Building Safer Communities Through Building Stronger Partnerships Sally Pickering Gloucestershire Association for Voluntary and Community Action June 19 th 2012

Gloucestershire VCS Assembly  Collective voice for the VCS in Gloucestershire  Led by a Board of Representatives  Supported by GAVCA  Thematic strategic groups including Stronger and Safer Communities.  Elected VCS reps sit on working groups etc

Pre Safer Future Communities Project  VCS Assembly Stronger and Safer Communities Strategy Group and elected reps  CLINKS Criminal Justice Agencies and VCS networking event – June 2009  VCS Assembly Good Commissioning Guide (linked to Gloucestershire Compact)  Home Office funded IOM Project

A Framework for Commissioning  Provides guidance on how VCS resources can be harnessed to help reduce re-offending through improved commissioning.  Research involved talking to VCS and statutory case managers See safer-communities/integrated-offender- managementhttp:// safer-communities/integrated-offender- management

Gloucestershire Safer Future Communities Project  Refreshed VCS Network  Task and Finish Group to develop key messages to candidates Briefing Sheet VCS Priorities concerning - relationship between PCC and VCS - skills and qualities needed for the job - engagement structures that need to be in place

Gloucestershire Safer Future Communities Project  Made contact with Police Authority to discuss VCS offer – community engagement help with commissioning co-delivery of services

Which has resulted in:-  A commitment to involving the VCS in GSSJC partnership event to plan for the new PCC Work to review engagement structures  GAVCA commissioned to coordinate VCS Assembly members to engage with seldom heard communities to gather views on role of PCC  Consultants recommended by VCS commissioned to engage with public sector partners to further develop ideas on what commissioning will look like.

What Next?  GAVCA is meeting individually with candidates and asking them to support the VCS key principles  Candidates’ position on VCS Assembly Key Principles will be widely publicised.  Work with partners to hold Hustings events  Ensure that focus groups receive feed- back and chance to meet candidates

All information can be found at - communities/police-and-crime-commissioner