Community First to deliver vital community support in Eastleigh
New service launching in April
Eastleigh Borough Council has appointed leading charity Community First to deliver vital support for voluntary groups and charities and help more residents to volunteer.
Launching a new service in April, Community First, a leading voice for the voluntary sector in Hampshire, will provide expert guidance enabling voluntary and community groups to maximise the benefit of their work in the community.
Community First will focus on recruiting more volunteers and helping groups access more external funding, alongside providing specialist training and support with reviewing governance, improving business planning and encouraging more collaborative working.
Priority areas for the partnership include promoting and supporting volunteering opportunities across the Borough and working in collaboration with organisations dedicated to addressing issues related to loneliness, social isolation and health and wellbeing.
Tim Houghton, Chief Executive of Community First, said: “We’re excited by this new opportunity to partner with Eastleigh Borough Council and to support Eastleigh’s flourishing voluntary sector.
“Strong local voluntary organisations and charities are needed more than ever as we look to support and complement our local authorities and we will do all we can to help groups access the funding they need, mobilise more volunteers, and work together to deliver support for those who need it most throughout Eastleigh.”
Councillor Paul Bicknell, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration (North) and Social Policy, said: “Voluntary groups and charities, and the people who devote their time to supporting others, are the lifeblood of our communities in Eastleigh Borough.
“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Community First to deliver vital services to people who need them in our neighbourhoods. It’s a great example of our mission of Supporting Communities, Improving Lives.”
Community First will be embedded in Eastleigh and are seeking opportunities for sharing space and co-locating their ‘animateur’ – an exciting new role helping organisations to maximise their potential. Community First already delivers an important local community bus service connecting Eastleigh with Chandler's Ford and works with health partners, social care and children’s services. The organisation will join some of Eastleigh’s well-established partnerships over the coming weeks and is keen to engage with local groups and charities, so it can help support them in making Eastleigh a thriving community.
For more information see www.cfirst.org.uk