Let's Work Together, Says Trust

11/03/2005

In this, the National Year of the Volunteer, voluntary organisations in Gloucestershire have been talking to their local NHS about how they would like to work together in the future.

Last year, Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust signed up to the new Gloucestershire Compact, which promotes standards of working between the voluntary and statutory sectors.

The Trust has pledged to involve voluntary organisations in decision-making about local health services, and to look at new opportunities for working in partnership.

Recently, more than 20 local voluntary groups attended an event organised by the Trust to look at what has worked well in the past and how relationships could be improved under the new Compact.

"We were delighted that so many people from the voluntary community took the time to come along and tell us what they thought," said Mike Adamson, Director of Commissioning at the Trust, and 'Compact Champion' for Cotswold and Vale.

"We found out, for example, that there are some great working relationships between certain voluntary groups and project leaders at the Trust. But other voluntary groups were unaware of opportunities to work with us, and didn't know who to contact within the NHS locally."

Merci Rebati of Stroud and District CVS was one of the people who attended the event. She said:

"I was impressed that Cotswold and Vale PCT took the initiative in starting discussions on how we can take forward the principles of the Compact and translate them into an effective, practical working relationship between the statutory and voluntary/community sectors.

"It was very gratifying to witness a genuine interest amongst our statutory partners to learn more about what makes our sector tick and the constraints we work under, and we, too, came away with a better understanding of the PCT's issues.

"I have no doubt that the foundations have been set for a very successful partnership through which to fulfill our common aim of serving our communities."

Voluntary groups praised the Trust for providing opportunities to consult and for valuing their contribution. But they also criticised the way 'partnerships' with health had worked in the past - from confusion over who to contact to a belief that the statutory sector always dictated the agenda.

"It's great that we've started discussions with our local voluntary community, and it's given us some specific actions to build on," said Mike Adamson.

"For example, we're going to start a web page devoted to working with voluntary groups, including a list of key contacts for those groups who want to contract a piece of work for us, or get more involved in future service planning."

Anyone interested in finding out more about voluntary group working with Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust can contact Mr Adamson on 01285 884694.