From September 2006 Kettering Voluntary Network and Corby Community and Voluntary Services have been able to strengthen their respective positions in the delivery of infrastructure support to the voluntary and community sector.

a broad range of services to groups across both boroughs

 A joint bid to the County Council to deliver a broad range of  services to groups across both boroughs was successful, and work is underway to establish a steering group to oversee the project.

The opportunities afforded by working together will include shared resources, training, and introduction of quality standards, marketing and representation. Lack of duplication within the area will allow more, high quality, targeted services to be delivered. Some joint working is already taking place with regard to the two Fora.  Joint bids have recently been submitted to Reaching Communities and BASIS to expand current services across the two areas. If successful they would enable the partnership to develop a VCS marketing strategy and to offer outreach volunteering information services to hard to reach and isolated groups in rural and urban areas.

 Services to be delivered include

• Start-up and development support
• Information, advice and assistance
• Advocacy and Representation
• Partnership building and brokerage
• Policy and research
• Promotion and development of volunteering