What will your Metro Mayor do for communities and the voluntary sector?

Thursday 6th April 2017, 5.30 - 8.30pm, Liverpool Cathedral

Refreshments provided at 'Meet VS6' reception, 5.30 - 6.30pm

Metro Mayor hustings begins at 6.30pm

In the run up to the Metro Mayor election on 4th May 2017, VS6 is holding a special hustings to give members of the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector the chance to quiz the candidates as they lay out their visions, priorities and strategies for the future of Liverpool City Region.

The hustings will be preceded by an opportunity to meet VS6, the leading partnership of support organisations, working together to champion the vital role of the sector in city region.

**On the platform**

Steve Rotheram, Labour
Tony Caldeira, Conservatives
Carl Cashman, Liberal Democrats
Tom Crone, Greens
Tabitha Morton, Women's Equality Party

The hustings will be chaired by Rev Canon Dr Ellen Loudon, independent Chair of the VS6 partnership.

The first ever Mayor of Liverpool City Region will be elected in just three months, with hard powers over apprenticeships and skills, housing and planning, transport, and health and social care integration. The Mayor will chair the powerful city region Combined Authority, and with a large mandate, will hold signficant 'soft power' too. This is a historic opportunity to use devolution to forge a social partnership that puts people and place first, creating a healthy, happy and socially just Liverpool City Region. Communities and citizens need to be at the heart of this process, and our sector should be driving it.

With over eight thousand organisations, twenty-four thousand employees, and volunteers contributing half a million hours a week to their communities, the sector is a core part of our region's society and economy. But with the loss of EU funds and continued austerity, fundamental questions remain. In cash strapped times, how can we drive community-centred approaches to transforming health and wellbeing? Can a new social contract be formed, harnessing the power of communities? How will the new Mayor use his or her influence to promote the role of the voluntary sector? Can faith groups’ deep connections to their communities be strengthened and capitalised on, whilst delivering prosperity at the city-region level? How will the sector be supported in generating philanthropic investment? Can the new Mayor and the sector co-produce a voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise strategy for Liverpool City Region?

Join us to debate with the candidates as we explore how they will use their influence and devolved powers to work with the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector to improve the lives of all our communities and build a socially prosperous Liverpool City Region.

Getting to Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral

Address: St James Mt, Liverpool L1 7AZ

Walking and rail: The cathedral is located around thirty minutes walk from most central Liverpool locations, including Liverpool Lime Street station and Liverpool Central station.

Bus: Routes 82 and 86 run every 12 minutes and stop nearby. Further info at Merseytravel.

By car: The cathedral has a car park, which will be free for this event. However, please arrive early to guarantee a space. You can enter the car park from Upper Duke Street

Further information on getting to Liverpool Cathedral is available on its website.

Accessiblity and requirements

If you have any dietary, access, or other requirements, please let us know. You can contact sam.popper@vsnw.org.uk to discuss this. The cathedral is wheelchair accessible and there is a hearing loop.

A British Sign Language interpreter will be in place for the hustings.

Financial assistance for transport

If you would like to attend but will be prohibited from doing so by transport costs, we have a small amount of money to help with costs. Please contact sam.popper@vsnw.org.uk to discuss this.