We’re delighted to let you know that the National Lottery has recently awarded us two years funding to help build a resilient, impactful voluntary sector to support West Lancashire communities.  This work was further boosted last month when West Lancashire Borough Council awarded us funding from their UK Shared Prosperity Funds.

Over the next two years, we’ll continue our support services to West Lancs groups delivering vital front line services, and connecting with local communities, whilst also taking some time to reassess our strategic direction and re-establish our networking and representation functions.

We’ll be reviewing our 50 year old model of working to make sure it is fit for going forward, to continue to serve, connect and support the communities of West Lancs, and we’ll be gathering your views on how we can best serve you.

Specifically under this new work, we will be:

• Building a new West Lancs Third Sector Network to ensure a clear local voice on key issues. A strongly rooted voluntary sector network is vital to strengthen the sector’s voice, connect communities and influence key decision-makers and funders
• Continuing our capacity building support to groups – helping groups with funding advice and support, information dissemination, and organisational support
• Continuing and expanding our volunteer recruitment and support work, to link people with local volunteering opportunities
• Redefining and firming up our CVS membership services
• Re-establishing and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and identifying partnership projects
• Reviewing and reinvigorating the foundations of our organisation to make it fit for the next 50 years. This includes strengthening the organisation internally – reviewing our governance and management structures, and developing a business plan for the next 5 years

We’re excited about this opportunity to build firm foundations in conjunction with the talented and inspiring West Lancs third sector, and to re-engage and refocus our work – to enable communities in West Lancs to grow and thrive.