A Community, Voluntary, Faith and Social Enterprise Feasibility (CVFSE) and Baseline Study, fully funded by Fylde’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation is well underway! Selnet Ltd were commissioned at the start of summer to help us fully understand the roles and contributions that the CVFSE sectors play within the Borough.
A questionnaire has been produced to help achieve the main objectives of the Study, which are:
- To recognise the individual organisations and groups working to support Fylde’s communities.
- Develop a portfolio of organisations operating across Fylde who are providing support services to both individuals and groups.
- To understand the types of support services being delivered and an indication of how many people are accessing these services.
- To identify gaps in provision, skills, capacity as well as any funding limitations and opportunities to understand how these organisations can be further supported in the future.
Initial findings have already demonstrated that Fylde Borough has a diverse Community, Voluntary, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector, with more than 450 groups and organisations located so far. However, we know there are more, and we need your help in ensuring we make contact with as many as possible!
Leader of the Council, Cllr Karen Buckley said: “We’re thrilled with the response we’ve seen and the initial findings that highlight the diverse CVFSE community. We urge you to participate in the survey to ensure we gather insights from all areas. The results will provide a clear picture of the sector’s contributions, such as skills courses, community transportation, and food banks—vital pillars supporting our communities and local economy.”
Chief Executive Officer of Selnet Ltd, Liz Tapner, said: “The response so far has been amazing!
“What we really need to see now is if there are any gaps in provision. When our research is complete we will be able to boast about the real impact that the sector has in Fylde – So, please if you haven’t already, do take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Fylde-CVFSE or give us a call on 01772200690.”
The final report expected in Autumn 2023 will provide a robust evidence base to inform future funding rounds and provide new opportunities for this critical sector, including the ability to access a network of like-minded organisations, and share knowledge and expertise.
If you are a volunteer-led organisation and want to find out more about the study, please contact Selnet through hello@selnet-uk.com or the Community Team at Fylde Council at community@fylde.gov.uk. We would love to hear from you.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
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