Your voice: the Gloucestershire Assembly for the Voluntary and Community Sector


What is the Gloucestershire VCS Assembly?

Download an A4 poster about the Gloucestershire VCS Assembly here (pdf format).

Download our 2010 Position Statements here (pdf format)

The Gloucestershire Assembly for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) is a mechanism for facilitating partnership working between the VCS and the public sector at a strategic level in Gloucestershire.  It is termed the VCS Assembly for short.

The VCS Assembly aims to strengthen and support the VCS in Gloucestershire, by providing an arena for discussion and a strategic voice for the Sector.  It has decided to use the term VCS instead of ‘third sector’ or ‘social purpose organisations’ to describe the Sector.

The VCS Assembly is nationally viewed as an example of good practice in enabling VCS engagement in multi-sector partnership work and it has made a significant difference in improving life for the people of Gloucestershire.

The VCS Assembly Team supports and facilitates the VCS Assembly, co-ordinating meetings of the VCS Assembly Board, its themed strategic groups and related events.


Who is it for?

The VCS Assembly includes any VCO working in the county. All VCOs are automatically members of the VCS Assembly, and are entitled to receive information, attend events organised by the VCS Assembly Team or to respond to consultations as they feel appropriate.

The VCS Assembly meets in full at least once a year.  This meeting is open to any VCO in the county, with the theme of the meeting being drawn from suggestions put forward by the sector.

The VCS Assembly’s annual event is supported by the VCS Assembly Team.


How does it work?

The Assembly will meet in full at least once a year.  This meeting will be open to any VCO in the county, and the theme of the meeting will be drawn from suggestions put forward by the sector.

The Assembly has identified several VCS Strategy Groups and forums, either issue or district based and each are eligible to elect a representative onto the Assembly Board. The Board meets at least four times a year to discuss issues of relevance to the sector, and to co-ordinate voluntary and community sector representation on countywide strategic partnerships.

There are currently 4 funded VCS Strategy Groups which form part of the Assembly Structures. These are points of contact and information around the following areas:   Children and Young People, Environment, and Health and Community Wellbeing, and Safer and Stronger Communities.  These groups meet as when required.  The Assembly is also supporting an Equalities and Diversity Advisory Group.


More on the Assembly

See the Assembly Documents and the Assembly News page.

 

How can you get involved or find out more?

  • By finding out and contacting who represents your issue or district on the Board

  • By signing up to a VCS Strategy Group mailing list or attending one of their meetings

  • By checking these resources

  • By checking out the details on this website

  • By contacting:

The Gloucestershire Assembly Team
c/o GAVCA
75-81 Eastgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 1PN
Tel: 01452 522600
or by emailing