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The VS6 Liverpool City Region VCFSE Metro Mayoral Hustings Summary

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VS6 Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Hustings – 20/04/2021 

Last week, VS6 hosted the LIverpool City Region VCFSE Hustings event, where all three Metro Mayor candidates that attended welcomed and committed to the VCFSE LCR manifesto. Candidates agreed that working with the sector is something that they recognise as vital for our communities and the recovery of Liverpool City Region. 

It was a fantastic afternoon with some great questions from our VCFSE colleagues, focusing on some key issues for the communities and organisations across the region. They explored how the Metro Mayor candidates plan to work with, and support the sector over the next three years, including working towards the ambitions of the VCFSE manifesto.  

The event was held via Zoom and was attended by 58 representatives from the VCFSE sector in LCR, with three of the Metro Mayor candidates in attendance including Steve Rotheram (Labour and current Metro Mayor), Gary Cargill (Green), with Katie Burgess representing Jade Marsden (Conservative). 

Specifically, there were 7 questions asked in total of each candidate focusing on digital inclusion, inequalities, food insecurity, fair employment, and how the Metro Mayor will support and invest in the sector. 

Steve Rotheram (Labour) used his answers to reflect on his achievements to date since 2017 as the Metro Mayor of LCR, including the development of the LCR Cares crowdfunder for the VCFSE sector, creating the VCFSE Mayoral Advisor role, the Race Equality programme and the Fair Employment Charter. He also discussed how he would support communities and the sector moving forward through digital upskilling, and leading in digital connectivity, liaising with the Government for a trial of Universal Basic Income, implementing a £150m COVID recovery fund and building capacity in the VCFSE sector. 

Gary Cargill (Green) discussed his plan for improving Liverpool City Region, and how a focus on environmental security and social justice, links to better outcomes for our communities. Key points included recycling digital devices to ensure everyone has the access to technology, setting up Citizen Assemblies for legislation and policy to be scrutinised by communities, implementing a Universal Basic Income, supporting the sector to lobby Government and having an “open-door” policy for the sector to raise concerns. 

Katie Burgess (Conservative) talked about “building back better and beyond” through recouping the regions economic strength to develop a strong, sustainable economy working with the sector. Areas for progress included working with broadband providers to provide affordable internet for those in need, upskilling individuals and families to cook healthy meals within their budget, ensuring recognition for the LCR sector locally and nationally, and engaging with the VCFSE sector and communities to level up the region. 

We would like to thank Steve, Gary and Katie for attending the Hustings and to our VCFSE sector for attending and submitting their questions to the candidates. David Newman of the Liberal Democrats was due to attend however due to personal circumstance was unfortunately unable to do so. 

For a full breakdown of the event and the answers provided by candidates, you can find the VS6 Twitter thread here which provides a summary of the event as it was happening. You can also watch the Hustings in full on YouTube by clicking here. 

As a reminder, the LCR Metro Mayor elections are being held on May 6th 2021 for you to have your say on who you want to be leading the recovery of the Liverpool City Region working in collaboration with the VCFSE sector. 

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Manchester Deaf Centre Vaccine Clinics

Manchester Deaf Centre are hosting a Covid-19 vaccine drop in clinic with British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter support. They are encouraging any deaf person, disabled person, person with a learning difficulty, person with long term health condition, PAs and carers from Greater Manchester to attend.

It will be held on the 29th April from 10am-3pm.

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Information regarding the pop-up clinic in BSL:

 

Video made by Sign Health RAD in collaboration with other deaf organisations regarding COVID and saving lives:

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VCSEP Seminars

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The Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) are hosting two seminars to discuss the role and purpose of Local Resilience Forms (LRFs), which have been instrumental in organising public sector response during the pandemic. Having an in-depth understanding of how LCFs work will help arm the sector with the knowledge to strengthen their response to the crisis.

VCSEP are running two sessions and invite anyone, regardless of current knowledge to attend:

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Gendered Intelligence Professional Development Training

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Introduction to Trans Awareness

Gendered Intelligence in light of the current pandemic are offering online professional development training.

They are offering sessions on an “introduction to Trans Awareness”

  • What ‘trans’ is about?

  • Gaining confidence to approach situations involving a trans client, student or colleague?

  • Information about what your organisation might need to comply with Equalities law?

They provide half day sessions, enabling proffesionals to broaden their understanding of issues faced by trans people. The session is based around interactive exercises, encouraging participants to get involved in thinking through what trans means and ways to achieve equality and inclusivity in practice.

More information available here.

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The Greater Manchester Bereavement Service

The Greater Manchester Bereavement Service offers support for those who have been bereaved or affected by death. From April 1st 2021, it joined forces with the Greater Manchester Suicide Bereavement Information Service and merged, delivered by Six Degrees Social Enterprise.

Dedicated suicide bearevment support is still available and dedicated practitioners are sill there to offer appropriate help.

Please find here a ‘Social Media Pack’ to help promote the service so that those suffering can be equipped with the suitable support.

Below please find updated contact information:

0161 983 0902 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

salccg.gm.bs@nhs.net

www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk

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The Skelton Charity; New Funding Available

New Funding Available

The Skelton Charity administers grants across the North West; the latest deadline for applications is on the 28th May 2021. They usually award grants between £500 and £3,000.

