Rural Voluntary & Community Activity

David WoodContact: 01473 242546

david.wood@RuralActionEast.org.ukwww.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)- 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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Core BusinessRural renaissance & regenerationEnhancement of the quality of life

For all in rural communitiesAchieved by

• Community development Individual development Access to funding

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