The 10-year Strategy, called Into a New Era 2019-2029, helps us all focus on what we want the sector to be, and how we want to work together and with others. In it, we demonstrate our sector’s impact, potential and ability to meet the challenges ahead, to help citizens and communities survive and thrive. The Strategy was created in consultation with many local VCSE organisations, and Bristol City Council. It covers six objectives:
- Distributed leadership
- Financial independence - a more commercial approach
- Facilitating access to data and information
- Independent voice
- Increased collaboration, partnership and cohesion
- Greater resilience and adaptability
This new strategy establishes a framework for VCSE organisations’ involvement in and contribution to the city and region over the coming years. It is not just Voscur's voice or vision - it belongs to every VCSE organisation in and around Bristol. Our sector has come a very long way in recent years and has shown flexibility and tenacity. However, the challenges keep coming and we must ensure that Bristol’s VCSE sector as a whole is an effective and inclusive partner.
We also worked with others to review the Bristol Compact, so that the sector’s future relationships are rooted in principles that will help us work effectively and deliver the strategy. The new name, Bristol in Partnership, reflects the need for us to form partnerships and relationships with others inside and outside of our sector, for example by engaging and consulting. Our key principles are:
- One City
- Respect
- Honesty
- Realism
- Diversity
- Challenge
- Unlock Potential
However, Bristol in Partnership also acknowledges that disputes can occur, and sometimes these won't be resolved through constructive discussion; further details are included in the report.
The VCSE Strategy and Bristol in Partnership were both published in January 2019; the plan is to update Bristol in Partnership every year, with continual feedback from the local VCSE sector.
