VS6 Partnership writes to Deputy PM calling for urgent action to secure the future of employment and skills support in Liverpool City Region
The VS6 Partnership, representing over 11,500 voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) groups in the Liverpool City Region, has written to the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to seek clarification on the future of VCFSE employment and skills support in Liverpool City Region.
In a letter to Angela Rayner in her role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, VS6 highlighted the critical need for a clear successor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK-SPF), which is set to terminate in March 2025, with many VCFSE organisations facing a funding cliff-edge putting the future of key services and our workforce at risk.
The fundamental role of the VCFSE sector in supporting people into work, lifting people out of poverty and kickstarting economic growth was emphasised in the letter. This was backed up with key statistics on UK-SPF funding in the city region as well as insightful case studies delving into the impact on the ground of the sectors work and stressing what we might lose.
Key Points:
Funding Cliff Edge: We face a significant gap in VCFSE employment and skills support investment, one already exacerbated by the reduction in overall funding from European programmes in comparison to UK-SPF.
Impact on Communities: The VCFSE sector has been pivotal in moving people into employment, education, and training, significantly contributing to the region’s economic growth and social inclusion.
Call to Action: The VS6 Partnership urges the government minimise disruption to our vital services by extending UK-SPF for one year until a suitable successor is developed and to collaborate with the sector to develop a sustainable approach to economic growth.
“We are at a critical juncture. Without a clear plan for future funding, we risk losing the vital services that support our most vulnerable communities” VS6 Chair Dr Ellen Loudon stressed. “We call on the government to take immediate action to ensure continuity and stability for the VCFSE sector.”
Read the full letter here.