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Crewe and Nantwich Voluntary Action .
Ashton House, 1a
Gatefield Street, Crewe, CW1 2JP
Tel / Fax: 01270 211545 Registered Charity No. 506632
December 2008
COMMUNITY
‘Supporting Communities across Crewe and Nantwich’
Merry Christmas to you all!
I want to update you with regard to new developments in the Third Sector following the Local Government Review. We have been looking closely at how best to move forward as a sector to help ensure that there is representation and dialogue at all levels between ourselves and our statutory sector partners.
Following a Cheshire East meeting for Third Sector organisations in June a Steering Group has been working to establish an overarching network to act as a point of contact and consultative body into the Third Sector for the new Unitary Authority. The Steering Group has been made up of a diverse group of representatives from community and voluntary groups across Cheshire East and is chaired by Sue Pattinson from the Disability Information Bureau in Macclesfield.
At the meeting in June is was clear from participants that the sector wanted to maintain it’s three local networks/forums and that these should feed into a wider, more strategic and formal, overarching parent group. We have been working towards this goal and have now reached agreement on several parts of this process. There is still some way to go but the process has been dynamic and has a timescale for completion that fits with the unitary timetable for a start date at April 1st 2009.
The initial part of the process involved comparing and contrasting the Terms of Reference for the three local networks. It was important that these were rationalised in order to provide a solid and equitable base for members from Crewe and Nantwich, Macclesfield District and Congleton Districts and to be able to access and take part in the wider process. The three local networks have now agreed to the new shared Terms of Reference.
The second stage of the process was then to look at models for how we wanted the parent group to be constituted. This has been an important discussion as the model chosen needed to encompass as full a representation as possible and at the same time be able to function at a high strategic level. The model that has been adopted by the three networks will be constituted of representatives voted through their local networks and also representatives from other communities of interest across the Borough. This means members not only from specialist networks (for example older people, disability, and advocacy) but also organisations that work in broad fields (for example infrastructure, rurality, and environment) will be a part of the parent group. This will provide a truly open process and an able parent group that will be able to represent the Third Sector. This model also fits with the adopted Framework for the Third Sector that the Shadow Cabinet across Cheshire East has agreed.
The name that has been agreed by the Steering group for this wider parent group is: CHESHIRE EAST CONGRESS
We have now begun the process of agreeing the Terms of Reference for the Congress which has as a priority a way to establish a method for a good flow of information into the Third Sector from this grouping though the local networks and to take information back to our Unitary Authority partners. The Congress will form the conduit for communication. There will in addition, of course, be the opportunity at both a local and neighbourhood level for local groups to get involved in local strategic partnership activities. Please see and respond to the attached consultation document.
The Steering Group is also looking at ways to join up the Compact Working groups across Cheshire East and is working with our statutory partners with the aim of forging a new Compact document for the new boundary area. The Steering Group meets regularly and if you feel you would like to get involved please contact Crewe and Nantwich Voluntary Action. If you are unable to attend there is also a mailing list for information and minutes of the meetings. Again, if you would like more information please do get in touch.
Volunteer Survey
We carried out a recent survey on every volunteer who has been seen in the Centre since April 2008. A report will be produced in the near future and we will share the findings in our next edition.
Accreditation Results
We are thrilled to report that our Accreditation Portfolio that we submitted in September 2008 has passed with flying colours. This means that as a Volunteer Centre we are complying with the core functions, as laid down by Volunteer England, which are Brokerage, Marketing, Good Practice, Developing Opportunities, Policy Response & Campaigning and Strategic Development.
Supporting Volunteers…….what we are doing
This year has seen a slight increase in resources at the Volunteer Centre and we decided to show our thanks to all those people who have come through our front door or enquire about volunteering through the do-it website.
Some of you may already by aware, but our very own Sue Brown is retiring at the end of January 2009. We uncover a few facts here….
Yes, I must admit that all the above is true.
The Time has come the walrus said to speak of many things, of shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings ……. Well, not quite that, but the time has come for me to leave Crewe and Nantwich Voluntary Action. I started here long ago as an Admin Assistant and after four years I was asked if I would join the Volunteer Bureau as it was then, and interview the volunteers.
It has been my privilege to meet many, many interesting people during that time, some of whom I still remember very clearly. It was so rewarding to find a placement for a volunteer that changed their life completely, some even finding paid work. It was also good to know the Managers and Co-Ordinators from the organisations I referred the volunteers to. I shall miss talking to them and wish them all the best in the future.
I have enjoyed my time at CNVA and will take with me good memories of all the staff. As with all things in life, if you say hallo, there comes a time to say goodbye and it is now my time to say goodbye. This I do with a lot of sadness but also with a sense of excitement and look forward positively to the next few years.
Wishing Sue a happy and healthy retirement.
Details will follow in the New Year of how you can join us to celebrate this occasion.
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