CVS Warwick District (Council for Voluntary Service) exists to support and develop the local voluntary and community sector. The CVS Board of Trustees is elected by our membership. Membership is open to all voluntary and community groups in Warwick District.

We are keen to ensure that our members are able to play a full role in the LSP. With the support from partners including the District and County Councils, we aim to provide the following:

VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY GROUPS

We will support all voluntary and community sector groups in Warwick District to get involved in the LSP through a regular Voluntary and Community Forum, which will meet three or four times a year.

The Forum will be an opportunity for the sector to debate matters arising from the various LSP Steering Groups; to network together; to make its own recommendations about the development of community plans/strategies; to discuss issues affecting the voluntary/community sector as a whole; and to elect up to five representatives onto the LSP Management Board.

In addition we will hold meetings of the representatives one week prior to each LSP Board meeting, in order that representatives can be briefed about the agenda.

CVS will look to introduce new ways through which the voluntary and community sector can share information between each Forum – whether through face-to-face meetings and forums, or through newsletters and computer technology.

RESIDENT-LED NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUMS

CVS will help to develop strong resident-led neighbourhood-based forums, especially in our most disadvantaged areas, so that local people are helped to develop the capacity to identify their own needs and determine local priorities.

We are committed to supporting local community groups to develop, and we have set up a new Neighbourhood Initiatives Forum for these groups to share information and support each other – and to nominate a representative onto the LSP Board.

COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST

The LSP creates an opportunity for young people, older people, disabled people, Black and Minority Ethnic communities and rural communities to have a real voice in community planning.

Warwick District has a Youth Forum, a Senior People’s Forum, a Council of Disabled People (Coventry & Warwickshire), Black and Ethnic Minority Forum, and Warwickshire Rural Community Council. These groups will be able to elect their own representatives onto the LSP Board. CVS will work with partners in the District and County Councils to help develop the capacity of these forums, to ensure they are able to play an equal role on the LSP Board.