A meeting of the working group at Sunderland today. Much to be done but lots of commitment and readiness around the table.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East)
An update on the Single LIO Project for Sunderland Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance (SVSA) and VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY ACTION SUNDERLAND (VCAS) are working together to create a single, strong local infrastructure organisation (LIO) to support Sunderland’s VCSE sector and the communities it serves.
In April, the two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding, committing to closer communication and cooperation as this work progresses.
In July, SVSA and VCAS jointly appointed Durham-based consultancy Continuum CIC to provide independent support. Lead consultants Jeanette Harold and Simon Underwood bring extensive experience of working with the VCSE sector, including in Sunderland, and recently supported voluntary organisations in Darlington to consider future infrastructure arrangements.
Jeanette says: “We are really pleased and excited to be working with these organisations in Sunderland and look forward to supporting them to create the single, dynamic local infrastructure organisation the city deserves.”
Over the summer, Continuum began gathering information from both organisations and planning the next stages of the work. In early September, they met with the respective chairs and lead officers to develop a clearer understanding of the current position. The ambition shared by everyone is to have the single organisation established by the beginning of the new financial year, in April 2027.
A joint working group, bringing together members of SVSA and VCAS, is now being established to co-produce a business plan for the single organisation. Sunderland’s VCSE sector makes a significant social and economic contribution to the city, supporting local services, volunteering and resilient communities. The priority is therefore to progress this work efficiently and establish a strong, effective infrastructure organisation that can provide the support the sector and Sunderland’s communities need.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
