West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is the Local Authority governing the county of West Sussex. The county also contains seven district and borough councils, as well as town, parish and neighbourhood councils. West Sussex County Council is an ambitious and focused organisation, committed to making a difference to people living and working in West Sussex.
The council is responsible for a broad range of public services such as community and economic development, education and child care, transport, strategic planning, emergency services, social care and wastes management.
As the county's largest employer, we offer a diverse range of employment opportunities across these service areas and many more…all within one organisation. We are committed to supporting and investing in our employees to develop and grow within the organisation, and we work with our partners across the county on initiatives to improve opportunities for local employment.
Skills Share
West Sussex County Council and the West Sussex Council for Voluntary Service Network (CVS) have launched a website supporting volunteering in the county.
‘Skillshare West Sussex’ promotes volunteering opportunities of between one day and two weeks duration. Social enterprises, voluntary organisations and community groups can use the website at www.skillshare-westsussex.org.uk to advertise their volunteering opportunities and these can be matched against the skills and availability of registered organisations and individuals.
County Council Deputy Leader Lionel Barnard, who has responsibility for enterprise, said: “The County Council recognises the value of promoting volunteering and of supporting both host organisations and volunteers to find opportunities suitable for them.
“The new website will complement many initiatives run by businesses, including the County Council’s own Employee Volunteering Scheme, which aims to encourage and support staff to take part in volunteering schemes that contribute towards active and independent communities.”
Kate Scales, Chief Executive of Voluntary and Community Action Chichester District, which manages the website, said: “Voluntary and community groups across West Sussex rely on the support of volunteers, but we appreciate not everyone has the time to commit to long term volunteering placements.
“This scheme aims to attract a new audience to volunteering and to support local communities with employee volunteering schemes to find placements for their staff. And as the slogan says, giving a little means a lot.”
The scheme has been designed to run alongside the service provided by the Volunteer Centres. But whereas the Volunteer Centres focus on longer term placements, the website will focus on short term opportunities. The site also enables organisations to showcase their volunteering achievements.
Natures Way Foods Ltd, from Selsey, was the first company to sign up to the new initiative. The company’s 500 employees are given one day a year to volunteer in their local community.
Its Community Partnership Advisor Nicky Upton said: “The Skillshare website is the perfect exchange platform between local community groups and businesses. Employees have the opportunity to use and share their skills in projects outside the workplace, benefiting from team building experience and meeting new people while at the same time giving something back to their local community.”
