Purpose

This report seeks agreement to progress with the commissioning of a single front door for volunteering in Wirral. This commission will strengthen support for the residents who are looking to enter volunteering and provide a co-ordinated approach to volunteering in the borough.

A central organisation to support volunteering is needed for Wirral to support individuals looking to volunteer and organisations to involve volunteers. Encouraging volunteering within Wirral will improve people’s health and wellbeing, will enable more social connection, increase community spirit, and enhance people’s feelings of purpose and belonging.

The service will be funded via the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), awarded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and distributed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. 

Decision

Resolved – That,

The Director of Public Health has decided to authorise the commissioning of a contract with a total cost of up to £413,481 for an eighteen-month period, from 1st September 2023 – 31st March 2025 for the provision of a service to provide a single front door and co-ordinated approach to volunteering in the borough.

Reasons for the decision

Wirral is currently the only Local Authority area in the Liverpool City Region without any investment to support local volunteering in a co-ordinated response. This poses several risks to communities and to the local authority and wider partners. Funding is required to ensure effective engagement and support to residents to support local community voluntary and faith sector organisations and to enable the delivery of key strategic plans. Investment is being provided via the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is administered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.  This investment will support the delivery of Wirral Plan, Wirral Economic Strategy, Wirral Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Cool 2, Wirral Culture and Heritage Strategy and the newly emerging place-based priorities including the developing neighbourhood’s programme.

Alternative options considered

Various options were explored including different financial models for investment and the option of not providing any additional investment, these options although considered, are not recommended as this would risk delivery of local strategic priorities and would not meet the requirements of the UKSPF.