Swale Voluntary Alliance

Published Wednesday 11 October, 2023
Last updated on Wednesday 11 October, 2023

Local charities can help secure their future by getting involved with a new alliance, thanks to Swale Borough Council funding.

The Swale Voluntary Alliance has received £125,000 to work towards ensuring the future financial stability of the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations.

The money has come from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to invest in communities, support local businesses and help people by promoting skills.

Swale charities rely on funding and donations to continue operating and have suffered a massive knock due to covid and the cost-of-living crisis, which has meant people have less to give.

The council hosted interactive workshops and one-to-one interviews with VCS organisations in the borough to understand exactly what help they need to ensure their future.

Mark Hinton, the former CEO at Citizens Advice Swale, has been appointed to manage the project, which aims to address the below identified concerns of the sector:

• sustainability
• access to resources
• communication
• training

The alliance aims to address these concerns through:

Creating impactful partnerships – allowing VCS organisations to share resources, ideas and knowledge and work together towards the same aims that benefit the community.

Improved networking and communication – promote communication across the borough and give organisations of all sizes a voice. Promoting collaborative working and resource sharing.

Closing the gap – identifying opportunities for training and development and helping these organisations access funding.

Planning for the future – helping VCS organisations manage and plan for financial wellbeing and create a shared vision for the future, allowing the sector to strengthen, grow and become more resilient.

The alliance will receive £50,000 for the period of 2023/24 and an additional £75,000 for the period of 2024/2025.

Local charities and other VCS organisations of any size are invited to collaborate with the alliance, share their knowledge, and work together to create a sustainable future for the VCS.

Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of the Community Committee said:

“Charities are incredibly important to us, offering vital help to the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“And we as a council do our best to assist organisations that are making our borough a better place, whether through funding like this or shared initiatives.

“We had discussions with local charities to see what help they needed; they are facing issues with sustainability, access to resources, communication and training.

“We have given funding to the newly formed Swale Voluntary Alliance whose goal will be to help solve these problems.

“This is a great opportunity for the charities of our borough to work together, share ideas and resources and ensure a bright future for the Voluntary and Community Sector in Swale.”

The alliance will be based in the office space at Swale Community & Voluntary Services and Medway Voluntary Action, who are both members of the alliance.

And can soon be contacted via manager@swalevoluntaryalliance.co.uk