Welcome to    

Third Sector Warrington

This site provides you with information about the Third Sector in Warrington and the way it works with local partners. The Third Sector (voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise) in Warrington is made up of long existing associations of networks that are brought together to improve communication across the sector, to grow in its ability to influence and to improve relationships with the public sector.

On this website you can get access to information about the partnership work taking place in Warrington. You can see what role the Third Sector Partnership Team has in promoting partnership working and how they can help you.

You can use this site to stay up to date with what work is being undertaken within the Third Sector in Warrington.

News and Events

The Big Society

The Big Society was launched by Prime Minister David Cameron on the 19th July 2010 and aims to give communities more power and responsibility.  In removing central decision making, the government have said their job now is to ensure that individuals and community groups have the freedom and tools to enable them to get involved in civic and social action.  Policies announced include:-

  • Giving communities a greater say over their local planning system and saving local services, such as post offices and pubs.  Community Right to Build will allow communities to get together and take forward developments for new homes, shops and facilities in their area.  The details are being developed, but you can have your say by contacting righttobuild@communities.gsi.gov.uk.  For details of the plans, vist www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuild.
  • Piloting a new National Citizen Service which will give 16 year olds the chance to develop the skills needed to be active and responsible citizens, mix with people from different backgrounds, and start getting involved in their communities.
  • Extending powers for local government by giving a general power of competence to local councils, enabling them to act as they see fit in the best interests of their communities, as well as conducting a comprehensive review of local government finance in order to help remove restrictions that limit the work of local councils.
  • Supporting mutuals, co-operatives, charities and social enterprises, giving them greater involvement in the running of public services.
  • Funds from dormant bank accounts will be used to establish a Big Society Bank, providing new funds for neighbourhood groups, charities, social enterprises and other non-governmental bodies. 

The results of the Citizenship Survey for 2009/10 was published on the 22nd July 2010 and show the latest data on community cohesion, empowernment, values, racial and religious prejudice and discrimination, volunteering and charitable giving. 

Free Engergy Saving Plugs

Grass Roots UK have delivered 1,000 energy saving plugs to the Third Sector Partnership Team. They are available free to anyone over 70 or in receipt of a UK benefit (one per household). Recipients just need to fill in a short form with their details and sign a declaration that they are in receipt of one of the benefits on the form to receive a plug. If you want to find out more call Rebecca Harris, Partnership Development officer on 248 464 or email rharris@warrington.gov.uk.

The plugs will also available at the Contact Centre.

Public Spending Cuts in the Voluntary and Community Sector

As the coalition government begins to cut public spending to reduce the deficit, the third sector is facing difficult times.  Difficult choices are ahead for many local support and development organisations, and the way these organisations have operated in the past may have to change in the future.  NAVCA have developed pages of resources to help local support and development organisations and development workers navigate the cuts and continue to provide the best service possible.  Vists NAVCAs resource pages at www.navca.org.uk/localvs/cuts/. 

Warrington Community Radio

Radio Warrington is a community radio station which is located at Cinnamon Brow Farm Community Centre.  The service is currently only available on the internet but they have an excellent website with information covering local topics, sports and events.

Advice service set for revamp
From April next year residents can look forward to a new and improved information and advice service for any housing, debt and legal issues they maybe having. There are currently two main organisations which provide free advice on these matters in the town and following months of widespread consultation it has become apparent that this valued service can be made more efficient by having one main service provider. Tommy Wallace, assistant director of customer services and business change at the council says: “The current services are valued by the people who use them, and offer vital assistance to many residents. We want everyone who needs advice to be able to get it easily and at the same time ensure we achieve value for money.” As well as access to advice and help in the town centre and a few other locations across the borough, the new service will be offered in neighbourhood areas to make it more accessible for Warrington residents. No decision has been taken on who will provide the new service, but bids for tender begin soon. Mr Wallace adds: “This is about meeting the needs of residents in the best way possible. We will only consider bids from those who share this intention, and are able to demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of Warrington and the needs of its residents.”

New LGBT Carers Service

Manchester City Council, The Lesbian and Gay Foundation and 20 Northwest Authorities including Warrington have been working in Partnership to establish a new service to support LGBT carers. LGBT carers are generally recognised to be a hidden group, who may not access mainstream services for fear of discrimination or not having their needs met or taken seriously. In light of this Manchester City Council, the Lesbian and Gay foundation and 20 Northwest Authorities have developed the following service: LGBT Carers Group: A carers group which will take place in a location that LGBT carers know is safe and know that their issues will be understood. The group will also be a place where carers can find out about other services, and are reassured that these services will be sensitive to their needs. LGBT Online community Forum: Which will allow interaction and peer support online and will have links to other carer support services. For further information, log onto www.lgf.org.uk/carers.

North West Mental Wellbeing Survey

Results of the North West Mental Wellbeing Survey can be found here.  Warrington scored highest in the North West in terms of having good mental wellbeing.

BIG plans for Orford Library   

Thanks to BIG (Big Lottery Fund) we plan to relocate Orford Library from Poplars Avenue to within the Orford Park Community Sports Hub when it is complete at the end of 2011. To help us do this we are inviting local people to become library volunteers. There are lots of ways you can get involved. If you want to learn a new skill, make new friends and help shape the future of your library then we would like to hear from you. To find out how you can be part of this new, exciting project contact Wendy Molyneux on 07730 075966.

New guidance for local Councils

The Compact Commission have published guidance for local authorities on managing budget revisions that can be due to the loss of expected income or pressure from increased demand of services.  The guidance note recognises and outlines how applying Compact principles can help.  More information can be found here - http://www.thecompact.org.uk/information/100023/140294/compactguidance/

Website last updated 3rd September 2010