Voluntary Infrastructure Service

The city of Southend-on-Sea has a vibrant and diverse voluntary, community and faith sector. This sector stood up to support communities during COVID 19, providing a swift and flexible response to support people during the pandemic. In the age of austerity, as funding tightens and demand for services rise, the statutory and public sector needs more than ever to work in collaboration with the voluntary sector who can save the public sector money when delivering services. To help this sector thrive and grow there is even more of a need for an infrastructure organisation to bring support, coordination and growth to this sector. We are therefore looking to procure an infrastructure organisation for Southend that will deliver communities within the city that are resilient and thriving; a robust and thriving network of local voluntary and community organisations and support for people to volunteer and contribute back to the community. We are also looking for an organisation that ensures that can deliver the other following outcomes: The third sector (VCFSE) are actively engaged in decisions/policy/direction of the City and attend Council and key partner meetings to inform and influence; There is increased income into Southend’s third sector (VCFSE) to support growth and sustainability; there is a strong network amongst the third sector members (VCFSE) in the City with evidence of collaboration and asset sharing; The third sector (VCFSE) receive quality communication about Council, and other key partner activities in Southend; There are clear and diverse volunteering opportunities across the City that residents are matched to and if needed supported in; The third sector (VCFSE) has good governance in place; There is evidence that funding invested through the Community Investment Fund improves the capacity and resilience of the City. We are committed to supporting the sector by providing the infrastructure provider with a five plus five year contract to bring about stability, there is also the commitment to work with the provider to attract more funding that may come available.