Wiltshire Council and VCSE Partnership Strengthened

We were delighted be in attendance at County Hall in Trowbridge, to witness the signing of the 2026–2029 Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector and Wiltshire Council Partnership Framework. 

Our Director of Partnerships, Margaret Firth, was present as the agreement was formally signed by representatives from Wiltshire Council and the VCSE Leadership Alliance. The signed agreement contains three documents; The Partnership Framework, Appendix A, and Appendix B. Signatories included Councillor Ian Thorn (Leader of Wiltshire Council), Councillor Mel Jacob (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities), Lynn Gibson (Chief Executive, Community First), and Neil Cotton (Director of Partnerships, Wessex Community Action).

Our Vice Chair, Damian Haasjes, was in attendance on behalf of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, as well as Sarah Cardy from Age UK.

The purpose of the framework is to set out a renewed commitment to partnership working, focused on improving the lives of people across Wiltshire. It establishes a shared vision, alongside clear aims and priorities, and is supported by a tangible and measurable action plan informed by identified challenges and opportunities.

The partnership is underpinned by three core aims: to create an equal partnership based on trust, respect, and a shared understanding, to improve the sustainability of the VCSE sector through increased collaboration and innovation, and to adopt approaches that focus on empowerment, early help, prevention, and reducing inequalities. 

To support these aims, five key priorities have been agreed:

  1. Strengthening procurement and commissioning opportunities through improved engagement and communication
  2. Embedding a culture of trust, respect and shared understanding between partners by making decisions together and having open conversations
  3. Expanding and increasing funding opportunities and revenue streams to keep the VCSE sector sustainable
  4. Improving communication, sharing information, and meeting regularly to stay connected
  5. Developing joint approaches to volunteering practices, that supports recognising, celebrating, recruiting and retaining volunteers

‘Appendix A’ outlines what is currently working well and identifies actions for further improvement for each priority over the 2026–2029 period.

‘Appendix B’ consists of a detailed live delivery plan that sits alongside the framework which takes each priority individually and identifies 3 tangible actions that will be delivered in partnership, a timeline of when this will be delivered, and an indication of how it will be measured. This plan will be regularly reviewed, updated, and amended by representatives of both Wiltshire Council and the VCSE sector.

The framework has been developed over the past two years in partnership with Wiltshire Council officers and VCSE sector representatives. It has been shaped by extensive engagement and consultation, providing valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

We are proud to have contributed through the Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Leadership Alliance to the development of this framework, supporting closer partnership working between the local authority and the VCSE sector, championing our local voluntary sector, through our role as a convenor and connector.

Overall, the vision of the framework is to create a trusted and respectful partnership that uses the strengths and increases the resilience of both sectors to support communities, reduce inequalities, and improve lives across Wiltshire.

Reflecting on the signing, our Director of Partnerships, Margaret Firth, said: “It was a real privilege to be invited to witness the signing of the 2026–2029 Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector and Wiltshire Council partnership framework.

“The Foundation, together with the council and various groups from across Wiltshire’s VCSE sector, have been working on ways to create closer collaboration, strengthening our partnership work to help and enable our local communities to thrive.”

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “Those in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector do a vital and diverse job in supporting residents and communities, and I am proud to work alongside them.   

“As a partnership, we have worked hard and collaborated positively to develop this framework, which is so much more than just words on a document – it represents a collective commitment to work together to support our communities. We have also put governance arrangements in place that will hold us to account and help keep us on track to ensure we achieve what we have set out to do.”   

Cllr Mel Jacob, Deputy Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member for Communities, Engagement, and Corporate Services, said: “As a council, we work with organisations across the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector every single day, and it is a partnership we do not take for granted. That’s why we want to strengthen the foundations already in place to ensure this partnership continues to thrive and deliver for our communities, and this new framework provides us with the best opportunity to do so.”   

To find out more about the 2026–2029 VCSE Sector and Wiltshire Council Partnership Framework, and to read the document in full, please click here.

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