NAVCA Annual Conference 2024: The Future of Local Infrastructure

Join us at the NAVCA Annual Conference 2024 in Birmingham to shape the future of local infrastructure, with speakers and workshop hosts exploring innovative ideas and projects.

Through exploring and developing different topics through the four functions of infrastructure, attendees will have the opportunity to share knowledge, learn from others, and leave feeling equipped and inspired to take action.

Our keynote speaker will be David Knott, CEO at The National Lottery Community Fund. We will hear David's perspective on the future of local infrastructure and the voluntary sector.

Throughout the day, we will be exploring the questions:

How can we have effective influence on decision-making locally?
How do we strengthen collaboration in VCSE healthcare commissioning?
How can we achieve racial and climate justice in the charity sector?
How can we develop a local vision for volunteering?
How do we demonstrate the role and purpose of local infrastructure to an incoming government?
How do we demonstrate visible leadership when tackling racism?
How can we make funding opportunities more fair and transparent?
How do we meaningfully engage young people in volunteering?
How can we effectively and safely use AI?

Our panel discussion in the afternoon will bring some of these topics together to answer the question, 'what is the future of local infrastructure?'. A panel, facilitated by NAVCA Chair Sandra Meadows MBE, will explore the key themes and learning from the day. 

Registration opens from 9am, and the conference will begin at 10:30am. Please arrive on time - cloakroom facilities and refreshments are available throughout the day. The conference will finish promptly at 4pm. 

We will have a quiet room available for anyone who needs it, for example for prayer. If you will need exclusive use of the room at any time throughout the day, please inform us in advance when you book your ticket, or let a NAVCA member of staff know on the day.

You can download the full programme here: https://navca.aidecrm.co.uk/download/r8Pnig6koWOuNzaYA5SahKaEO9UMRGTFdeCCRXxT

The venue

The NAVCA conference will be held at Austin Court, a modern venue in central Birmingham. There will be multiple spaces for networking throughout the day, with lunch and refreshments provided. 

Networking Dinner, sponsored by Ladbrook Insurance, 7pm - 9pm 15th May 2024

We provide a social space for all conference attendees to meet other NAVCA members the evening before the conference. This year, we're hosting a Networking Dinner in the McGregor's Lounge at Villa Park at 7pm on 15th May 2024. This will be an informal networking event, with a hot meal included in your ticket price. We'd like to invite everyone to join us at this event, to meet the NAVCA staff team and socialise with other members. 

Pay It Forward Networking Dinner Ticket:

We have created a 'pay it forward' ticket option for the Networking Dinner on 15th May 2024. Attending the dinner gives NAVCA members an opportunity to meet other members ahead of the conference, in a relaxed and friendly setting. We know that cost is often a barrier for events like this so, in response to suggestions from members, we would like to encourage larger organisations to support people from smaller organisations who might struggle to access the Networking Dinner otherwise. If you would like to access a ticket free of charge, please contact NAVCA directly at comms@navca.org.uk. We will prioritise NAVCA members in the lowest membership band when offering these tickets, subject to availability.

CEOs' Breakfast

Join us to network with other NAVCA member CEOs over a cup of tea before the conference. We are hosting a Breakfast for CEOs, providing you with a further opportunity to network ahead of the conference, at the conference venue. Tickets include a hot breakfast roll, a pastry, a selection of fresh fruit and a cup of tea or coffee. The breakfast will take place from 9am to around 10:15am (the first keynote speech is at 10:30am). 

Ticket types

Early Bird Ticket - Save over 15% when you book early! This ticket is one general admission to the NAVCA conference, for staff working at a NAVCA member organisation. This includes lunch and refreshments. 

NAVCA Member Ticket - one general admission to the NAVCA conference, for staff working at a NAVCA member organisation. This includes lunch and refreshments.

Group ticket: Save £10 per ticket when you book for three people from the same organisation to attend the conference. Please note, the three ticket holders must be employed by the same organisation for this ticket to be valid. We will issue refunds if tickets are purchased for people from multiple organisations.

Stakeholder or Partner Ticket - one general admission to the NAVCA conference for non-members. 

CEOs Breakfast Ticket - one general admission to the CEOs' Networking Breakfast at Austin Court, in the morning of the conference on 16th May 2024. Please note, this ticket must be purchased in addition to a general conference admission ticket. 

Networking Dinner Ticket - one general admission to the NAVCA Networking Dinner, held at Villa Park's McGregor's Lounge in Aston, Birmingham, on Wednesday 15th May 2024. This event is for NAVCA members only.

Pay It Forward Networking Dinner Ticket - one paid-forward general admission to the NAVCA Networking Dinner on 15th May 2024. Purchasing one of these tickets means we can offer a free ticket to another NAVCA member who might not be able to afford it otherwise. 

Hotel Room, Aston Inn (twin room) - one twin room (two single beds) at the Aston Inn, on the night of Wednesday 15th May 2024. Please note, this ticket must be purchased in addition to a general conference admission ticket.

Hotel Room, Aston Inn (double room) - one double room (one double bed) at the Aston Inn, on the night of Wednesday 15th May 2024. Please note, this ticket must be purchased in addition to a general conference admission ticket.

Hotel Room, Aston Inn (family room) - one family room (one double and one single bed) at the Aston Inn, on the night of Wednesday 15th May 2024. Please note, this ticket must be purchased in addition to a general conference admission ticket.

Other recommended hotels (not available to be booked by NAVCA): 

Travelodge, Birmingham Perry Barr - https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/415/Birmingham-Perry-Barr-hotel?sb=0

Campanile Birmingham - https://birmingham.campanile.com/en-us/ 

Holiday Inn Express, Birmingham Star City - https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/gb/en/birmingham/bhxsc/hoteldetail

Getting here:

You can find full transport information on the Austin Court website here: https://austincourt.theiet.org/about/how-to-find-us/

Our conference is kindly sponsored by Assura, In Kind Direct, Ladbrook Insurance, National Cyber Security Centre, plinth, TheGivingMachine and The National Lottery Community Fund. Our sponsors help us make the conference as accessible as possible to members.

Cancellation policy:

A booking may be transferred to another person from your organisation at no additional cost. Please notify us of the change no later than 11am on Thursday 9th May 2024, including any accessibility or dietary requirements for the new attendee.

Cancellations requested up to 28 days in advance (no later than 11am on Thursday 18th April 2024), are eligible for a refund, minus a £10 administration charge. Cancellations requested after this date are not eligible for a refund.

To cancel or change a booking please contact comms@navca.org.uk as soon as possible.