The Community Empowerment Fund was set up by the Government to help local community and voluntary sector groups in the identified 88 most deprived areas in England get involved in decision-making on a strategic level through the Local Strategic Partnership (in Rotherham, the Rotherham Partnership).

The fund is administered by local voluntary and community sector lead organisations – in Rotherham, this is Voluntary Action Rotherham on behalf of the Community Development and Involvement Partnership within the Rotherham Partnership. The Partnership, and the related networks created through Voice (network of voluntary organisations) and Network of Partnerships (network of community partnerships) bring together a wide range of local organisations and partnerships in the area, especially those representing the most deprived neighbourhoods and most marginalised groups.

In Rotherham, we have £176,000 Community Empowerment Fund monies this year, and a further £129,000 is anticipated in 2004/05 and 2005/06. The fund enables local community and voluntary sector groups to get involved in decision making on a strategic level through the Local Strategic Partnership. It is a strategic fund to develop infrastructure and improve the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to participate in decision-making. The aim of the plan for 2003/4 is to enable and support strong and independent networks and partnerships, and secure effective representation on the Rotherham Partnership.

The plan identifies the following spending priorities for CEF for 2003/4:

• Funding of the team developing the projects and administering the fund on behalf of the Partnership.
  
• Selection process for recruitment of voluntary and community representatives to the Rotherham Partnership, including elections.
  
• Development of induction training and support package for voluntary and community representatives.
  
• Continuing support to the development of Voice and the Network of Partnerships.
  
• Development of communications and Marketing Plan, and website.

Further information about Rotherham's Community Empowerment Fund Plan and Community Empowerment Fund is available from Voluntary Action Rotherham. Contact Amy Carter, Community Empowerment Co-ordinator:

Telephone: 01709 829821
E.mail: josie.collinson@varotherham.org.uk