Pledge to support Voluntary Sector

A commitment to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the voluntary sector in Newcastle-under-Lyme has been signed by the Borough Council.

Cllr. Simon Tagg, the Leader of the Council, put pen to paper on the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Pledge outside the Guildhall in Newcastle town centre. He was joined at the signing by Garry Jones the Chief Executive of Support Staffordshire. The Borough Council has become one of the first district authorities in the county to sign the pledge.

Cllr. Tagg said: “It is fitting that this signing has taken place at the Guildhall because this is
a fantastic example of how the public sector can work with the voluntary and community
sector to bring about positive things for local people. We worked with Support Staffordshire to ensure a wide range of services – as requested by residents – could be available from this historic and iconic building. The Council has retained ownership of this important landmark and we are responsible for buildings insurance and running costs. Support Staffordshire has secured five tenants for the building – Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District (BID), Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society, the Shaw Trust, Moneyline and Rethink – which is not only generating rental income but providing services to local people.”

Mr Jones said: ‘I am delighted the Borough Council has signed the pledge. Whilst we have a long-standing, strategic relationship with other districts, Support Staffordshire is newer to Newcastle-under-Lyme. The pledge represents a great milestone in our working relationship and shows the commitment of the Council to working locally with communities and the voluntary sector.”

The pledge has been reviewed and endorsed by Team Staffordshire which is a voluntary sector led partnership, who co-operate to increase investment into Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and also aims to influence public policy for the benefit of local communities. The Borough Council, alongside South Staffordshire District Council, has one of the two places on the Team Staffordshire Steering Group, representing district councils in Staffordshire.