Supporting our voluntary and community sector

The Communities and Participation team are always keen to meet new VCS organisations operating in the borough.  

Below you can find out how you can connect with the team and make the most of the available support.

Join our network 

To welcome you into the VCS network we would like to find out about the resident supporting work you are doing, or are planning to do, in an online introductory meeting. 

By hearing about your work, we can promote it to residents, colleagues across the council and the wider VCS network.

We can also sign you up to our newsletter where we share information about:  

• Funding. 
• Training. 
• Dates for your diary. 
• Vacancies.  
• Council updates relevant to the VCS.  

 Book an introductory meeting on connectingcommunities@walthamforest.gov.uk

We regularly host VCS network meetings. Attendees can hear news and updates from the council, as well as sharing their own.  

Attendees have said that one of the most useful aspects of attending these online and in-person events, is the chance to network with other VCS in the borough.  

Look out for details of the next meeting in our newsletter.  

We have invested in a funding portal to give the Waltham Forest VCS direct access to the latest local and national funding opportunities.  

Register below to browse hundreds of funding opportunities and set up weekly email notifications.

When applying for funding you may find the following resources useful.  

• See statistics about Waltham Forest
• A local benchmarking tool for local government
• Office of National Statistics
• NCVO
• The Charity Commission
• Big Lottery fund
• Community ward funding

The Legends of the Forest volunteering programme is a council-enabled service delivered by Waltham Forest Council.   

On the Legends website you can advertise your opportunities to recruit volunteers.

We regularly update our online noticeboard with information useful to the VCS.  

• Borough of Sanctuary
• Directory of Services 
• Jobs at the Council
• Volunteering 
• Waltham Forest VCS Funding Portal 
• Waltham Forest VCS Online Noticeboard