vcs is an employer with skills needs

At last, at long, long last! Government announces a new Third Sector Skills Council

This new skills body will identify and address skills gaps and shortages for charities, voluntary groups, social enterprises and other Third Sector organisations.

It will pull together the work of the sector skills councils to open up learning opportunities for Third Sector paid and voluntary staff. It will ensure the sector's needs are properly considered in the design and development of National Occupational Standards, Apprenticeship Frameworks and Sector Qualification Strategies.

The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will jointly fund the new skills body with £2.5 million over the next 3 years. It will be independent and directed by a board representing the sector's employers. To support this Skills for Justice will act as "incubator" and Janet Fleming of the Workforce Hub will project manage.

The Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan, said:

"This will put the Third Sector's skills needs on the same level as other sectors. Charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises deal with some of the most challenging social and environmental issues. Whether they are multi-million pound global operations or small community groups, having employees and volunteers with the right skills to get the job done is essential."

Lord Young, Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships said:

"The Third Sector Skills body will be a real step change to how charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups get the skills they need. As well as developing programmes to plug the immediate skills gaps, it will link the Third Sector into the complete national skills framework and influence the development of skills support services for the benefit of the sector."

And with a regional view, John Harris at the Regional Forum, said:

"This is progress on a front we have worked on for 6 years - ever since the government rejected the case for a generic Sector Skills Council after the National Training Organisations were abolished. We have lobbied regionally and nationally for this new body, the Workforce Hub have tenaciously held on and worked for this at national level and congratulations are due all round."

The voluntary and community sector (VCS) is significant in both scope and size – providing between 3 and 4% of the total regional workforce and working with upto two million volunteers.

The VCS is committed to continuous improvement in its delivery of services and this can only be achieved by building the capacity of VCS organisations, staff, volunteers, activists and trustees.

"Future Skills" is the VCS Regional Skills Action Plan. It details a "Skills Hit List" - the top 11 priorities for VCS workforce development.