Council strengthens community partnership approach to supporting Wandsworth residents

Last week, leaders from around the borough came together with Wandsworth Council to map out how best to work with our local organisations.

Over 80 organisations were represented at the event in the Wandsworth Civic Suite, which was attended by council staff and politicians such as Council Leader Simon Hogg and hosted by Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for the Voluntary and Community Sector, Councillor Kemi Akinola. 

Discussions were focused on how best to address issues in 5 key areas: Leadership and Advocacy, Partnerships and Collaboration, Organisational Development, Volunteering and Funding and Resources. These discussions were designed to continue to take steps towards the councils’ goal of being a listening council who is keen to engage effectively with the local community. 

The event was designed to build on an event held last year, also with members from the Voluntary sector, as well as being able to feedback to the sector on the needs analysis report, which was published in November. 

Deputy Council Leader Kemi Akinola said: “The event was such a great opportunity for us as a Council to move forward in partnership with the sector and create an environment where people in the borough can flourish. 

“We rely on these organisations to work with us to help those in Wandsworth that may need further support. Being able to get together like this and create a shared path forward is vital to the success of this sector and the work that we all undertake. 

“I am hugely appreciative of every person that attended and their hard work in our community. It just shows the collective desire for us all to become a fairer borough.”

Organisations also had the chance to network with a wide range of local groups, Council departments, health colleagues and three external funders – Wimbledon Foundation, Sport England, and City Bridge Foundation. 

Chair of the Balham and Tooting Mosque, Arshad Daud, said: “I want to thank the VCS team for organising a much-needed event for the charity sector in Wandsworth. 

“The many organisations present will benefit greatly from the exposure to other such organisations, to discuss and consider common pitfalls and goals for future success. 

“The event hit the mark and provides a positive way forward for such events in the future.”

Chief Executive of the Wandsworth Carers Centre, Eglionna Treanor, said: “The event was well organised, productive, and enjoyable. I was pleased to see the smaller grass roots organisations attending and I met lots of great new people to reach out to, which helps get the message out there about Carers and the services available to them.”

“Events like this are crucial to the sector and organisations like us to be able to connect in a room and share ideas about Carers and the services available to them. 

The Council will keep organisations up to date on next steps through the new Voluntary and Community Sector newsletter and there will be further opportunities to input into the new strategy in the coming months. 

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Wandsworth VCS information on the council website - Support for the voluntary and community sector - Wandsworth Borough Council

If you have questions on next steps following this event, please email: voluntarysectorteam@wandsworth.gov.uk