The sector as a whole is constantly being urged to work ‘in partnership’ with a whole host of organisations, both statutory, such as Councils and Primary Care Trusts, and others, including the private sector. Whilst this is totally supported, it does take a commitment in terms of time.

Ryedale Voluntary Action takes part in several key partnerships for the Ryedale area, including

• the Local Strategic Partnership
• the crime and disorder partnership – ‘Safer Ryedale’
• Ryedale Area Learning Partnership
• ‘Connecting Ryedale’ – the partnership linking youth organisations
• the Lifelong Learning Partnership

All the above are important for the voluntary sector as they are strategic in nature and have a responsibility for activities across the whole of Ryedale.

The Local Strategic Partnership in particular plays a key role for Ryedale. This is a Partnership between the public, private, and voluntary sectors which come together for the benefit of the Ryedale area and to oversee the development and implementation of the Community Plan for Ryedale.

This plan sets out a 10 year vision for Ryedale in 6 areas:

1. Vibrant Communities
2. Strong Safe Communities
3. Access and Communication
4. Health and Wellbeing
5. Landscape and Environment
6. Developing Opportunities

Ryedale Voluntary Action is involved in this process and is committed to making the whole process beneficial to our sector. This Local Strategic Partnership is quite a new partnership and is still evolving so we will seek to ensure that it is fully inclusive and offers real benefit to the sector.

For more information on the Community Plan, please go to the Ryedale District Council web site: www.imagine-ryedale.org.uk

We want to represent the interests of the voluntary sector in all our partnership work, so please do contact us if you have any issues you consider important. It is vital that our sector works in partnership as well!

Partnerships are constantly developing and we will work for the benefit of the area as a whole in all partnership working. It is important also that members of the sector in Ryedale bear this aspect in mind when they sit on any partnerships. The strength of the voluntary sector voice will be greater if we all share our experiences of partnership working. Please do get in touch therefore if you have any issues you wish to share and we will circulate these to the sector locally.