Calderdale Council’s commitment to the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE), has been recognised as part of the launch of the UK Government’s Civil Society Covenant.
The Civil Society Covenant(external link) is a set of principles to build effective relationships between central and local government, and organisations such as voluntary, faith and community groups.
Calderdale Council has a proud record of supporting and working in partnership with a thriving and resilient VCSE sector. The Council’s VCSE strategy features as one of eight case studies as part of the Covenant’s launch, used to demonstrate the existing work taking place across the country to support and work in partnership with a range of organisations.
In Calderdale, the VCSE sector is a key part of the local economy, employing over 5,000 people, and supporting 13,000 as volunteers.
Development of a VCSE strategy was one of the six key recommendations from the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Review of Calderdale Council that took place in 2023. This reflected the Council’s ongoing commitment to working in partnership with the sector.
A VCSE strategy has been co-produced with partners from across the VCSE sector, Calderdale Council and the Calderdale Cares Board. It sets out the shared vision for the sector and how the partnership works together, providing a focus for future work.
The strategy covers five years with long-term aims, priorities and actions which have been informed following a long process of listening, engagement and review. The overall aim of the strategy is to support partnership working to ensure that there is a flourishing, sustainable local VCSE sector that enables people to live larger life.
The Council has also embedded the recognition of the VCSE’s role in multiple other strategies in the borough. A key example is the Inclusive Economy Strategy, which sees a thriving VCSE sector as fundamental to achieving an inclusive economy.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said:
“The newly launched national Civil Society Covenant is about giving charity a home in local and central government, and recognising the important contribution of the many voluntary, faith and community groups across the country.
“The principles of this important commitment align with our VCSE Strategy, which aims to build upon our existing strong partnership with the sector. The strategy, which was developed with partners from the sector, supports the development of shared principles, values and behaviours and identifies key priority areas for action.
“I’m very proud that this work features as part of the toolkit launching the national Covenant, an endorsement of the excellent work taking place across the borough to support this important sector.”
To find out more about the Calderdale VCSE Strategy, visit new.calderdale.gov.uk/communities/grants/voluntary-organisations/vcse-strategy(external link). A thriving voluntary sector supports the key themes of the Vision 2034 ambitions for the borough as a kind and welcoming place full of hope, helping us thrive and get us through testing times. More at new.calderdale.gov.uk/council/our-vision/vision-2034(external link)