Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

Llyr Gruffydd recently paid volunteer sector hub CVSC a visit and learnt that growing pressures on public services is leading to greater reliance on the network of voluntary services in Conwy.

The role of the Colwyn Bay-based Community and Voluntary Support Conwy (CVSC), which coordinates those voluntary services, was therefore even more important than ever.

Mr Gruffydd, of Plaid Cymru, said: “After a generation of public service funding, the reliance of our communities on the voluntary sector has increased substantially. The support given by CVSC across the county of Conwy to so many organisations is invaluable. In operating as a one-stop shop for so many organisations, their expertise helps with practical support as well as to give information, guidance and advice.”

Elgan Owen, Chief Executive Officer of CVSC, explained: “We operate as a pivot point in the centre of the voluntary sector in Conwy. We work with the Council, the Health Board, as well as the Private Sector. We are a link between all these organisations and the third sector (voluntary services).”

“CVSC manage several funds on behalf of the renewable energy sector that is allocated to community projects in Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire as well as some funds that support local businesses. A substantial amount of our work is to help team up these funds with the projects that are so reliant on this money.”

County Voluntary Councils support the sector across all of Wales but the CVSC set-up in Conwy is particularly well developed. As well as providing services for the voluntary sector, CVSC provides services that complement local authority and health services as well as reducing the significant pressure on them.

“We are quite lucky in Conwy to have access to funds from the renewable energy sector that is allocated to community projects in the area. A substantial amount of our work is to help team up these funds with the projects that are so reliant on this money.”

Many of the council areas across Wales will have similar third-sector hubs, but the CVSC set-up in Conwy is particularly well developed. As well as providing services for the volunteer sector, the CVSC provides services directly to the Council.

Llyr Gruffydd added: “One of the strengths of the set-up here in Conwy is that they’ve developed a well-oiled network of organisations that work well together. Not only do they support each other locally, but they extend across north Wales to provide strength in unity.”