Releasing the Potential
VCAT is working in partnership with BlueSCI, Greater Manchester Volunteering, Trafford Housing Trust, Trafford Volunteer Centre, Trafford College, Trafford Council and Trafford Community Leisure Trust to improve the way that we work collectively to support and develop the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Our proposals focus around the theme of ‘Releasing the Potential’; enabling the sector to play a key role in Trafford's future as an independent and innovative force, delivering services and identifying original solutions to the design of future services.
In order to achieve this we have identified a number of outcomes, or work streams:
A Stronger Voice, Presence and Visibility for the Third Sector in Trafford
Aims: To improve representation, networking and influencing for third sector organisations, and develop clear routes for statutory bodies and businesses to engage and work in partnership with the third sector.
VCAT will take responsibility for the Stronger Voice outcomes.
Releasing Public Service Potential
Aims: Increase the number of public service contracts delivered by the third sector by improving quality and confidence in the sector through capacity building, supporting improvements in the commissioning process, developing new consortia and exploring all community asset and social enterprise opportunities.
Work on these outcomes will be overseen by BlueSci.
Releasing Business Potential
Aims: Working to increase the involvement of the private sector in supporting local communities and third sector organisations through targeting engagement and coordinating business support.
This aspect of the contract will be delivered by Trafford Housing Trust
Releasing Civic Potential
Aims: increase the influence and contribution of residents to the well-being of their communities by targeting and coordinating support to small volunteer led organisations, improving the quality of experiences and personal development benefits of volunteering. and residents are signposted to the relevant training, information and advice for their needs.
Work towards this outcome will be delivered in partnership by VCAT and Trafford CVS & Volunteer Centre
For more information on the Releasing the Potential outcomes and activities, click here
To find out more about the partnership click here or contact Dave Nunns at dave@vcatrafford.org or on 0161 973 5741.
About the funding:
Transforming Local Infrastructure is a £30million fund which was made available by the Office of Civil Society and distributed by the Big Fund. The aim of the TLI fund is provide better support for frontline civil society organisations by transforming local infrastructure services. Releasing the Potential is the working name of the Transforming Local Infrastructure initiative in Trafford.
