Council shortlisted for Support Staffordshire award

Recognising council success for working in partnership with Tamworth’s voluntary and community sector Awards evening took place at Alton Towers on 25 April

Tamworth Borough Council were shortlisted for an award in the Council or Statutory Body Partnership with the Voluntary Sector category, at the Support Staffordshire Awards evening on 25 April.

In being shortlisted, Tamworth Borough Council have been recognised for their partnership and close working with Tamworth’s voluntary sector. In particular, successfully bidding for and receiving funds to further support this vital sector in Tamworth.

Tamworth Borough Council were successful in their bid for £500,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), to be used to benefit Tamworth’s community and voluntary sector from 2022 - 2025.

This funding is being used for training and making it possible for local community and voluntary sector organisations to deliver local services to meet local need. These include:

• Recruiting and training volunteers to help support parents of children under five
• Advice and guidance on the cost-of-living crisis with those most vulnerable, including home visit support with filling out essential forms
• Community shops have been launched to supply low-cost food and clothing
• A new Time Out group will be commencing in Tamworth for those caring for loved ones with dementia
• Arts and crafts are supported, including projects to refurbish bus shelters around Tamworth

Support Staffordshire are the voluntary sector membership infrastructure organisation for community groups across Staffordshire, and the awards recognised many other organisations and volunteers from Tamworth including Betterway Recovery and Heart of Tamworth.

Stephen Gabriel, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council, said: “I want to congratulate our Community Partnerships team, for the ambition shown in bidding for further funding to support our vibrant local community and voluntary sector. It is good to see this recognised by being shortlisted for a Support Staffordshire award.

“I would also like to congratulate the very worthy winners of the category, Rugeley Community Church in partnership with Staffordshire County Council.

“Tamworth Borough Council have always recognised the valuable contribution of its local voluntary sector, and this is confirmed by the decisions to invest further in the sector.

“Between the financial year of 2023/2024, seven different voluntary sector organisations have received more than £180K in UK Shared Prosperity Funding to carry out projects to help shape and support our communities.”

Alongside this specific UK Shared Prosperity Funding, Tamworth Borough Council currently pays local community and voluntary organisations to deliver services on their behalf, directly supporting the most vulnerable in our local communities. Every year Tamworth Borough Council spends over £300,000 in this way.

The UK Shared Prosperity funding gives Tamworth voluntary and community sector organisations an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of local people. Through effective collaboration with the local voluntary, community sector and business organisations, they are determined to achieve a greater and stronger reach into the local communities, improving outcomes and raising pride in Tamworth the place.