The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire is gathering insight from third and public sector organisations to identify training needs around sexual violence.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday working life. From drafting communications and analysing data to automating administrative tasks, many charities are already using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot or automated fundraising platforms.

While these tools can bring real efficiencies, they also introduce new risks that trustees need to understand.

We find out more about the work of Brody’s Trust, and why Nicola thinks that the trustee role is so important.

Julie Kent MBE is chair of the trustees at the Pied Piper Appeal and also chair of the Honourable Company of Gloucestershire and has extensive experience of trusteeship over many years. She offers her thoughts on active leadership below

People often become trustees because they care deeply about a cause. They want to give something back, support their community or use their experience to help an organisation grow. What many do not initially realise is that trusteeship carries real responsibility. It is rewarding, inspiring and often hugely enjoyable, but it also requires commitment, accountability and leadership.

Photo credit: University of Gloucestershire

Young people from across Gloucestershire will present performance and art projects under the big top of the Great Big Climate Circus at Stratford Park, Stroud on Saturday 20 June from 1 - 6pm.

Microvolunteering is the undertaking of small, often one-off tasks which can usually be performed anywhere.

It's for everyone, no matter how much time they can give or where they live, and the idea is that many small acts together can have a big impact.

For many VCSE organisations, generating interest in their volunteer roles isn’t a problem - but actually getting volunteers in the door and regularly undertaking shifts is.

On Friday 5 June 2026, volunteers and organisations from across Gloucestershire gathered for the Gloucestershire Volunteer Awards 2026.

Gloucestershire VCSE Strategic Partnership and Integrated Locality Partnership representatives have been working together with BNSSG (Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire) colleagues to shape a proposal for the role of the VCSE sector in the implementation of the NHS Strategic Commissioning Framework.

Mental Health Awareness Week is from 11-17 May and is encouraging people to take action to support good mental health. Rhiannon Davis from Rethink shares how the team are doing this across the county

‍Mental Health Awareness Week is a reminder that nobody should face mental health challenges alone. ‍

Tracey Thomas, Associate Co-Director of Create Gloucestershire shares her thoughts on their journey to be a truly inclusive organisation ‍ ‍

I have noticed that local leaders have become increasingly careful with their language when referring to the work of equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging.  We sometimes say this slowly, we often use acronyms in no particular order, sometimes we say this with a quiet pause as we check we are using the right terms and sometimes we say this at such speed followed by the words ‘or whatever’.  There is care, there is intention, there is a desire to not offend and a desire to morally do the right thing.  All of this matters, but I have become increasingly interested in what happens after we have found the right words. ‍ ‍

Nicole Hastie, CEO of Active Impact CIO, explains why being known as a welcoming organisation can be a very tangible way of demonstrating inclusive values in your organisation’s everyday actions. Read on to hear her tips

Making people feel welcome is a universal way of embodying inclusion. It’s something everyone can do, it generally doesn’t come with a high price tag, and it’s one of the most impactful ways you can demonstrate organisational values.

Jess Eastoe, Young People Equality Lead at Greater Manchester Moving, shares three ways that your organisation can truly embed inclusion

At Greater Manchester Moving, we’ve learned that inclusion isn’t something you “add in” to your work – it has to sit right at the centre of it.

Inclusion means making sure that movement truly is for everyone, across all protected characteristics and in the broader sense of diversity, identity and lived experience.

The recently published Neighbourhood Health Framework sets out how a new neighbourhood health service will be built across England, moving care from hospitals into communities, organised around defined local populations. The VCSE sector is explicitly named as a potential delivery partner in Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs). Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) will own neighbourhood health plans from 2027–28. This means that VCSE representation on Gloucestershire’s HWB is key. The Civil Society Covenant is directly referenced as a guiding principle, giving the sector a formal lever. Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) must deliver minimum requirements in 2026–27.