The agreement was signed by ICB chair Emma Woollett and VCFSE Alliance chair Tracy Hopkins at November's ICB board meeting.

Woollett said: ‘The VCFSE sector plays an important and unique role in helping to address health inequalities here in Lancashire and South Cumbria, promoting community engagement and by being involved in decision-making processes.

‘In renewing this agreement, we are strengthening our relationship and commitment to working collaboratively, with the joint aim of improving health outcomes for the population of Lancashire and South Cumbria.'

Tracy Hopkins, VCFSE Alliance chair and representative on the ICB board, said: ‘This agreement reaffirms the critical role of VCFSE organisations in achieving the ambitions of the NHS 10-Year Plan. Our partnership with the ICB is essential to improving population health, addressing inequalities and ensuring that local people receive the right support at the right time.

‘I am delighted we continue to develop our partnership working. We have achieved some incredible results in communities where investment has been targeted, but there is so much more we can do together.

‘When VCFSE services are integrated alongside clinical interventions, health outcomes improve and our partnership has the potential to develop this integrated approach across Lancashire and South Cumbria.'

In one example, the investment of UEC funding into the VCFSE sector in Blackburn Central Ward avoided 140 hospital admissions and saved the NHS an estimated £125,000.