Page 6 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • June 200 3
Third Force development in Swindon
One of the key features of the town, though not always recognised, is the work of voluntary organisations supported by Voluntary Action
Swindon (VAS). Newly appointed director Chris Lau describes how it contributes to social cohesion and community development.
Voluntary Action Swindon began Learning programme, the Swin- with a sound foundation to build Enabling Representation: Apart
in 1932 as the Swindon Council for don Local Learning Partnership, on the current achievements and from raising awareness of any rel-
Social Services, administering help the new Primary Care Trust's successes of Voluntary Action evant documents on which the
to the unemployed and disadvan- Health Improvement Plans, and Swindon. voluntary sector's views are
taged. Over the last 70 years, the has advised the Sure Start pro- In order to strengthen the infra- sought, Voluntary Action Swin-
organisation has been at the fore- gramme on issues of governance structure of the voluntary sector in don will seek representatives from
front of social and community ac- and representation. Swindon, my top priorities in the the voluntary and community sec-
tion and support in the town. coming years will be as follows: tors to feed back information to
It has been responsible for Development: Voluntary Ac- interested groups and to receive
the creation of a number of tion Swindon will monitor views and information from them.
other local groups and unmet social need in the area Strategic Partnership Work: Vol-
projects, including the Citi- by obtaining information from untary Action Swindon will work
zen's Advice Bureau, Thames- both research documents and with the voluntary and commu-
down Housing Association local people. This is designed nity sector, Swindon Council and
and the Volunteer Bureau. to draw the attention of relevant other agencies to develop, moni-
Situated in its own build- agencies to unmet or emerging tor and evaluate a local compact.
ing at John Street, with six social need and encourage them In the longer term there is a ma-
charity tenants, VAS is one to respond, individually or to- jor new partnership working with
of a network of over 300 gether. Swindon Council and a range of
Councils for Voluntary Serv- Support of local voluntary and other private, public and volun-
ice in England. community groups: This tary bodies to apply to the South
In the light of the new Lo- should include access to office West Regional Development
cal Strategic Partnership, services; information on sources Agency's 'Building Communities'
Neighbourhood Renewal of funding; advice on running programme to bring a new Volun-
Strategy and Community Cohe- The new relationship with Swin- fundraising events; guidance on tary Sector Business Centre to
sion Initiative, it is a time of chal- don Council's Youth Service and organisational development; con- Swindon. If successful, this will
lenge for both voluntary and statu- Connexions represents the latest sultancy work to deal with specific provide greater support and co-
tory sectors in Swindon. Prior to in an exciting and expanding net- issues; access to the internet; op- herence to the voluntary and com-
my appointment, VAS had made work of practical, support based portunity of learning and further munity sector enterprise in Swin-
significant contributions to the partnerships. training and a newsletter. don.
work of the Social Inclusion Fo- My experience in community Liaison: Voluntary Action Swin- For more information about Vol-
rum, Local Action/Agenda 21 development, urban regeneration don will enable and encourage untary Action Swindon, call
Steering Group, the Learning & and social inclusion in both Scot- people from different agencies and 402090. The organisation's web site
Skills Council's 'Community land and England provides me sectors to meet and develop links. is in development.

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