What is the Voluntary Sector Forum?
The Voluntary Sector Forum is the formally structured body and meeting which allows all Voluntary and Community Sector Groups delivering services within / to Bath and North East Somerset to come together to address important strategic issues affecting the sector. It is the formal voting body for the sector.
Minutes of the VSF meetings can be found in our Events Archive on the News & Events Page.
Why Do We Need a
Voluntary Sector Forum (VSF)?
In Bath
& North East Somerset we need to identify the key issues which affect
all voluntary and community groups and work together to develop a
constructive and realistic response. We can best do this by talking to
one another, developing a strong, clear, united voice and deciding how
to effectively take issues forward. The Voluntary Sector Forum does this
and is the official channel for consultations with statutory
organisations. The Voluntary Sector Forum has recently developed a
working executive called the
VCS Steering Group. The VCS
Steering Group takes forward issues raised by the VSF. Both the
Voluntary Sector Forum and the VCS Steering Group are co-ordinated and
chaired by B&NES CVS.
Relationship of Voluntary Sector Forum to other Networks /Fora
There are many partnership groups, networks and fora across Bath & North East Somerset, but the Voluntary Sector Forum is the single Forum to which every Voluntary and Community group can belong. The VSF offers a key level of partnership working with the focus on developing ACTION based responses. All Voluntary and Community Groups are invited and encouraged to attend VSF meetings and to formally become members of the Voluntary Sector Forum. In joining the Voluntary Sector Forum your organisation will also, automatically, become members of B&NES CVS. It is a dual membership system and is entirely FREE. To obtain a membership application form click here.
Core Strategy Consultation. The Voluntary Sector Steering Group have issued their response to the Bath & North East Somerset Council's Core Strategy Draft Consultation which closed Monday 17 December 2007. To read the Core Strategy and the VCS Steering Group's response please go the The VCS Steering Group webpage.
North Harbour Consultancy Report - to read the final report and the Voluntary Sector Steering Group's response please go to The Publications/Documents webpage.
VCS Steering Group Report to the Voluntary Sector Forum on 4 March 2008. Click here.