Issue - meetings

This report presented the Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy that set the direction as to how the Council, along with its partners, would work with the Voluntary and Community Sector in Medway.

The strategy, which complemented and supported Medway’s Sustainable Community Strategy, focussed on four key outcomes for Medway:

·        The existence of a vibrant sector that supports the community

·        Voluntary and community sector organisations being supported and able to be sustainable

·        Voluntary and community sector partners feeling able to influence, and contribute to, developments in Medway as real partners

·        A rewarding experience for those that work and volunteer in the voluntary and community sector.

The action being undertaken in these areas, together with details of what needed to be done and how the success of this would be measured, was set out.

It was noted that the strategy had been developed following a series of meetings with the key sector representatives and consultation events with VOICE, the representative body for the voluntary and community sector in Medway. The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee had also considered the strategy on 16 December 2010 and their recommendations were set out in the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening form had been completed and was attached to the report. It was noted that a full diversity impact assessment was not required.

Reasons:

The voluntary and community sector plays a vital role at a grassroots level, as it provides important services and support that may prevent people from needing to access significantly more costly services and support.

Given the Coalition Government’s view of the Big Society and the role of the citizen and the voluntary and community sector within it; supporting the sector in Medway to help itself to be sustainable, in order that it is able to continue to support the communities in Medway, will be of vital importance.