Commissioning Excellence in East Sussex: strengthening trust, transparency and partnership
Posted on 14 May 2026
Commissioning shapes the services and opportunities available to communities, yet it often operates under financial pressure, organisational complexity, and transactional relationships.
The East Sussex VCSE Commissioning Excellence Programme – co-created by East Sussex County Council and the East Sussex VCSE Alliance (including Southdown, East Sussex Age UK and Care for the Carers) – explored a different approach, grounded in trust, transparency, and shared purpose.
From 2023 to 2025, it brought together leaders and practitioners from the VCSE sector, East Sussex County Council, and NHS Sussex to learn, reflect, and work differently. Through open dialogue and shared learning, participants challenged assumptions, strengthened relationships, and tested more collaborative approaches to commissioning.
East Sussex VCSE Commissioning Excellence Programme summary report
A summary report has been produced to capture key learning, tools, and cultural shifts. While rooted in East Sussex, its insights are relevant to any system seeking more equitable, relationship-based commissioning. And a second phase is now being planned, with opportunities for wider partners to get involved – for information, contact Neil Blanchard, our CEO and a member of the programme’s Steering Group (email: info@southdown.org).
Neil Blanchard, our CEO says, “Over the past two years, Southdown has had the privilege of hosting and facilitating the East Sussex VCSE Commissioning Excellence Programme alongside colleagues from the VCSE sector, East Sussex County Council and NHS Sussex. The programme brought together, via quarterly in-person sessions, 40 leaders and practitioners to explore how commissioning relationships can become more collaborative, transparent and focused on improving outcomes for communities.”
He added: “A major theme throughout was what we came to call ‘transparent bravery’, creating space for honest conversations about challenges, uncertainty and risk. As the system continues to evolve and relationships, structures and roles change, these opportunities to build trust and strengthen relationships across sectors will become even more important. A huge thank you to everybody involved who contributed so openly.”
