Chris Child, current Chair of the VCS Assembly Board said, “Once again we are looking forward to our Assembly AGM. 2020 has been a year of unprecedented challenges with Covid-19 and VCSA members have worked especially hard to support our communities. This meeting will be an excellent opportunity to recognise the amazing work of the sector with our stakeholders and the wider sector, whilst also considering the future. I look forward to welcoming regular delegates and hopefully some new members attending for the first time”.

The annual event is always well supported by delegates from the voluntary and community sectors however, statutory partners are encouraged to attend; and this year’s event promises to be particularly interesting, albeit in a new format. The VCSA Board will be taking a look back; reviewing work done over the last year and also engaging with the wider VCSA membership and partners to discuss plans for the future.

Debra Allcock-Tyler, Chief Executive Officer from Directory of Social Change will be year’s guest speaker. Debra will be presenting on the topic of “Hardship and the Third Sector” focussing on how voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations overcome these difficulties in a rural setting like Shropshire.

There are over 1000 registered voluntary organisations operating in Shropshire, plus many more community groups all of whom are welcome to join Shropshire’s Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly free of charge.

To find out more email: VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk, telephone: 01743 250094, or visit: www.vcsvoice.org