Shropshire’s voluntary organisations and local businesses confirm new working relationship
News from our partners Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly
The key role of the voluntary and community sector in the social and economic future of the region has been officially recognised by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (MLEP).
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the LEP and the bodies which represent the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
The agreement will help all of the partners to work together in the most effective way, ensuring the benefits each can bring to individual initiatives, as well as to overall economic and social development, will be incorporated in both the planning and delivery of projects.
Marches Local Enterprise Partnership board member, Mandy Thorn, who signed the agreement on behalf of the organisation, said:
“The Marches, comprised of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, is home to 4,109 registered voluntary sector organisations and 2,418 small, informal community groups. The Marches LEP Board recognises the importance of the voluntary and community sector, not only as a deliverer of support for local people but also its contribution to the local economy through volunteering, attracting inward investment and as a local employer.”
Speaking at the signing, Councillor Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s lead for the voluntary sector and Cabinet member for libraries, leisure and culture, said:
“Working together across the public, private and voluntary sectors will allow us to better understand the support local communities need and to collectively access new opportunities.”
Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is a private and public sector partnership working across the council areas of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin. The new working relationship with the area’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector is supported by Shropshire’s Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly, Telford and Wrekin Council for Voluntary Services, and Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Service.
The Memorandum of Understanding is based on the national Compact, a document that sets out good practice in cross-sector working and commissioning relationships. It aims to achieve effective and transparent design of policy, programmes and public services, and clear arrangements for managing change. It promotes an equal and fair society, and a strong, diverse and independent voluntary sector.
The official recognition by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and the voluntary and community groups builds on months of work already completed to put together a joint strategy that promotes economic growth and social benefits. The next phase of this work will be to put those plans to work in boosting the economy of the region.
More information about cross-sector working or any of the partnership bodies involved is available from the Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly by email at VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk or by calling 01743 252740.
