Forum CIO

06/08/2026

Sharing some of the events the Community Inclusion Team has attended this year. On 9 July, we were honoured to attend the annual Srebrenica Memorial Day ceremony for the second consecutive year.

The event brought together around 50 attendees from local government, statutory services, voluntary organisations, faith groups, and diverse communities to reflect on the genocide in Srebrenica and its lasting impact.

Through powerful stories shared by survivors and community leaders, attendees explored the long-term effects of conflict, trauma, and displacement, while reflecting on the importance of remembrance, understanding, and social cohesion.

The event also provided valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships with local community representatives and reaffirm our commitment to listening to lived experiences, promoting inclusion, and supporting stronger, more connected communities across Hull.

30/07/2026

You can now view our 2025 Impact Report. Discover how Forum CIO supported the VCSE sector throughout 2025 through collaboration, innovation, and partnership. Our Impact Report showcases the projects, achievements, and stories that demonstrate our role in connecting organisations, building resilience, and creating stronger communities.

Read the report to see the difference we've made together and how our work continues to support a thriving and connected VCSE sector.
https://view.pagetiger.com/Forum-Impact-Report-2025

23/07/2026

The Hull VCSE Assembly is now underway!
Pippa Robson from Forum CIO has officially opened today's meeting, welcoming partners from across the voluntary, community, social enterprise, and public sectors.

The Assembly is a great opportunity to come together, share updates, strengthen partnerships, and discuss how we can continue working collaboratively to support our communities across Hull.

We're looking forward to an informative and productive morning!

22/07/2026

Thank you to Jamal Choudhury, Sarah Mulflahi and Nadine Ali for the invite to the The Peel Project special Ladies Befriending session yesterday “Celebrating Our Journey and Hearing Women’s Voices”.

Our colleague Linda Conway had the pleasure to attend and to hear about how the Ladies Befriending group began in 2021 and has grown into the supportive community it is today, helping Muslim women feel safe, connected, integrated and informed.

Thank you to everyone who was so welcoming and for the delicious lunch.

It was also lovely to see representatives from Humberside Police Police and Hull City Council Council, along with the Lord Mayor, Cllr Maria Coward, in attendance.

Congratulations on a great event!

22/07/2026

21/07/2026

A look back at our Community Navigation Service activity from January to March...

Over the quarter, we:

• Provided 205 hours of support
• Supported people with complex needs, with 100% of clients presenting with multiple needs
• Helped 52% of people feel more connected to the right services
• Supported many individuals requiring multiple appointments, referrals and signposting to specialist organisations

The top five issues people came to us for support with were:

• Isolation
• Mental Health
• Physical Health
• Neurodivergence
• Training & Education

We're incredibly proud of the difference this service continues to make in people's lives.

"We as the client's family are really thankful for what your service is doing for people like my father. I believe it is wonderful. Thank you."

"Engaging with the Community Navigation Service has been very helpful to me and my husband. We have started attending social groups and activities in our local area, going out more and meeting new people. I also managed to find a lost friend through the service, so I'm really grateful for all your help and support."

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with the service and to our partners who help us connect people with the support they need.

Find out more by visit our website at https://forumcio.org.uk/projects/community-navigation-hull/

13/07/2026

Earlier this year, we were pleased to provide safeguarding training to support volunteers preparing to work in schools. When a local organisation needed safeguarding training at short notice, our Safeguarding Coordinator stepped in to help.

With new volunteers preparing to work within schools and limited training opportunities available at the time, we adapted our existing safeguarding children training to create a session specifically tailored to volunteers working in school settings.

The online training provided practical, relevant guidance to help volunteers feel confident and prepared for their roles, ensuring they had the knowledge needed to safeguard children effectively.

We're proud to be able to respond to community needs and support organisations with training that makes a real difference.
Here's some of the wonderful feedback we received:

"Thanks so much for this afternoon, I really do appreciate it. I thought your course content was great and you delivered it brilliantly!"

07/07/2026

Back in April, the Community Inclusion Project was proud to attend the inaugural Africa4U Awards launch event in Hull.

Hosted by the University of Hull, the event celebrated the significant contributions that African and Caribbean communities have made across the region and marked the expansion of the Africa4U Awards into Hull and East Yorkshire.

Attending the event was an important opportunity to strengthen connections with diverse communities, raise awareness of the Community Inclusion Project, and engage in meaningful conversations about inclusion, representation, and belonging.

We were also delighted to see Karen Okra recognised as Hull Ambassador for the awards, helping to champion and celebrate African and Caribbean talent across the city in the years ahead.

The event welcomed around 40 attendees and featured powerful reflections on the importance of recognising community contributions. One attendee shared:

"I have done so much for the communities in the city and I always get a thank you, but today to receive an award makes a difference in my visibility and recognition of the work I do."

We look forward to continuing to support this initiative and working with partners to help make next year's awards another success.

02/07/2026

Real voices. Real experiences. Real change.Through our work with ...

25/06/2026

Do I need an enhanced DBS check?

An enhanced DBS or Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is a service that allows organisations to check the criminal history of staff/volunteers to check suitability for employment.

But not all staff/volunteers need a DBS-In fact it is illegal to apply for a Standard or Enhanced DBS if it is not required (anyone can apply for a Basic DBS if they wish to).

First and foremost, safe recruitment practices should be followed when considering a staff/volunteer member. You can find more about safe recruitment requirements at https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/safeguarding/certain-roles/volunteer-managers/recruiting-safely/principles/

You MUST have a DBS if:

- You work with unaccompanied children or have responsibility for their personal care (e.g. teachers, childcare providers, support workers)
- You provide personal or health care to adults (e.g. healthcare providers, carers)
- You are a taxi driver.
- You are offering immigration services or advice.

It is the decision of the employer whether a staff/volunteer member needs a DBS. Direct Gov provides a free eligibility tool at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-eligibility-guidance

Are you a voluntary and community organisation from Hull? Want further advice? You can contact our Safeguarding Co-ordinator at [email protected]