Thrive was instrumental in establishing the Collective back in 2019/20 to help ensure that the voice of Trafford’s VCFSE sector was heard in the then health and social care devolution planning at the GM level and to support the delivery of health and wellbeing outcomes in Trafford.
Working with our partners we wanted to develop a new model which could bring VCFSEs together as an independent organisation and which would act as a strategic partner, providing influence, and VCFSE representation in a wide range of local and GM decision-making structures. This was also the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the developing Collective had an important role to play in managing its impact. This also led to the development of the excellent Trafford Community Hubs as part of our joint response.
Our vision was always that the Collective would become ‘member led’ and ‘owned’ by the VCFSE sector. Working closely at the time with George Devlin, and through a series of engagement forums, workshops and working hard to secure start-up funding, the Trafford Community Collective was eventually born.
We have continued to work in partnership with our colleagues ever since, helping to secure investment and providing the Collective with development support. It is therefore with great pride that we are able to congratulate the Trafford Community Collective today in being awarded a new VCFSE Support Grant by Trafford Council.
Thrive Trafford will be continuing to work hard for the VCFSE sector in Trafford in partnership with the Collective team led by Bernadette and Nathalie. In particular, we will be focusing on our core specialisms including continued delivery of support for Trafford’s social economy, developing the Trafford Social Enterprise Network (TSEN) and application for Trafford to become a Social Enterprise Place, leading on the Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection Lottery application with the other GM boroughs, and our ongoing engagement at the GM level to help secure investment and support for Trafford. If you have an enquiry about any of these areas please do get in touch with us.
Having delivered support for Trafford’s VCFSE sector for over 14 years, it has always been our commitment to develop a sector which is strong, resilient, of high quality, high impact, and sustainable for the long term. As we now embark on this new chapter in Trafford’s development, we look forward to continuing this work together with all of our partners and in realising this long held vision for the benefit of Trafford’s VCFSE sector and communities.
To read the full statement issued by the Trafford Community Collective please click here