Voluntary and Community Sector in Tameside

The voluntary and community sector (VCS) is engaged in all areas of the work of the Tameside Strategic Partnership and makes a significant contribution to life in Tameside.

Tameside Voice

Tameside Voice is the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Forum for Tameside borough.

It is a representative body of community, voluntary and faith organisations from across Tameside reflecting the diversity of the borough’s communities. It ranges from small groups and social clubs through to large voluntary organisations delivering services.

Tameside Voice elects voluntary and community sector representatives onto the Tameside Strategic Partnership Board, seven thematic partnerships and other partnership bodies. This enables the voluntary and community sector to contribute to partnership working in Tameside and to influence decision-making.

The diagram below shows how the Voice network is engaged with the Tameside Strategic Partnership.

Tameside Third Sector Coalition (T3SC) supports Voice representatives by providing briefing and debriefing sessions for all partnership meetings, facilitation of Voice network meetings to develop a collective voice, training and outreach work.

For more information about the voluntary and community sector in Tameside please visit the T3SC website at www.t3sc.org

Cross Sector Policy Group

The Tameside Cross Sector Policy Group was set up in 2002. It is accountable to the Tameside Strategic Partnership and the sectors represented within its membership. It was previously known as the Compact Group.

The Cross Sector Policy Group is responsible for guiding the development of the voluntary and community sector in Tameside to help ensure the delivery of the Community Strategy.

The Cross Sector Policy Group has developed a Compact Code, which sets out good practice guidelines for volunteering.

Membership of this group is drawn from key agencies and the voluntary and community sectors. Membership includes Tameside Third Sector Coalition (T3SC), Tameside Voice, local Health Trusts, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services, Greater Manchester Police and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

To find out more about the Cross Sector Policy Group , please contact Tony Okotie (Tameside Third Sector Coalition) on 0161 339 4985 or email tony.okotie@t3sc.org.

Development

In April 2008, a Development Day took place to further improve the integration of the community, voluntary faith sector into the Tameside Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership.

A range of agencies and community members who make a difference to the lives of families, and young adults in the borough, gave their views as to how this work could be moved forward. The day was independently facilitated by Julie Dugdale from VCS Engage.

The ideas that were generated on the Development Day were presented to the Tameside Children and Young People’s Partnership in June. View a copy of the presentation slides here.

For more information please visit the T3SC website.