Terms of reference

Oxfordshire Voluntary Sector Development Partnership

Purpose

The overall purpose of the Partnership is to strengthen the Oxfordshire Voluntary and Community sector. It does this by:

• overseeing the implementation of the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Development Plan;
• reviewing progress against the stated milestones in the local ChangeUp continuation fund programme;
• endorsing funding bids on behalf of the Partnership;
• conducting periodic reviews of the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Development Plan;
• supporting local organisations to achieve Compact compliance;
• reviewing and implementing the Oxfordshire Compact work programme insofaras funding is made available for this;
• acting as a sounding board for issues raised through the VCS forums;
• providing a point of contact for consultation on VCS issues and policy for the Oxfordshire Partnership and other strategic bodies.

Definitions

Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) infrastructure organisations are those that play a supporting, co-ordinating, representative, policy making and developmental role for other voluntary and community organisations.

The Oxfordshire VCS Support Services Group consists of the coluntary and community sector members of the Partnership.

Frontline Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations are those that deliver services and activities to benefit the residents of Oxfordshire.

Membership and meetings

Membership of the Partnership is open to:

• voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations who are members of the Oxfordshire VCS Support Services Group;
• local authorities;
• other statutory organisations invited by the Partnership.

See the membership page for a list of organisations in current membership of the Partnership.

The process for VCS infrastructure organisations to join the Partnership is laid down in the partnership protocols of the Oxfordshire VCS Support Services Group.

Plenary meetings open to all members of the Partnership will be held as required by members.

The Partnership may appoint working groups to undertake specific tasks, as directed by plenary meetings.

Voluntary and community sector forums

The Partnership consults with the frontline VCS through the VCS forums, which are held at least once a year in each district and at county level.

The forums provide a framework for communication between the local statutory sector and the VCS.

The Partnership intends to develop the VCS forums to facilitate the process of electing VCS representatives to strategic partnership bodies.

In addition to the physical forums, www.oxnet.org.uk acts as a virtual forum where consultation and discussion can take place.

Oxfordshire VCS Support Services Group

Purpose

The purpose of the Oxfordshire VCS Support Services Group is to strengthen the Oxfordshire Voluntary and Community sector through the provision of infrastructure services. In particular, its purpose is to:

• Implement the action plan contained in the Oxfordshire Infrastructure Development Plan 2006.
• Provide strategic representation for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) on strategic partnership bodies.
• Promote VCS priorities and aspirations to regional and national Government – lobbying for what is important to Oxfordshire.
• Advise the Oxfordshire Partnership, the local authorities and others in the county on VCS issues and policy.
• Assist the county to benefit from regional and national funding initiatives for the VCS

Membership and meetings

Membership of the Group is open to voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations active in Oxfordshire.

See the membership page for a list of organisations in current membership of the Group.

The process for VCS infrastructure organisations to join the Partnership is laid down in the partnership protocols of the Group.

Meetings of the group will be held as required by members.

Relationships between members of the group are governed by the partnership protocols.