Grants are awarded on the the following basis:

  • you are a registered charity

  • your charity is within the correct geographical boundary (Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Blackpool, Blackburn, Warrington and Halton)

  • for projects or capital expenditure

  • for good causes

  • perhaps for needs that have arisen as an impact of Covid-19

You can complete the application form here & access their website for more detailed information.

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GM VCSE Leadership Group Economic Vision

The GM VCSE Leadership Group have devised an ‘economic vision’ for Greater Manchester; they hope this vision will guide future conversations in the VCSE, private, statutory sectors and in communities.

The Vision:

They instigate a need to explore alternative approaches to economics by adopting something more progressive.

They propose an inclusive economy that prioritises the needs and interests of all of society and the environment, in contrast with only the interests of corporate power.

They argue that Covid-19 has further exacerbated and harshly exposed the deepening inequalities in Greater Manchester and that now is the opportunity to address these inqualities through empowering communities and society members, organising work and time and combating environmental issues further.

A new, inclusive econonmy

The focus on profit and gain that is currently ingrained in our economic culture prospers at the expense of our happiness & wellbeing. A new, inclusive economy however would be based on the following core values:

  • Equality & human dignity

  • Solidarity & community

  • Autonomy & liberation

  • Stewardship of environment

Pragmatics:

  • An inclusive economy would need to encourage community engagement in economics, as opposed to economic development decisions being solely down to professionals & agencies.

  • Greater social ownership of wealth; through communtity and locally owned businesses etc.

  • A need for a Green New Deal: secure a fairer society and safe climate by transforming the economy.

  • Social & mission-led businesses would receive positive noteriety.

Full vision available here

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The Liverpool City Region VCFSE Sector Metro Mayor Hustings

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VS6 Partnerships are hosting the VCFSE Sector Metro Mayor Husting on the 20th April 2021.

The Hustings is a chance for VCFSE organisations across the Liverpool City Region to ask questions to the candidates, and discuss what is important, not only to your organisation, but also the sector as a whole. This election is of particular importance as the need for a strong leader is of paramount importance as we face a difficult and uncertain future following the pandemic. The sector has shown great strength and resilience throughout the last year. However, going forward we need political support if we are to continue to protect the vulnerable and help our communities.

The Hustings will follow a question-and-answer style structure, with candidates also given the chance to address the sector during their opening statement. In order to organise a broad spectrum of question topics, we ask attendees to please submit potential questions and whether they would be happy to ask them during the event when registering. A selection of questions on the most common question themes will be selected and put to the candidates. We will contact you directly pre-event if your question has been chosen. 

Sally Yeoman, Chief Executive of Halton and St Helens VCA, Vice-Chair of VS6 (and also a NAVCA award-winning Chief Exec of the year 2020) will be chairing the event.

Joined by the following party candidates: 

  • Steve Rotheram (Labour) 

  • David Newman (Liberal Democrat) 

  • Gary Cargill (Green) 

  • Jade Marsden (Conservative) - TBC 

Sign up here

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Bricks, Bytes & Behaviours

Bricks, Bytes, Behaviours 

The Invest North Conference was held on the 24th March 2021. The title for this article has been drawn from the closing comments of the facilitator at The North Unlocked seminar. A video of the full seminar can be found here .

Bricks

The element of bricks spoke about the need for quality office space. Our sector does not have the luxury of income/capital that can be spent on updated offices in modern blocks. This does not mean that it cannot happen. It is just that, to date, it has not been a huge priority unless we have been invited to be anchor tenants in a new build scheme.  

That having been said there is a trend for larger commercial operations to move offices – partly because of downsizing due to working from home and partly due to the need for increased space due to distancing regulations. Some of these may well be in prime locations and have long leases. There may be scope to work with them to take on space at a far better price than would have been the case. Some income, from a sub-lease, is going to be better than no income from a vacant space. The vacant space may well attract business rates and thus further add to the (non) occupancy costs. If this route is to be explored it is vital that appropriate legal advice is obtained and acted upon. You don’t want an issue to arise if a sub-lease has been created, or a lease assigned, in a manner that does not satisfy the freeholder/head leaser. Also, when considering a move it is important to recognise all costs that are incurred – including down time, printing, possible new phone numbers (or diverts) etc. Whilst a move does not have to be for life it does have to be for a reasonable anticipated period.  

Bytes

As one would expect the bytes section was all about IT. In this seminar it was mainly about infrastructure roll out and how that would attract commercial operations and business to the North. The pandemic has shown how important good IT is. It is important to ensure that both equipment and connectivity is as good as possible. If staff are going to be working from home there may be merit in assisting in upgrading home connections etc. Such a policy may create a tax position for the employee as this could be seen as a benefit in kind. Appropriate advice should be obtained, and documented, to protect the position of the employee. There is also a danger of a two tier terms and conditions of employment. A new employee who has relied on a phone based ISP may not have the capacity to upgrade to a fibre/line/land based system. What do you to then, particularly when other employees may well be paying for their own systems?  

Behaviours

This then leads to the behaviours section of the talk. The input, from this, was from the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development). This occurs towards the end of the video (38 minutes onwards). It contains many important learning points for the sector. Please take a look- it is brilliant.  

Andrew Rainsford, Research & Policy Officer

April 2021

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