Bristol City Council is working to build a thriving ‘Third Sector’ - the government’s term for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.

As part of this commitment BCC is commissioning a set of Voluntary and Community Sector (‘VCS’) Infrastructure Support Services for a minimum period of three years from October 2010.

A Needs Assessment with all stakeholders is happening during May, June and July 2009.

We want to hear from all parts of Bristol’s voluntary and community sector.

We want to make sure that the services we invest in meet the needs of all the groups working in Bristol’s communities.

BCC (and other statutory agencies) need to hear from a wide range of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) groups about what support their organisation or group needs to succeed over the next five years - 2010 to 2015. We also want to understand how that support can best be delivered so the VCS gets the most out of the Services we ultimately invest in.

We’ll use this information to design and commission Infrastructure Support Services that will meet the identified needs of local organisations. These services will be in place from 1st October 2010.

We'd prefer you to fill out the online form using the link below. Alternatively contact Keith Houghton for a paper copy.

The responses from the Survey will feed into the Draft Commissioning Strategy for VCS Infrastructure Support Services. This will describe the Council’s initial plans for what services to invest in and how we might buy them.

This Draft Strategy will be consulted on with the Voluntary and Community Sector and other stakeholder during August, September and October 2009.

This consultation will shape the Final Commissioning Strategy and Specification for the Infrastructure Support Services, which will be issued in December 2009.