# Event Details

- **Event Name**: VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement
- **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 11 Feb, 2026 at 09:30 am – Wed, 11 Feb, 2026 at 11:30 am
- **Event Description**: Why a Story Exchange?
 
In our VCSE City Alliance work to date, we’ve learned that colleagues across sectors value collaboration and want to make space for it. Collectively, we’re not always sure how best to do this, other than to say we’d love to see more of it.
 
We know that there is room to reimagine approaches, adopt creative and radical solutions, and develop additional work that helps us to think afresh. But in the context of the vast range of ongoing work, it can be difficult to know where to start.
 
Commissioners and VCSE colleagues alike concur that time and timeliness are key – we’ve listened together, and we have the beginnings of real action in the city, with the recent Market Engagement around VCSE Wellbeing Pathways showing that our commissioners are genuinely embracing fresh thinking.
 
Some processes are non-negotiable, and the dynamics can be challenging – perhaps a ‘big player’ enters the room at Market Engagement, perhaps there is a legacy of challenging relationships, or perhaps the size of a contract places a squeeze on the resources available....
 
Within clear constraints, and with all the complexities in sight, what can we do to optimise the key spaces and create the best possible conditions for collaboration to grow?
 
Larger group work has helped us to tune into many voices, but perhaps none of them in such great depth – and some of you had so much more to say. 

What to expect… 

This two-hour, small-group session will use approaches that carve out space for sharing experiences in greater depth and nuance, and that build solutions-focused dialogue and trust between us.
 
If you’re familiar with approaches like troika consulting, action learning sets, or liberating structures, then we hope that these discussions will feel familiar and inclusive.
 
If not, then we’d encourage you to share openly, focus on listening deeply, and think about the incremental solutions that might be available to us now.
 
Most of all, we value your candour and honesty: that’s where learning happens and action is inspired.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/stoke-on-trent/vcse-city-alliance-story-exchange-conditions-for-collaboration-in-commissioning-and-procurement/200029631060016
- **Event Categories**: 
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 1

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Stoke On Trent
- **state**: EN
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: The Dudson Centre, Hope Street, ST1 5DD Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
- **lat**: 53.0294
- **long**: -2.17923
- **full address**: The Dudson Centre, Hope Street, ST1 5DD Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom, Stoke On Trent, United Kingdom

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/936f3f18a06c72419e60fca151e64fc255f4b924e92f4c1ce3b38d0a07e92c18-rimg-w1200-h628-dc923971-gmir?v=1770369735

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement being held?
  - **A:** VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement takes place on Wed, 11 Feb, 2026 at 09:30 am to Wed, 11 Feb, 2026 at 11:30 am at The Dudson Centre, Hope Street, ST1 5DD Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom, Stoke On Trent, United Kingdom.
- **Q**: Who is organizing VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement?
  - **A:** VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement is organized by VAST.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement is ideal for learners, working professionals, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Stoke On Trent, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If VCSE City Alliance Story Exchange: Conditions for Collaboration in Commissioning and Procurement sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

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