What is your organisation's experience of our local public sector ? We are talking here about our local Council, health bodies such as the local Clincial Commissioning groups, the Fire Authority and the Police and Crime Commissioner 

Do you have anything to get off your chest about the way in which decisions are being taken in these organisations  , or about how local services are being run ?

What is the impact on those your charity is set up to help ?

Our Voice team are here to collect those issues from you and ensure your voice is heard with our local public sector organisations.  Contact us at voice@cvsce.org.uk

Recently we have been hearing about issues from those orgainsations who are commissioned to provide services by our local public sector. These include issues with contract payments being made quarterly in arrears and delays in previously available funds being opened  for bidding  in the new financial year. The most recent example we have heard about is delays to this year's Carers Breaks Fund .

Do either of these issues sound familiar to you ?   Or do you have a good news story to tell us about your relationship with a local public sector organisation ?

 An interesting  recent blog on the NCVO website article has highlighted  how the voluntary sector can best work with local authority commissioners.  You can read the blog here 

In particular the article gave some top tips for engaging with public sector commissioners : 

• Engage – the sector should take advantage of any opportunities to provide input, including through provider information events.
• Demonstrate quality – charities need to be able to evidence the impact of their work and the calibre of their organisation, including through highlighting staff expertise and quality standards.
• Be realistic – charities should recognise that cuts and time pressures limit what local authorities can do.
• Develop solutions – the sector can look for ways to tackle key problems and fill gaps in service provision, and can help commissioners develop place-based services.
• Don’t be modest – charities should be explicit about their strengths.
• Talk to councillors – if charities are having difficulties working with local authority commissioners, they shouldn’t be afraid to explain their work to their local councillor

To which we would add our own tip which is that you should

• keep talking to us here at CVS Cheshire East so we can ensure the points you want to make are heard  and the contribution you make to your local communities is properly acknowledged and valued .

Email voice@cvsce.org.uk
Call 01270 763100
Tweet @askTheVoice