We’re delighted to share our 2020/21 Impact Report with you
Since the pandemic hit, people have faced some of the most difficult times of their lives. From the initial lockdown to the ‘learning to live with it’, from the social isolation to the challenges of home schooling, from the fear of losing loved ones to the reality of losing jobs.
Within days of the start of the first lockdown, community groups across the county – formal and informal – networks, neighbours and social enterprises, rallied round to help people in need. From shopping to prescription pick-ups, friendly phone calls to hot meals, wonderful groups and passionate staff and volunteers joined together to help.
At a time of crisis, the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector and ‘community action’ really came into its own.
Katherine Nolan, Chief Executive of Spark Somerset comments; “We have been overwhelmed by the response of voluntary groups and communities. It has been a real privilege to work with such amazing organisations and fantastic volunteers, especially during such challenging times.
“Covid-19 has shone a light on the importance of the VCSE sector – it is certainly not an overstatement to suggest that we wouldn’t have got through the last year without it. It is therefore vital for the VCSE sector to be able to engage effectively and strategically with partners across Somerset to address the challenges that we all face.”
Those of us working (and volunteering) in the VCSE sector in Somerset are often so busy ‘doing’ that we don’t have time to reflect on what we, as a network, community, and County have achieved.
This report is a celebration of some of these achievements and the people that made them happen. We want it to serve as a reminder of what is possible when we work together. Never has our VCSE sector been more needed. A huge thank you to you all.
Read the full report here.
#NeverMoreNeeded
