The Gloucester VCS Forum is an informal gathering of voluntary and community organisations which work in the city of Gloucester. The Forum meets at least four times a year, and any Gloucester-based voluntary group can attend.
For dates of any forthcoming meetings, please click here.
Aims
- To bring together voluntary and community groups who work in Gloucester, to share information, experience, skills and good practice.
- To provide one mechanism for the voluntary and community sector in Gloucester to have a strategic voice, ensuring that its collective views are considered and have an influence on planning and policy decisions.
- To provide one channel of communication into the voluntary and community sector for the statutory and business sectors.
- To strengthen, support and develop the voluntary and community sector in Gloucester.
See below for the terms of reference.
Objectives
The Gloucester Community and Voluntary Sector Forum will achieve these aims by:
- Encouraging the widest possible range of organisations to take part in the Forum, by making it accessible and welcoming in physical and all other ways, and by promoting Equal Opportunities principles and practices amongst all groups within the Voluntary and Community Sector.
- Keeping abreast of political, social, economic and legal developments which may have an impact on the work of the VCS in Gloucester and disseminating this information as widely as possible.
- Providing a co-ordinated response on key issues affecting the VCS in Gloucester, including the Community strategy, the Gloucester Partnership and other relevant local plans and policies.
- Encouraging and developing partnership working and sharing of knowledge within the VCS and between the VCS and the statutory and private sectors.
- Identifying specific concerns and issues and organising meetings to address these.
- Inviting any representatives from relevant organisations, who will help to promote and advance the aims of the Forum, to attend meetings.
- Electing, from the membership of the forum, representatives onto local partnerships and other Boards as required.
- Providing an accountability mechanism for these elected VCS representatives to report back to, and consult with the VCS.
- Contributing to and supporting the development of the Gloucestershire Compact or other protocols designed to improve relationships between the public and voluntary sectors.
- Identifying issues for GAVCA to follow up and report back on.
- Raising funds through grants, donations, contributions or subscriptions, if appropriate.
Membership
The Forum is an informal structure, organised by GAVCA. It is open to all voluntary and community groups who are based in or work in Gloucester City. Each organisation may send up to two representatives to Forum meetings.
Meetings
The Forum will meet at least four times a year, although additional meetings may be called to consider urgent agenda items. GAVCA will, prepare for and notify VCOs of each meeting, facilitate the meetings and will report back in form of minutes and reports. You can find the minutes of previous meetings, below. |
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