An NHS Federation briefing entitled 'Comparing apples with oranges' sets out ther value of the sector to health services.

It highlights the value of the voluntary and community sector in being able to provide health data, connect with marginalised communities, and inform service providers of the best ways of delivering services. We've known it for a while, but now it's official:

“The voluntary sector is in contact with the most
vulnerable groups in the district; people who don’t access
traditional health and social care services. Those contacts
are valuable. They are in the right place to engage the right people. And they are more in tune with community values and motivations.”

The full briefing is linked on the Involve website here:

www.involveyorkshirehumber.org.uk/news/latest/comparing-apples-with-oranges-/