This is the VSNW response to the discussion paper on the challenges and solutions to better investment in and partnership with the VCSE sector. This response drew upon a workshop discussion held at VSNW’s annual conference on 7th October 2015. This well attended workshop focussed very much on the relationship between the sector and its public sector partners.

Key points from the workshop discussion focussed on:

• The importance for the voluntary sector to be confident in its values and its role while at the same time recognising that it needed to show ‘good governance’ and also be able to provide strong evidence of its worth
   
• The need for the voluntary sector to be seen as an integral part of health and care pathways.

We give five recommendations, drawn from our workshop and from engagement in local strategic discussions, in particular as part of the emerging devolution discussions in the five subregions of the North West.