We're setting up an alliance of voluntary sector groups which will help us to collaborate better and find out how local people can benefit from council services.

The alliance will build upon the successful joint working of the voluntary sector during the pandemic.

We will work with the Alliance to target £500,000 funding from our Adult Social Care precept for 2021/22, to support our communities in the best way possible.

Councillor Jackie Stockman, Cabinet Member for Adults and Public Health, said: “During the pandemic, we saw some excellent examples of collaborative working as the voluntary sector came together to help people struggling with the effects of lockdowns.

“This alliance aims to build on that by creating a permanent structure for the voluntary sector to work with us.

“They will be liaising closely with local communities who are at the heart of this. We want to find out how we can target funding so it reaches the people most in need.”

Fifteen voluntary sector organisations broadly representing the sector have applied to join the alliance through a formal procurement process and have put forward their thoughts on how they can contribute.

The groups

Older People 

• The Age UK Torbay
• Healthwatch Torbay & Engaging Communities South West
• I Can Do That!
• Torbay Community Development Trust

Mental Health 

• Bournemouth Churches Housing Association
• The Devon Clinic CIC
• Youth Enquiry Service Brixham
• I Can Do That!

Learning Disability

• Devon Link Up
• Healthwatch Torbay & Engaging Communities South West
• Spot Opportunities (SW) Ltd
• Turning Heads

Community Groups 

• Eat That Frog
• Groundwork South
• Healthwatch Torbay & Engaging Communities South West
• Hele Village Community Association
• Shekinah Mission (Plymouth) Ltd
• Youth Enquiry Service Brixham

Infrastructure Groups 

• Healthwatch Torbay & Engaging Communities South West
• Torbay Community Development Trust

Other Issues 

• Groundwork South
• Local Spark
• Shekinah Mission (Plymouth) Ltd

The Alliance will begin meeting from April and during 2022/23 will be seeking ideas and proposals from the community to improve the lives of local people and help support Adult Social Care in Torbay.