Voluntary and community groups within County Durham often need support, help and advice on various issues and the way that help is administered has changed.
From now on Durham County Council and key statutory partners including the Health Service (NHS County Durham) and Durham Constabulary have changed the way they fund support and development services to the voluntary and community sector.
It’s hoped changes will ensure a consistent, cost effective, countywide range of services delivered locally.
Larger groups such as charities and smaller organisations like lunch clubs and youth clubs often ask for help with setting up a constitution or managing their finances and historically, prior to Local Government Reorganisation in 2009, this was down to several organisations which worked across the districts.
Following a report to the Council’s Cabinet in December 2011, a group consisting of representatives from groups including Durham County Council Cabinet members was set up to look at the best way of funding a more effective and streamlined service.
For an initial period, until March next year, Durham Rural Community Council (DRCC) working in collaboration with Chester-le-Street Council for Voluntary Services and Volunteer Bureau will lead on providing support to voluntary groups.
Councillor Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We are very pleased to support DRCC to lead these new delivery arrangements to ensure that frontline community groups receive the help they need.
“In these challenging times for us all, the council and our partners are working together to ensure that our limited resources are used efficiently to provide the best quality services for the people of County Durham”.
Jo Laverick, executive director of Durham Rural Community Council, said: “DRCC is delighted to be playing a key role in the new delivery arrangements for County Durham.
“Working with our partners we will ensure that frontline voluntary and community groups continue to receive the quality advice and support that they need, whilst delivering greater efficiency for our funders at a time of limited resources.”
People representing voluntary and community groups on the ground shouldn’t notice any significant changes and will still be able to access services locally with the added value from the availability of specialist staff from other areas that can help with issues requiring more intensive support or expertise which may not be available locally.
During this period Durham Rural Community Council and Chester-le-Street CVS will continue to work with East Durham Trust; CAVOS; 2D; Durham City CVS; and Derwentside CVS to help provide a co-ordinated service.
Durham County Council is the major funder together with NHS County Durham and a smaller amount from Durham Constabulary.
