Contact Us
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk
Working with the VCS through the economic downturn
9 January 2009
Richard Caulfield outlines proposals for a 10 point plan for supporting VCS work to tackle the effects of the economic downturn.
The full document outlines the thinking behind the following 10 actions:
- All Sub-Regional Economic Partnerships should have VCS representatives throughout their structures.
- All LSP should have VCS representatives on Boards with an economic remit.
- Partners should recognise that there is a cost implication to sector representation and identify appropriate resources.
- The 5 Sub-Regional Consortia for VCS infrastructure to work with local partners to identify gaps in local provision of support services.
- Specialist support for mergers to be identified where this would bring improvement and efficiency gains and increase sustainability.
- Public Sector partners to honour existing SLAs and contracts and to increase sustainability through compact compliant funding arrangements.
- Public Sector to pay invoices in 10 days and strongly encourage those who are sub-contracting to do the same.
- Revisit VCS ERDF proposals in light of changing economic circumstances.
- Partners to develop a strategy for the volunteering sector to respond to the economic downturn.
- Commission a six month post to examine the viability of projects outlined in this paper and with wider discussion with the VCS to develop a coherent package of activity for the VCS that positively impacts on the economy of the North West.
VSNW welcomes your views on the document and actions. If you have submitted a response to the recent Government consultation on a Third Sector Action Plan, we will gladly consider aspects deliverable within the region.
Please send your thoughts to us by 28 January 2009
Email: policy@vsnw.org.uk
Featured Event
Open Public Services - Passage of a bill workshop
This VSNW/Parliamentary Outreach Service event will explore the stages that the bill would go through, their relative importance and ways to engage and influence
Featured News
Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund results announced
The beneficiaries of the £30 million fund to help transform and modernise local charity support services have been announced by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society.
Relaunch of Voluntary Sector Cuts Website
The Voluntary Sector Cuts website has now been relaunched with additional functionality to enable VCS organisations to records cuts to funding and their effects
Views sought on Department of Health draft statutory guidance
VSNW are requesting your views on draft statutory guidance as support for joint strategic needs assessments and health and wellbeing strategies
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
