For the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), the ability to meet their mission is crucially dependent on the quality of their workforce - paid staff, volunteers and trustees.  At all levels (nationally, regionally, locally) the contribution currently made by the VCS is recognised as vital for both social and economic reasons.

This proposal for a Workforce Development Strategy for Suffolk VCS seeks to address key challenges for the sector.  The overriding vision for the strategy is:

“To build the capacity of the Voluntary and Community Sector by increasing skills and knowledge amongst the VCS workforce, enhancing the services offered to users/clients by voluntary and community groups in Suffolk, and creating a personal and professional career development path for all VCS staff and volunteers.”

The action plan, which will be regularly reviewed, adopts at its core a partnership approach, both across the VCS and engaging with the wider stakeholder network to:

·        enable paid staff, volunteers and trustees of the Suffolk VCS to access high quality relevant and affordable local learning to meet current and development needs.

·        recognise and value the range, quality and diversity of learning provided by the sector - both accredited and non-accredited.

·        secure funding support for Workforce Development costs, for both the VCS and individual organisations, in delivery of Workforce Development support through a Learning Consortium.

·        promote collaboration and partnership in workforce related matters through a Learning Consortium.

·        address any barriers to training and learning