What do we mean by Infrastructure?

Local infrastructure organisations (LIO's) work to ensure that voluntary & community organisations (VCO's) get the support they need. Their primary purpose is the provision of capacity building, development, promotion and co-ordination for frontline VCOs. They represent VCO interests, providing a voice in policy making and facilitate joint working between VCO's and the public and private sectors.

What is ChangeUp?

ChangeUp is a national initiative, launched by the Government, based on the understanding that the voluntary & community sector has a crucial role in building strong communities and in delivering public services. By 2014 the intention is that every frontline VCO will have access to the support needed to be or become a sustainable organisation. LIO's must be providing universally excellent and accessible services to their VCO's and to be sustainably funded themselves, by 2014 also.

What does SCIO do?

SCIO's Vision and Infrastructure Development Strategy for 2014 ( 209.80KB) explains our aims.

Our web portal www.communitiestogether.org.uk, associated database and the Staffordshire 3rd Sector Network (S3SN) are key tools to implement the strategy.

Via the SCIO partners we provide a range of services and support to VCO's across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent. These include:

• Core Development Services
  High quality advice and support for trustees, managers and staff, ensuring that VCO's are able to deal with challenges ahead


• SCIO Training A wide range of training and development opportunities enabling organisational and workforce development


• Volunteering Services
  Our Volunteer Centres work together promoting volunteering to individuals and organisations. All are members of Volunteering England and hold, or are working towards, a quality standard mark to uphold the level of service we offer

Click here to view the SCIO Annual Review 2007 - 2008 ( 445.02KB)

Click here to view the SCIO Annual Review 2008 - 2009 ( 2.73MB)