28/06/04 - County Council to spend £9m with the voluntary sector

Tomorrow, Cumbria County Council's Cabinet will receive presentations from Jessica Riddle, Cumbria association of Community Voluntary services and Jolyon Dodgson, Voluntary Action Cumbria on the impact the Council's commitment to enhance our links with voluntary organisations has on communities. During 2004/5 Cumbria County Council will spend almost £9m with the voluntary sector in the form of grants and the delivery of contracts for services.   

There is a long history of partnership working between the Council and the voluntary sector in Cumbria. County Councillor Mike Ash, Deputy Leader of the Council and cabinet member with responsibility for links with the voluntary sector says,   

"One of the Council's key priorities is to work closely with the voluntary sector to help the Council achieve its aims. By putting more resources into the voluntary and community sector we can ensure that capacity is enhanced helping us to deliver services based on local need. The presentations from voluntary sector representatives tomorrow is by way of a celebration of the voluntary and community sector partnership with the Council."   

One of the local projects funded by the Council is Centre 47's Community Café where young people receive catering training and development opportunities. Centre 47 also developed a successful furniture re-cycling project. 

After the Cabinet meeting, members of the voluntary and community sector will join the Council's Cabinet for an informal lunch to discuss the success of Council funded projects and the future development of the partnership.