Events
St Helens JUNE 2026 VCFSE Forum
Join us for our JUNE 2026 Voluntary Sector Forum — a space where ideas spark, connections grow, and the St Helens VCSE community comes together with purpose. Get ready for an energising morning at the St Helens VCSE Forum, filled with opportunity, collaboration, and that unmistakable community spirit that drives our borough forward. We’ll ease into the day with a warm welcome and time to catch up with colleagues old and new over coffee from 9:30am — the perfect moment to settle in, share updates, and start the conversations that matter. As the clock approaches 10:00am, we’ll gather to begin the session at the ever‑welcoming Willowbrook Living Well, setting the tone for a morning of shared learning, sector insights, and collective ambition. Whether you’re a seasoned leader, a new volunteer, or somewhere in between, this forum offers a friendly, open space to connect, contribute, and feel part of something bigger.
St Helens Mental Health Alliance Meeting - JUNE
Bringing St Helens’ VCFSE sector together at our Mental Health Alliance
A chance for voluntary organisations, charities, and community groups across St Helens to connect and brings the sector together to explore our borough’s mental health priorities, understand the challenges our communities are facing, and strengthen the partnerships that help us respond.
Join us to:
Connect with others working to support wellbeing across St Helens
Share what your organisation offers and learn from others
Explore opportunities to collaborate around local priorities
Feel Good Friday - Mental Health Wellbeing Pop Up Event
This will be an opportunity for you to book a stall to showcase your services at our next marketplace event. The agenda for the event will be:
10am - 2.30pm : Open marketplace to partners and the wider public - bring along your clients to help then find out what other support is out there in the community.
Can you deliver an activity as an interactive session (in the same room as the event) such as crafts etc ? Please get in touch to discuss how this might be resourced.
The event will be marketed to the public with the following:
Feel Good Friday — St Helens, this one’s for you
Feel Good Friday is a pop‑up event bringing together charities and community groups from across St Helens who are working every day to support people’s wellbeing. It’s a chance to meet the teams behind local services, hear what they offer, and make connections that can genuinely make life a bit easier.No pressure and no hard sell — just real people, useful conversations, and support that’s right on your doorstep.
AI for Community Organisations
In this AI Tools for Beginners session, we’ll explore a range of free and easy-to-use AI tools that can help save time, spark ideas, and make everyday work tasks quicker.
Together we’ll look at tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Canva, NotebookLM, and Google Lens, with live demonstrations and opportunities to practise using them.
All of the tools covered offer free accounts, making them accessible for charities, community organisations, and public sector teams.
What you’ll learn
• What generative AI tools are and how they work • How to use AI safely and responsibly in community organisations • Simple ways AI can help with writing, planning, and communication • Using AI to support creative work and new ideas • Smarter ways of working using AI as a helpful assistant • Tips for getting better results from AI tools
How the session works
The session is interactive and practical, so the number of tools we explore will depend on the pace of the group, participant questions, and how much time people want to spend practising.
The focus is on helping you leave feeling confident using AI, rather than racing through a long list of tools.
This session is ideal for
• Staff and volunteers in community organisations • Small charities and CICs • Community project workers and coordinators • Anyone curious about AI but unsure where to begin
No previous experience with AI is needed.
An Introduction to Employment Law and Best Practice
Halton's May VCFSE Forum
Halton's May VCFSE Forum meeting will be on Wednesday the 6th of May from 9.30am. The meeting will be held at Halton & St Helens VCA, St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB. We will hear from sector representative, VCA staff team, HBC staff members, and more. The forum is the perfect stage to showcase your organisation and hear about what else is happening in the borough. Join us and take time to engage and update one another on projects and activities, as well as touching base with the local Council and NHS organisations. To book a place click on the register now button. The meeting will run till 11am, and the space will remain open giving you the chance to network over a hot drink.
Social Media Foundations for Community Groups
A focused, confidence-building introduction perfect for organisations who want clarity andsimple tools they can start using straight away.
What’s Included:Core Training (foundations only):How to plan content efficiently without a full-time social media managerEasy low-budget content ideas anyone can createHow to talk about your organisation in a clear, engaging wayBasics of storytelling (but not impact reporting)Simple planning methods to stay consistent
Emergency First Aid at Work (1 Day)
This session is offered at £50 per person — half the usual price of £100. Access is limited to VCA members who are local community groups, charities, or CICs limited by guarantee.
An invoice will be sent out once your booking has been recieved.
Setting Up Your Community Organisation, Charity or Community Interest Company
Holding Transformative Conversations Halton
Across the country, organisations are struggling with the effects of misinformation about marginalised groups, which is disrupting services and creating uncertainty about how to respond. The Ella Baker School of Organising, in partnership with the LCR Race Equality Hub, is offering one‑day workshops to help communities counter these divisive narratives.
The training starts from the belief that people with challenging views aren’t necessarily bad, and communities share a responsibility to engage with them and address the issues behind those views. Sessions provide tools to handle difficult conversations, reduce tension, and build unity.
Participants will learn to understand why people may hold problematic views, engage meaningfully with those influenced by divisive narratives, and shift discussions toward solution‑focused approaches. The workshops aim to build confidence, skills, and long‑term community connections, supported by practical resources.