Express & Star

Support Staffordshire delivers £10m inward investment present

A leading Staffordshire membership and umbrella body for the voluntary sector is celebrating its fifth birthday in style after announcing it has secured more than £10 million of inward investment over the same period – all going towards boosting local communities.

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Garry Jones, chief executive of Support Staffordshire; Jan Wilson, chairman of Support Staffordshire; Paul Streets, chief executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales and Jane Ide, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action

Support Staffordshire, which has assisted more than 1,000 charities and organisations since it was formed, held a special anniversary party at Stafford Gatehouse.

Almost 200 delegates heard how the charity provides help with funding, good governance and a range of business and back office support services, including human resources, marketing and communications and assistance with understanding of new legislation and regulations.

It has also hosted more than 1,200 people at networking forums across the county, ensuring a focal point for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to learn, share best practice and get their collective voices heard.

“This is a major milestone for our organisation and underlines the important role we play in supporting communities across Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands and Tamworth,” explained Garry Jones, chief executive of Support Staffordshire.

“The voluntary sector is a very challenging environment and austerity has given many of our members significant challenges to contend with if they are going to help the communities they operate in.

“Our role has been to give them a strong voice and, importantly, cost effective access to essential services that means they can overcome these hurdles to continue to support local people in getting crucial access to transport, training, help with mental health issues and community projects that offer volunteering and job opportunities.”

He continued: “The fifth birthday party was all about celebrating what we have achieved and recognising some of our stars that have been on the journey from the very start.”

One of Support Staffordshire’s most successful roles has been in matching volunteering opportunities with more than 3,000 individuals supported to volunteer across local charities and community organisations.

As a nationally Quality Accredited volunteer centre service, it offers a free, friendly and confidential face-to-face and online recruitment service, helping people to find the opportunities that suit their lifestyle and interests.

More than 800 organisations are members of Support Staffordshire and this grows daily, offering volunteers the chance to get involved in sports coaching, admin, retail, mentoring, befriending, gardening and trusteeship.

Mr Jones said the celebration has also offered chance to talk about the future and how more could be done to support members.

“This will involve making the most of a very welcome £200,000 further investment from Staffordshire County Council, even more local collaboration and the possibility of moving to new, larger premises.

“We are also in the process of developing a new corporate strategy, where we are keen to tap into the resources, expertise and skills of small, medium and large companies across Staffordshire," he explained.