About Us

Introduction to our work

Lincs2gether is an ESF (European Social Fund) project being delivered in partnership between Urban Challenge, Community Lincs, South Lincolnshire CVS (Community and Voluntary Service) and VAEL (Voluntary Action East Lindsey).

The consortium of local infrastructure organisations has been awarded a 2 year contract worth £388,636 and aims to improve the community and voluntary sectors ability to win contracts for public service work.

The funding for the Lincs2gether project has been approved and provided by the Regional European Social Fund Consortium and Lincolnshire County Council, who are the European Social Fund    Co-financing organisation.

The Lincs2gether project, which aims to provide support to more than 60 organisations and over 400 individuals in Lincolnshire, is designed to support the Governments initiative for wider commissioning of public services.

Initially the project will involve the collaborative working of the community and voluntary sector organisations for example, Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire NHS, although it is expected that other Local Authorities will become more involved as the project develops.

The work undertaken by Lincs2gether will include the following:

• Provision of training courses.
• Mentoring support for organizations.
• Supporting the commissioning process.
• Undertaking audits of public sector contracts.
• Undertaking audits of Third Sector Capacity.
• Supporting potential tenderers with a Website and Toolkit.
• Provide conferences for both Purchasers and Providers.

Earlier this year a major conference entitled "Getting to Grips with Commissioning” was held at Woodhall Spa with over 85 delegates benefiting from a comprehensive programme providing information on all aspects of commissioning.

The day also included a variety of workshops which gave delegates the opportunity to put forward a range of issues to ensure the Lincs2gether project is successful. This information is now being used by a Joint Strategic Commissioning Group set up to oversee the successful implementation of the commissioning process within Lincolnshire.

Helen Kearsley Cree, Project Manager, said:

"This project will make a major difference to the way that contracting is undertaken in future. The community and voluntary sector has a vital role to play and this project will ensure that they play a more active part in providing public services.”

For more information please contact Anna Vickerson:

Tel: (01205) 315902

Email: anna.v@southlincsvs.org.uk