Introduction

In 2007 Warwickshire Rural Community Council acting as the accountable body for CWIC submitted a funding bid through Round 1 of the BIG Lottery Fund BASIS (Building and Sustaining Infrastructure Services) programme to undertake the strategic development of an Assembly for the Coventry and Warwickshire voluntary and community sector.

The development of a Voluntary Sector Assembly was planned by the Consortium to enable the voluntary and community sector in Coventry and Warwickshire to have increased influence on local, regional and national policies and practice. The Assembly will also provide increased opportunities for the sharing of knowledge and increasing learning as skills and experience are developed in both infrastructure and other voluntary and community organisations.

The bid was successful and contracts awarded to Voluntary Action Coventry(VAC) and Warwickshire Community and Voluntary action(WCAVA) to develop the Assembly in the city and the county respectively.

Warwickshire Assembly

The Warwickshire Voluntary & Community Sector Assembly (the Assembly) is founded on the need for a collective, well defined route to engagement between voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and public and statutory bodies throughout the county of Warwickshire. It is based on the belief that collective representation is more influential than a series of individual voices, and that cooperation generates shared strength through a pooling of energy, ideas and resources.

Please follow the link to our web site: www.warwickshireassembly.org.uk

It provides a means of support to enable voluntary and community organisations throughout Warwickshire to exchange information, share ideas and good practice and influence decision making and policy making decisions at local and Countywide levels by building

Coventry Assembly

The purpose of the Coventry Third Sector Assembly is: To strengthen the influence of the Third Sector within the local decisionmaking frameworks by:

• Exploring issues of common concern
• Identifying solutions
• Proactively advocating Third Sector opinions and solutions
• Establishing appropriate local listening & consultation mechanisms

Whilst having regard for existing local structures and forums. The Coventry Third Sector Assembly is aiming to create an environment in which the Third Sector has both a formal mechanism as well as increased capacity to influence local, regional and national policies and practices.

For more information on the work of the Coventry Third Sector Assembly please visit www.vacoventry.org.uk or telephone Voluntary Action Coventry on 024 7622 0381.

WRCC - Big Lottery Fund Mid Year Report

Big Lottery Fund Reports