FLVC and Flintshire County Council are involved in many initiatives and  partnerships.   Below are just some of them

Flintshire European Partnership

Flintshire falls within the East Wales European Social Fund Objective 3 Fund area and the European Partnership has continued to act as a filter for local bids before they are submitted to Wales European Funding Office (WEFO).  FLVC brokered the involvement of a number of voluntary sector members and has played an active part in the development of a number of local bids including the successful “Improving Community Skills” bid with Deeside College and the Welsh College of Horticulture.  Working with the Partnership Development Officer FLVC has promoted new funding programmes, in particular, “Equal” which aims to remove barriers to employment for disadvantaged people and has simpler application procedures.  However, as stated last year the level of paperwork required in submitting applications and the monitoring requirements for the main funds preclude significant involvement from most voluntary groups.

 Children and Young People

The National Assembly issued two major policy documents, Children and Young People – A Framework for Partnership and Extending Entitlement which have begun to shape a new local partnership planning structure which requires significant involvement from the voluntary sector and from young people.  It is likely that the existing Children First Board and the Childcare and the Children and Youth Partnerships will all be absorbed into the new arrangements.  The first meeting of the Young People’s Partnership which is a statutory requirement under the Skills Act 2000 has taken place but progress has been slow in undertaking audits of provision and of need.  FLVC has organised a number of seminars aimed at voluntary and community groups working with young people to, raise awareness of the changes, and discuss how the sector can be best represented.    

Community Safety Executive

Communities First

Small Towns and Villages Enterprise Initiative

The original target area, in the north west of the county, has been extended south to include Greenfield and areas of Holywell and Bagillt.  FLVC has been an active partner in the development of this project and has continued to work closely with a small provider team and the County Council’s Project Officer to identify potential community enterprises and projects and to provide practical support and information.

Community Strategy

The National Assembly has required each Local Authority to take the lead in developing a Community Strategy/Plan which brings together all the specific service plans and strategies and creates an overarching vision for the county.  FLVC has taken part in a stakeholder event and the formation of a Community Strategy Partnership is imminent

Voluntary Sector Compact

A  number of meetings of the Flintshire Voluntary Sector Compact Group have taken place.  Terms of reference and an action plan have been agreed.  The group has prioritised the following issues: the Community Strategy; the Wales Improvement Programme (Formerly Best Value); Funding Strategy; communication as a cross-cutting theme.

A researcher to examine  Voluntary Sector Funding has been appointed and is now actively engaged in talking to local groups and agencies regarding the issue of funding.