Councillor Dee Simson, Cabinet Member for Community Affairs, Inclusion & Internal Relations, Roger French, Chair of The Local Strategic Partnership and Simon Fanshawe, Chair of The Economic Partnership, will be keynote speakers, alongside representatives from local government, voluntary and community groups and the private sector.
The aim of the event is to:
- Establish the key challenges faced by city residents during the current economic climate such as issues around health, employment and social care
- Find out how these needs are currently being provided for in terms of public and voluntary services
- Examine how the public and voluntary service providers, faced with reduced budgets and resources, can themselves, survive and continue to offer collaborative support
- Devise an action plan which outlines how local authorities, third sector organisations and, where appropriate, the private sector, can work together in partnership to address resident and community needs more effectively
The conference at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, is the first event of its kind in Brighton and Hove and has been co-ordinated by the third sector support organisations;
“There is a lot of expertise and knowledge within the city’s voluntary sector on how to assist hard to reach groups and communities. This sector can offer professional and specialist services in many areas such as mental health, disability, health and social care and young people. We feel that by working in partnership with the public sector and, where relevant, the private sector, the path to recession recovery for Brighton and Hove will be clearer, stronger and more successful.”
All delegates will attend specially designed workshops, practical action-planning sessions and organised networking, in order to develop better ways to work together and offer cohesive and comprehensive services.
In conclusion, the event will map the work of current recession initiatives within the city and this will feed into the development of a joint action plan that can be put into place across the city.
Simon Fanshawe, Chair of The local Economic Partnership, comments:
"The next few years will see enormous reductions in public spending, yet a demand for a level of services that government will struggle to provide. The voluntary sector will also be faced with demands to increase their productivity and their effectiveness, both in terms of cost and impact. Both sectors will have to develop better partnerships with one another to make their budgets go further. This conference is a crucial gathering that will be a reality check for the future and a chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges offered by this wholly new scenario to develop services for and with the people of Brighton and Hove.”
Who should attend?
- Voluntary organisations
- Community groups
- Social enterprises
- Statutory sector commissioners
- Public sector community liaison representatives
- Local businesses interested in assisting third sector partnerships
This event is FREE to attend and includes refreshments, lunch and networking drinks
11th June 2009
Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton,
9.30am – 5.30pm
To find out more and to book your place:
Call The Working Together Project on (01273) 234773 OR email bookings@workingtogetherproject.org.uk
ENDS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Fay MacDonald, Director, Diosa Media
07880 896 131
fay@diosamedia.com
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Community and Voluntary Sector Forum has over 500 members and provides a strong voice to ensure the community and voluntary perspective is included in decisions which affect the people who live, work and play in Brighton and Hove.
As an independent charity, it provides the space, support and information its members need to work together and influence local policies and practices.
Its specialist projects around children and young people, community empowerment, and health and social care bring together members who are experts in their fields, to drive up the standards of services available to local people and communities
http://www.cvsectorforum.org.uk/
Sally Hiscock, CEO, CVSF
+44 (0)1273 234000
info@cvsectorforum.org.uk
The Working Together Project (WTP) is dedicated to meeting the workforce development and community capacity building needs of the Third Sector and the Public Sector by offering a wide range of creative and partnership based training, learning and education. WTP is committed to community empowerment, reducing inequality and improving services to disadvantaged people and communities
http://www.workingtogetherproject.org.uk/
Paul Bramwell, Chair, Working Together Project
+44 (0)1273 234773
enquiries@workingtogetherproject.org.uk
