VOLUNTARY SECTOR PARTNERSHIP WELCOMES NEW CHAIR, STARTS WORK ON A DEVOLUTION MANIFESTO FOR LIVERPOOL CITY REGION
The VS6 partnership last Tuesday welcomed its new independent Chair, Rev Canon Dr Ellen Loudon, who will bring a wealth of experience from her work in the arts, at Liverpool Cathedral and the Diocese of Liverpool, where she has recently been appointed Director for Social Justice.
VS6 represents Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) bodies from across Liverpool City Region. It provides the means by which VCFSE groups can debate, influence and shape policy at the City Region level, with a collective reach to over 8,000 community organisations in the area.
At the event last Tuesday, in which participants were invited to set out their vision for how a thriving Liverpool City Region could look, and how communities could be involved, Ellen outlined a vision of a place where “people are valued for their contribution to the common good, not for how much they earn.”
On becoming Chair, Ellen said “This is a pivotal moment for the future of our City Region. We have the opportunity to create something that works for all of the people and communities across our City Region. As a sector, we have to play our part and make the case for what is just and important.”
Speakers included Michael Parkinson, Director of the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy and Practice, Neil McInroy, CEO of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, and Mike Palin, CEO of St Helens Council, who each outlined practical measures to build stronger City Region partnerships.
The day also saw work start on the partnership’s manifesto for the city region, which will be launched in the coming months. It will set out how the VCFSE sector plans to ensure devolution is used to bring about meaningful change that benefits Liverpool City Region and all its communities. Partners, and mayoral candidates, will be invited to support and promote the manifesto and its aims.
On handing over the reins, Sally Yeoman, who had been acting Chair of VS6, said “It has been my pleasure to fill the gap left by our excellent chair Ultan Russell at what is an interesting and exciting time in our development and within the Liverpool City Region. I am delighted to be handing over to Ellen and look forward to working with her for the benefit of the city region over the coming years.”
