisations for older people in Croydon.

Find out more about Croydon Older People's Network...

Contact: Andrew.Crooks on 020 8684 3862

Croydon Refugee Forum

An umbrella organisation for refugees & asylum seekers as well as refugee community groups in Croydon. The Forum acts as a consultative body, providing support and guidance and campaigning on issues of interest to refugees and asylum seekers in Croydon.

Contact: Denise.Wright on 020 8683 5904

Financial Forum

Includes trustees, workers and volunteers with an interest in financial matters. It disseminates ideas and information on financial management issues with participants sharing experiences and problems and networking with colleagues doing similar work.

Contact: Maroof Adeoye on 020 8683 5910 or email

Mental Health Forum

The Croydon Mental Health Forum provides an opportunity in which people who use or have used mental health services, carers, the voluntary and community sector and anyone with an interest in improving mental health in Croydon can meet in order to do the following:

  • Campaign: A chance to share ideas, concerns and to campaign together on mental health and related issues.
  • Influence: The Forum will provide an opportunity for users, carers and the voluntary sector to influence and have a say in the planning of mental health and other related services in Croydon through elected/co-opted Forum representatives.
  • Participate: In participation with expert speakers, to provide an opportunity for members to increase their knowledge of good practice in mental health.
  • Understand: An opportunity to enhance understanding of different perspectives: the User/Survivor perspective, the Carer perspective and the perspective of the Voluntary and Community sector.
  • Inform: A place to gain and share up-to-date information on mental health matters locally and nationally.
  • Support: A supportive environment for the discussion of the positive and negative aspects of the quality of mental health services and an opportunity to engage with senior managers.

For the next meeting go to the Diary page.

Further information on the Forum is available from Cath Collins on
020 8683 7010 or email cath.collins@cvalive.org.uk