A ROUNDTABLE discussion is to be held in Wiveliscombe for the town’s charities, non-profit organisations, and community groups to look at how they can better work together.

It follows a conversation between Wivey Link Community Transport organisers and Spark Somerset, which supports and champions voluntary and community organisations across the county to help change lives and build healthy, resilient communities.

A small group of Wiveliscombe-based charities then began discussing the benefits of bringing together non-profit groups in the town to discuss and share information about their front line offerings in order to keep the community informed, signpost people to other services, and share best practice and training with each other.

Now, a conference is to be held in the upper hall of Wiveliscombe Community Centre from 10 am to 12 noon, on Friday, November 21.

Spark Somerset will facilitate the initial conversation which could be the first of several to be held.

Non-profits, charities, community interest companies, co-operatives, and other local groups working for the community have been invited to nominate a representative to join the meeting, which is limited to 60 places.

A spokesperson said: “By working together, we will all be better able to support the needs of our community.

“We will aim to produce a written summary for groups that cannot join us.

“Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be available.”

Topics for discussion at the conference session will include:

* Policies and procedures, including safeguarding and GDPR

* Volunteer engagement

* Bookkeeping, accounting/reporting, banking, insurance

* Fund-raising and impact reporting

* Digital and IT

* Governance

Wivey Link Community Transport, which has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, helps to combat rural isolation with its fleet of wheelchair accessible vehicles and one which can accommodate shopping trolleys and strollers, for use by people with no access to public or private transport.