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Rural Voluntary & Community Activity

Rural Voluntary & Community Activity. David Wood Contact: 01473 242546 david.wood@RuralActionEast.org.uk www.RuralActionEast.org.uk. What is the Voluntary & Community Sector?. VCS comprises: Organisations set up to help those in need Not part of government (public sector)

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Rural Voluntary & Community Activity

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  1. Rural Voluntary & Community Activity David Wood Contact: 01473 242546 david.wood@RuralActionEast.org.uk www.RuralActionEast.org.uk

  2. What is the Voluntary & Community Sector? • VCS comprises: • Organisations set up to help those in need • Not part of government (public sector) • Not for profit (private sector) • “The Third Sector” • Voluntary • Formal constituted body. May be registered charity • May be registered Company Limited by Guarantee • May have associated trading companies • Employ staff; Use volunteers • Rural Action East, MENTER, COVER • Age Concern, Oxfam, Scope, etc

  3. The VCS? • Community • Individuals tackling issue for their local community • Unpaid volunteers • Play group, disabled swimming club,village hall management committee,Friends of Rushmere primary school • What is a Parish Council? • Raises precept: Local authority? • Locally based, all volunteers: Community Group?

  4. More VCS! • Social Enterprises • Organisations that engage in not-for-profit business • Eg Co-ops; Community Enterprises; Social Firms,Credit Unions • Registered Social Landlords • Community Interest Companies • Not charities but trading for social purposes • Variable; Varying; Diverse; Vast in number

  5. Rural Settlements • 80% East of England is rural • ~50% people live in rural areas & growing • Geographic isolation • Small, dispersed, insular communities • Remote from political influence • Lack of services • Rural premium for local provision • Lack of transport for remote access

  6. Rural Communities • Dispersed, hidden social exclusion • Facilities for children & youth • Isolation of elderly • Low unemployment but low value, low skill jobs • In-migration of older affluent professionals • Quality of life • Out-migration of young individuals families • Employment • Lack of affordable housing • High reliance on voluntary & community activity

  7. Rural (Community) VCS • Fill gap in public service provision • Community centres, transport, youth clubs, waste recycling • Fill gap in private service provision • Sub POs, village stores, ICT access points • Need proactive work to build their capacity • Facilities and training • Advice on governance • Connections with external agencies/networks • Access to grants

  8. Support to Rural VCS • Community-focused, integrated service • Universal support for groups, communities and individuals (generic advice) • Interaction between groups in community • Connections with specialist support • Involvement in direct service delivery • Delivery of delegated grants • Advocacy for political influence and investment

  9. Policy Context • Community activists (volunteers) • Community engaged policy • LSP community strategies • Community involved delivery • Market town regeneration partnerships • Social enterprises • Partnership Delivery • Local Area Agreements (LAAs) • Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS)

  10. Rural Action East &Rural Community Councils • Network of independent charities • Considerable experience & sustainability • 10 to 85 years in our region • Whole county coverage • Social Inclusion / Hard-to-reach • Extensive network of out-reach workers • Holistic approach to community development • Specialised rural focus • Service delivery • Infrastructure support to VCS

  11. East of England RCC Network • Staff ~174 • Many with above average qualifications • Turnover ~ £6.55M • Funds leveraged ~£22M • Partnerships ~ 180 • Communities supported ~1,500 • Voluntary organisations helped ~6,000 • Resources – meeting rooms, literature • Publications – reports, mags, notes, web sites

  12. Core Business • Rural renaissance & regeneration • Enhancement of the quality of life • For all in rural communities • Achieved by • Community development • Individual development • Access to funding

  13. RCC Activities • Community Support • Informal & informal groups & volunteers • Community Planning • Parish Plans, Rural Housing Enablers, LDF • Technical Support • Training & advice, eg ICT, child protection policies • Rural Services & Facilities • Rural transport, shops, social enterprises • Representation & Policy Development • Local, regional & national

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