The Director of Public Health has decided to approve the award of a grant for a 3-year period, with a total value of £420,000 (£140,000 per annum), to Wirral CVS to deliver a programme of activity to support collaboration between key system partners and the community, voluntary and faith (CVF) sector in Wirral.

Since April 2023, Wirral has been piloting a new way of working to support local community, voluntary and faith (CVF) sector co-ordination. The pilot has proven to allow support for the CVF sector to flourish and support the development of neighbourhood working and delivery of Wirral’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Continued funding is required to ensure prolonged and effective engagement across the sector, to bring revenue into the borough, and to support the CVF sector to enable the delivery of key strategic plans. Further investment has been provided via the Liverpool City Region (UK Shared Prosperity Funding) related to volunteering.

Public Health Grant funding will align with and enhance external investment and support the delivery of the Wirral Working Together Plan, Wirral Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the place-based priorities including the developing neighbourhoods programme.

Various options were explored including different financial models for investment and the option of not providing any additional investment. These options, although considered, are not recommended as this would risk delivery of local strategic priorities.

The option of putting this contract out for competitive tender was considered, however pre- market testing showed that Wirral CVS are the only organisation in Wirral which has National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) membership and will be receiving external grant funding via the Liverpool City Region therefore this option was discounted.