Following November 2022's Sutton Plan Partnership Meeting, our CEO Anita Maullin shares her thoughts and updates:
It's great to see the Sutton Plan once again develop further and embrace the close working connection with the voluntary sector. The shared goal is:
"A new beginning for Sutton, bringing public sector partners, businesses and the voluntary sector together to develop a new model of public services for the benefit of residents. Following on from Covid and with all the new concerns that residents are now facing, we need to ensure we all support each other and help where it is needed most."
The five streams of how we work together include:
- Think Sutton First
- Provide seamless coordinated services
- Build strong communities
- Work across sectors
- Intervene early
Underpinning this are various themes and I look forward to Volunteer Centre Sutton working together with other partners to ensure we help those most in need. What we have discussed recently is ensuring we respond to the immediate cost of living crisis in Sutton.
Through the power of volunteers, Volunteer Centre Sutton is able to help in many areas. In October 2022, we launched the Warm Spaces project. This project provides trained Warm Spaces Volunteers to be on hand at specific times in selected Sutton libraries for a chat and to help direct residents to resources and organisations that can help with the cost of living.
As a proud partner of Together for Sutton, we are providing extra information and advice for vulnerable groups, as well as helping with more opportunities for people to talk to staff at areas within the Job Centre, Sutton Council, Citizens Advice Sutton and attendance at community events.
The aim is to provide more wrap-around support via various sectors such as health, local authority, public and private sector. As a key stakeholder within the voluntary sector, Volunteer Centre Sutton, with the help of local volunteers, we hope that our support and involvement help others in the coming months, and within the future Sutton Plan.
If you would like to find out more about the role of the voluntary sector in the Sutton Plan, please get in touch with CEO Anita Maullin.
