CIP Stakeholder Statement

The Community Infrastructure Partnership is today issuing the following statement to its key stakeholders across Hampshire:

"Hampshire County Council’s Infrastructure Grant has significantly contributed to the core activities of the CVSs (Council of Voluntary Services) for many years, but was identified as a cost saving through last year's Future Services consultation. Consequently, from 31st March, the Hampshire CVS Network, as we have previously known it, ceased to exist. Whilst the loss of the valuable grant may impact on the activities of the individual CVSs, it has created an opportunity for the Community Infrastructure Partnership CIC (CIP) to come to the fore.

From 1st April, the Community Infrastructure Partnership (CIP) will lead the network of local organisations, supporting and representing the Voluntary Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector across Hampshire. As an established partnership, the CIP brings together a trusted alliance of unique areas of expertise and approaches from across the county, to provide a shared strength for the communities we serve.

Collaboratively, its established members (Action Hampshire, Basingstoke Voluntary Action, Hart Voluntary Action, One Community, Rushmoor Voluntary Services and Unity) will also take this opportunity to align with our umbrella body NAVCA, and the majority of similar organisations in the UK. We will adopt the newer description of Local Infrastructure Organisations (LIOs) rather than the traditional CVS - NAVCA | What our members do.

We will continue working with neighbouring CVS/LIOs; currently we are focussing efforts on the priority devolution plan for Hampshire and Local Government Reorganisation. Individually, each LIO will continue to support its members and local VCSE sector."