ST HELENS Council has been urged to outline its commitment to the voluntary sector by producing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

A MoU is an agreement that expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action.

Sally Yeoman, chief executive of Halton and St Helens VCA, said producing a MoU would be a “really important step forward” for the voluntary sector.

Speaking at the council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny panel, Ms Yeoman called on the authority to produce the strategic document, which she said would help set the tone and scene for the way people work.

“We do need a conversation about what organisations are important to St Helens and then what’s the plan for making sure they’re ok year in year out,” she said.

“And I think sometimes setting out that in a strategic document would help.

“There are a lot of organisations, most of them aren’t running with the council’s help. Most of them are fundraising themselves, bringing in money, doing their own thing.

“But there are some really key organisations across the borough that we don’t want to lose and it would be detrimental to people experiencing some of the most difficult times I’ve ever known.”

Ms Yeoman told the panel there is a “culture shift” within the sector, and said it is important everyone thinks differently about how to deliver services in the future.

“We all recognise the kind of levels of investment the sector used to enjoy is gone and may never return,” she said.

“I think there are some things we can do within the borough if we work collaboratively to create the right environment.

“If we can have different conversations about funding, think about how we bring additional investment in, think about how the council and the CCG can support the sector to make the best of opportunities and identify those outside of the borough.”

Ms Yeoman also said she was “disappointed” at the length of time it recently took to get an additional member from the VCA on the council’s People’s Board.

She said that could – in addition to funding cuts –  send out the wrong message to people about their value.

She said: “I think there’s more for us to do but if we can have an agreement that was matched with action, so people felt like they mattered and the work, those two things were connected, then I think it would make a difference.”

Ms Yeoman also suggested setting up a foundation in St Helens for the voluntary sector to secure funds from the community.

“It’s a way of kickstarting endowment for St Helens, that we encourage local people to give to local causes,” she said.

“So, if we recognise there isn’t the level of investment the public sector can make into the sector, what other ways can we do that?

“And philanthropy and local people giving could be one of the ways that we can get something kickstarted.”