Cysylltu â’r Sector Gwirfoddoli yn Godod3 / Connecting with the Voluntary Sector at Gofod3
3rd July 2025
Our Befriending Development Worker Matt shares his reflections from the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action’s annual conference, Gofod3 (‘Third Space’ in Welsh).
The WCVA’s annual conference, gofod3, is always a great opportunity for the voluntary sector in Wales to meet, swap notes and build new relationships. In the past, new befriending services have learned about Befriending Networks there and subsequently joined as members; we’ve met existing members there and given them support and encouragement as they host workshops, or run stalls promoting their work; and we’ve been able to represent our Welsh members’ needs and concerns to others in the sector, in the wider Health and Social Care world, and to Welsh Government.
This year I went along again and was able to share a little about Befriending Networks and our members to new contacts in the world of unpaid carers, support networks for Church groups, legal services for charities and mental health service providers. As always, the WCVA team did a stellar job and put on a great conference.
Attending several workshops, I learned a little about an upcoming charity sector barometer being developed to help the sector in Wales develop and use better data and evidence, so that it can communicate and work with Government and funders more effectively, for example; gaining some new insights into how to approach applying for lottery funding. I’m happy to share these tips with members – just get in touch! We also heard about how charities, Local Authority, the CVS and even industry are working together in Pembrokeshire to offer one point of entry (a ‘front door’) for adult social care referrals. All very interesting!
It was also the first opportunity for me to talk to people about the new partnership with Linking Lives UK, which will see Befriending Networks offering support to churches in Wales to start their own befriending schemes.
Finally, it was great to meet with members of Befriending Networks also attending the event: Community Care and Wellbeing Service, Learning Disability Wales and Age Connects Cardiff & Vale, catch up with them and hear their experiences attending our training and events!
Diolch yn fawr iawn WCVA am cynhadledd wych eto! Many thanks to WCVA for a great conference again!
Matt with the Learning Disability Wales Team
Header image: Matt with the Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale Team