Following the publication of Kent County Council’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) policy in September last year, a new service is being introduced to provide support to voluntary sector organisations in the county.
The service is being funded by KCC, as a direct result of this policy which lays out KCC’s future relationship with the voluntary and community sector.
This includes a new grant framework to be used across the authority and the principles which underpin future support to the sector.
Whilst the policy committed KCC to supporting future infrastructure to the sector, it also recognised the need for the model to be redesigned to make it work better.
KCC worked with local infrastructure organisations, including volunteer centres and Council for Voluntary Services, and other stakeholders to design the outcomes and model of delivery for a new service.
The new service will be delivered by Stronger Kent Communities, a consortium of organisations, and will start on January 1 covering the whole county.
Stronger Kent Communities and is made up of a number of partners including Funding for All, Kent CAN, Action with Communities in Rural Kent and a number of the Volunteer Centres from across Kent.
It is funded for at least three years, although it is intended to create a sustainable model of support for the VCS in Kent in the longer term.
The service is intended to:
- Provide Business Support to the sector, ensuring that Kent’s voluntary sector is supported to grow and develop, enabling local residents to enjoy a good quality of life, and more people to benefit from greater social, cultural and sporting opportunities.
- Provide Volunteering and Social Action opportunities for individuals to contribute to their community which are accessible to all regardless of their skills, time or capacity.
- Ensure that the sector is represented well and that there is greater two-way communication between the voluntary and public sector.
More information about the service and support available can be found via the website http://www.kentcan.org/
Alternately, voluntary and community organisations can learn more about this service and access support. Call 01227 467230 or email [email protected] .
