Voluntary, Community and Social enterprise (VCSE) Infrastructure and Volunteering Support Services

Staffordshire County Council is looking to re-commission its support for the voluntary sector in Staffordshire, with the new contract expected to commence from May 2016. We want to support the sector to adapt to a changing public sector environment, help build capacity in the sector, develop volunteering across the county and support VCSE organisations to grow.

Since 2013, a Provider has been commissioned to provide infrastructure and volunteering support across Staffordshire. Infrastructure support involves strategic engagement and representation for local voluntary sector groups and organisations, as well as one-to-one development and support for issues such as business planning and fundraising etc. Volunteering support involves providing organisations with advice and guidance as well as helping to match volunteers with local opportunities, and in addition supporting voluntary organisations to become ‘volunteer ready’ by providing support with recruiting and managing volunteers.

Another Provider has also been commissioned to offer specialist support to voluntary sector organisations with a focus on youth provision. This support enables groups both to start up and become safe, strong and sustainable in the longer term, using a self assessment quality assurance process (Outcomes Dial) that targets support to where it is needed most.

These support services include access to accommodation and small grants, free or low cost training, promotion and representation, networking and up to date information, advice and guidance on a range of relevant issues. Over the coming weeks and months we will be talking to our partners in the public and private sector about how best to commission this support moving forward.

Interested parties will be invited to a market feedback session in late June / early July (date TBC) to discuss the potential specification and to provide an opportunity to ask any further questions. To register your interest please visit the e-tender site Alito, the link is http://www.staffordshire.alito.co.uk/.

Once you have registered you will receive updates including when the procurement process starts. For the avoidance of doubt this is not a call for competition, it is a pre-procurement market engagement.