This developing partnership provides a strategic network for Voluntary, Community, Faith organisations, Not-for-Profits and Social Enterprise leaders in central Lancashire (Chorley, South Ribble and Preston)
Members meet regularly with a specific purpose to raise the profile, increase the understanding and promote the value of organisations and groups meeting need and delivering services in central Lancashire.
It aims to develop and grow new opportunities, using evidence from and connections of its members, who will work collaboratively, share learning and support the whole sector to improve quality and sustainability.
Central Lancashire’s “VCSE Reset & Build Programme” is a piece of work on behalf of Central Lancashire VCSE Leader’s Partnership and the Central Lancashire Place-based Partnership – part of the Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care System.
Based on the “Building Forward Together” Programme in Hull, it aims to develop a new relationship between Central’s voluntary and community sector and its public sector partners. The first phase of this work “Reset” was to set up four working groups focused on four key areas of work:
- Future commissioning, investment and sustainability
- VCSE Support and Development
- Volunteering
- Workforce
Each group was supported by the Open University’s Knowledge Exchange Scheme and were asked to review how things worked at the moment and identify opportunities for thinking and working differently, following an Appreciative Enquiry model. 16 workshops took place between September and November 2021 involving a diversity of VCSE organisations and resulted in this report. After a robust review and prioritisation process by VCSE participants, the report and its key recommendations were presented at the Central Lancashire Place-based Partnership meeting on December 9th, 2021.
Central Lancashire’s Place-based Partnership recognised the value of this work and the significant role the voluntary and community sector will play moving forward. All of the recommendations within the report have been agreed and we now move to Phase Two “Build” in the New Year, looking at how the recommendations and actions outlined can be implemented. This will be supported by further engagement and other opportunities for voluntary and community sector representatives to become involved in shaping this work.
If you would like any further information about the work of the Reset & Build Programme, or would like to be involved in the next stage, please contact Joe Hannett, Partnership Development Manager for Community Futures joeh@communityfutures.org.uk