Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, has addressed the first ever northern Social Value Conference about the Social Value Act in Liverpool.
The new ground-breaking law will enable Merseyside’s communities to benefit from more public services being delivered by local community organisations.
The Minister visited New Horizons in Liverpool, a charity which brings together Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership (GMCP) with social investors, including Big Society Capital. Social investors provide funding to generate social as well as financial returns. New Horizons will support more than 4,000 vulnerable young people over three years by offering training and mentoring to improve their employability skills and prepare them for the world of work.
The social investment theme for the day will continue with a round table with Merseyside’s Community Foundation to discuss local community organisations that will benefit from a new endowment fund. The national Endowment Match Challenge will see up to £50m in match funding going to communities across England. Through this initiative, every £2 donated by individuals and businesses will be matched by £1 from government, to invest in the provision of funding for social action projects long into the future. Alongside a meeting with Liverpool’s Transforming Local Infrastructure Partnership to discuss future plans for the city with partners including Liverpool Social Enterprise Network, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool CVS, and Merseyside Youth Association and see how social investment is having a significant and positive social impact on the community.
Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for voluntary sector organisations like those I’ve visited today in Liverpool and others across England get better access to fresh exciting opportunities because their first-hand expertise and knowledge in tackling social problems and running public services can help reform delivery and ultimately achieve greater benefits for our communities.”
Peter Holbrook, Social Enterprise UK CEO, said: “It is vital that the act is properly implemented and that social value is put at the heart of procurement practices.”
