As Chief Operating Officer of Community Together CIC, I see first-hand the difference that voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations make in Tamworth. From grassroots groups tackling loneliness and food insecurity, to social enterprises creating jobs and skills, this sector is the backbone of community life.
However, the local government in Staffordshire is currently on the brink of change. Proposals for reorganisation could see Tamworth become part of either:
-
A South Unitary Authority (Tamworth, Lichfield, East Staffordshire, Cannock and Stafford)
-
An East Unitary Authority (Tamworth, Lichfield, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent)
And on top of this, there’s the possibility of a Staffordshire elected mayor.
These are significant shifts, and while change can bring opportunity, it also presents real challenges for the VCSE sector — both here in Tamworth and across the county.
The Risks We Face
1. Losing Local Voice
Our strength as a sector lies in our local knowledge and relationships. If Tamworth becomes part of a much larger authority, there’s a risk that hyper-local voices — the small volunteer groups and neighbourhood projects — are drowned out by bigger, louder players.
2. Funding Uncertainty
Reorganisations almost always bring funding delays. Commissioning may be paused, budgets reshaped, and smaller organisations left unsure how to plan for the future. We know many local VCSE groups already operate on fragile resources — they can’t afford long periods of uncertainty.
3. One Size Doesn’t Fit All
Tamworth’s needs are not the same as Cannock’s, Stafford’s or Stoke’s. A single “unitary” model risks levelling out that nuance. What works in a big city like Stoke may not fit in a town like ours, where community organisations often fill the gaps in ways that don’t show up neatly on spreadsheets.
4. Pressure on Representation
New structures often want “a VCSE voice at the table.” However, our sector isn’t a single voice — it’s hundreds. Asking one or two representatives to speak on behalf of everyone risks tokenism. Without proper investment in infrastructure to support coordination, many voices will be left unheard.
5. Strain on Capacity
Most local groups lack the time or staff to track policy shifts, attend governance meetings, or pursue new commissioning opportunities. If reorganisation adds layers of bureaucracy, smaller organisations will struggle to keep up — even as they continue to deliver vital services on the ground.
Why This Matters for Tamworth
Reorganisation isn’t just about councils and governance — it’s about people. If we get this wrong, communities will feel the impact.
-
The single mum juggling debt, loneliness, and mental health challenges needs seamless, joined-up support — not a patchwork weakened by funding gaps or service cuts.
-
The man who comes to a community café for a hot meal might also need training to get back into work. That kind of holistic help is precisely what Tamworth VCSE organisations provide.
If these organisations are weakened or sidelined, the people who rely on them will suffer.
What Needs to Change
If the government is serious about reorganisation, it must also be serious about supporting the VCSE sector to thrive within it. That means:
-
Protecting the local voice: ensuring Tamworth’s VCSE sector has real influence in whatever new structures emerge.
-
Investing in infrastructure: funding coordination, leadership and representation so smaller groups aren’t left behind.
-
Designing flexible funding: recognising that community organisations don’t fit into neat boxes, and trusting them to deliver what people really need.
-
Embedding the VCSE sector into governance: not as an afterthought, but as a core partner in shaping services and priorities.
-
Championing partnerships and collaboration: creating strong links between organisations, councils, and statutory bodies to ensure communities benefit from shared vision and resources during the transition.
Looking Ahead
At Community Together CIC, we’ll continue to champion the role of Tamworth’s VCSE sector through this period of change. We are committed to partnerships and collaborative working, forming links wherever we can to strengthen our voice and capacity as these reforms unfold.
But we can’t do it alone. Local leaders, councillors, and national policymakers must work with us — not just consult us — to design a system that values what communities already do so well.
Change is coming. Our job now is to make sure it strengthens, rather than undermines, the incredible network of people and organisations that make Tamworth the community we’re proud to serve.