Voluntary & Community Sector Assembly

The Voluntary Sector Assembly in Shropshire will provide a forum for representation of all interest groups and existing forums in the voluntary sector. Voluntary and community organisations deliver services to many vulnerable priority groups in the county on behalf of public sector bodies such as councils and primary care trusts.

The Government drive to encourage stronger relationships with voluntary sector organisations, now often called the Third Sector, who deliver services in partnership with public sector organisations is shaping this process.

Ensuring that all the groups who deliver services are kept informed and consulted over policies and strategies which affect them is important. The Assembly provides a medium for communication between public sector bodies and voluntary sector organisations. It will provide an information flow, networking opportunities, signposting to relevant organisations and individuals. It will support the building of the capacity of the voluntary sector to deliver services, and the capacity of the public sector to understand the unique nature of the sector and its roles and responsibilities in working in partnership.

Anyone who has not registered their details with the Assembly to receive information can do so by completing the data form which can be downloaded from the publications section on this page.

Feedback from the sector on the value of information sent out to the sector by the Assembly is very positive - here's just one example:-

"Many thanks for all the information we get from you. It is invaluable. We don't mind deleting the emails that are not relevant to us - the ones that are relevant keep us in touch with the world outside.

A group like ours can be very inward looking and focused on our members rather than seeing the wider picture. It is great when you get to know about the activities and meetings there are going on around us (and there are so many of them!) about which we have few other ways of knowing. These activities have opened doors to opportunities to promote and develop the members and the group, and have also provided useful contacts to help with funding. Your assembly has certainly helped put Autonomy on the Shropshire map." Sara Heath, Autonomy, Support for sufferers of Autism and Asperger's.

The Voluntary Sector Assembly formation is being co-ordinated by the VSA Co-ordinator. The Chair of the Interim Board of the Assembly has been formally agreed by the members of the Interim Board. It is Julia Baron, who is also CEO of the Community Council of Shropshire. Julia holds the post of Chair until formal elections are held in October 2008. The Assembly is funded by Shropshire County Council, and hosted by Shropshire Partnership
www.shropshirepartnership.org.uk
The Co-ordinator's role is to support the sector Interim Board in developing the role of the Assembly and in particular the development of Forums of Interest which will provide representatives to sit on the full Board, providing a sector wide voice.
Forums of Interest are being established to enable VCS organisations who support similar activities, have similar target client groups or deliver similar services to be able to share information that is of specific relevance to them all. It is anticipated that there may be Forums of Interest around: Health & Social Care, Children & Young People's Summit, Mental Health, Disability, Visual Impairment, Community Transport, Counselling, Advice and Advocacy, Older People, Infrastructure Organisations, VCS Learning Consortia and there has also been interest from Community Buildings voluntary groups and Shropshire Broadplaces. If you would be interested in finding out more about any of these please contact the Assembly Co-ordinator. Tel: 01743 252295.

To view the membership of the Assembly Interim Board and the Terms of Reference for the Assembly click on the relevant document in the Publications list on the right of this page. Minutes of all meetings can be viewed on the Interim Board page of this website.
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