Change Up

The Capacity Builders Change Up programme came to an end 31/3/11. This funding, over a number of years, developed the West of England Consortium. The consortium is made up of a number of infrastructure organisations working in Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. South Gloucestershire CVS, DEVELOP, Voluntary Action North Somerset, Black Development Agency, Community Action and The Care Forum worked collaboratively to lead on sustainable infrastructure development and also to support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to deliver effective front line services. The consortium achieved a stronger representational voice for the sector working with local strategic partnerships and the West of England Partnership. Local fora and steering groups provided strong mechanisms for information to flow between the public sector and the voluntary and community sector. Funding brought in by the consortium from BASIS enabled an equalities project “Reaching Out-Linking In” to work with organisations supporting seldom heard groups.
Although the funding from Capacity Builders came to an end in March 2011, the consortium decided to continue its work, extending its reach to Bristol organisations to ensure that the good work already done was not lost. A number of resources such as the consortium website continue, and the partner organisations will continue to support the sector across the West of England area.

For more information go to: www.changeupwestofengland.org.uk

“delivering high quality support services to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.”

© copyright The Care Forum 2011