Community Links Bromley AGM 2007 - Special report

"Bromley's voluntary sector has a major role to play in improving community services", says Borough's new CEO

Partnership with the voluntary sector in Bromley is vital to improve community services - and the new Compact agreement between the sectors will underpin this relationship.

This was the message from Community Links Bromley's 42nd Annual General Meeting in September, attended by over 30 organisations and addressed by CLB's chairman, Jean Levy and the London Borough of Bromley's new Chief Executive, Doug Patterson.

Doug Patterson's keynote was an engaging look at 'partnership in action', emphasising the importance of good working relationships and communication.

Partnership working between agencies is absolutely vital as we seek to improve services to our community said Doug Patterson later. The voluntary sector has a major role to play in these partnerships.

Jean Levy, CLB chairman, said: Bromley's voluntary and community sector is strong and vibrant, providing essential support for the most vulnerable and marginalised in the borough.

The Compact agreement between the voluntary and public sectors, signed at the voluntary sector conference in March this year, recognises that all partners, including the voluntary sector, are important to the success and well-being of the borough.

We welcome the council's commitment to working in partnership and look forward to taking the Compact forward with Bromley's new chief executive and our other statutory colleagues.

CLB's chairman also reported on other key achievements by Community Links Bromley in 2006-7. CLB has secured funding to develop a range of specialist support services in fundraising, financial management and governance:

• Almost 50 organisations have benefited from one-to-one funding advice
• Some 70 treasurers and finance workers have benefited from guidance on the latest developments in financial management and accounts
• CLB ran a national pilot to provide training and support for local trustees and committee members, leading to the formation of a local trustee support network

Members also heard that, thanks to the hard work of the Bromley Volunteer Centre, over 800 members of the public have been referred to volunteer opportunities with over 280 local voluntary organisations.

CLB's AGM also saw the re-election of a new trustee, Christine Hellicar, and the re-election of Jean Levy as chairman. John Freeman was also re-elected as a trustee. Haysmacintyre were reappointed as auditors and some 19 new voluntary organisations were ratified as new Community Links Bromley members.

Key note speeches

There were two speakers at the event - Jean Levy, Chairman CLB and Doug Patterson,CEO Bromley Council.

Photos from the event

Peter Dyer, Head of Organisational Development, CLB

Leslie Marks, Vice Chair, CLB
and Cllr Carole Hubbard

Ali Hassan, Bromley Somali Community Association
and Lulu Pearce, Trustee, CLB

Jacqui Finn, South London CVS Partnership
and Doug Patterson, Chief Executive, London Borough of Bromley

Sue and Nike, CLB office volunteers