HOW WE'LL KEEP OUR PROMISE TO VOLUNTARY SECTOR

The Leicester Mercury's First Person column today is by Cllr Manjula Sood, Assistant Mayor and Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths.

How we'll keep our promise to voluntary sector 

Assistant city mayor Coun Manjula Sood reflects on the city's vision for those who help others 

We are clearly living in challenging times. While the public sector is bearing the brunt of national financial pressures, the impact is being felt far more widely. For many years, the fortunes of the public and voluntary sectors have been closely linked – not least because the voluntary sector relies so heavily on the financial support of the public sector. 

So the pressures on public finances are being keenly felt by the many voluntary organisations that provide valuable help to citizens. 

When Sir Peter Soulsby was elected as city mayor back in May, he announced his commitment to build a strong relationship with Leicester's voluntary and community sector.

Indeed, one of his 100-day pledges was to set out a vision for the voluntary sector, based on positive work with the many groups in the city. 

I am leading that work and I am delighted to be doing so. When I first came to Leicester over 40 years ago, it was a very different place. The changes I have witnessed are partly due to the efforts of voluntary groups that were established to support different elements of our community. 

I have been an active supporter of these groups – both as a councillor since 1996 and especially during my time as Lord Mayor.Reaching out to our communities through these groups has allowed the city council, along with other public sector organisations, to build strong bridges with everyone – no matter what their background or status. 

It is that ethos we want to continue to develop. We see the council working closely with the voluntary sector – not just through those groups traditionally funded by the local authority, but the many groups and individuals who we cannot fund but who do equally valuable work. 

We're already planning a major summit – hopefully to be held this autumn – when groups and individuals involved in the voluntary sector can come together with the council and others to map out a way forward. 

It is clear that funding will be a critical issue. We know there are difficult times ahead. So it's all the more important we engage with people right across the voluntary sector, explore how they can develop better business skills, use the limited funds available to best effect and open up different channels of funding. 

Despite the financial challenges we are facing, I strongly believe this is a really exciting time for the public and voluntary sectors to work together and tackle these issues in an atmosphere of mutual respect, which I'm sure will benefit the people of Leicester.