Council hosts Community Champions Conference for local volunteer groups

Thanet District Council is hosting a conference for local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) groups. The event will take place between 9.30am and 4pm on Wednesday 22 November, at St Augustine’s, 125 Canterbury Road, Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8NL. 

The Thanet Community Champions Conference will bring together representatives from VCSE groups across the district. It will introduce the new Community Champions Programme, as well as the £300,000 Shared Prosperity Grant Fund, which are both part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). 

Representatives of community groups are now invited to book their free spaces at the conference on the council’s website. Each organisation is invited to book places for up to two people. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. 

More information about the Shared Prosperity Grant Fund and how to apply will be shared on the day, along with findings of the recent survey of the VCSE sector in Thanet. The conference will include speakers from charity Funding for All, Councillor Ruth Duckworth, council officers and project consultants. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and share information. 

Thanet was awarded £1.15m under the UKSPF, which is part of the wider Levelling Up agenda and is intended to reduce inequalities between communities. Thanet District Council plans to use the funding to tackle some of the challenges facing communities in the district, targeting support where it will have the biggest impact.

Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth at Thanet District Council, said: ”Here in Thanet we are proud of our strong voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. It is made up of many people, who work extremely hard for the benefit of our residents. They achieve outstanding results in so many areas. 

“The Community Champions Conference will help these groups to build on their strong foundations, and see how they fit into the bigger picture, working together for a common goal, providing a perfect opportunity for us to celebrate success across the sector.”

Find out more about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on the council’s website.