Why has it been set up?

•   To give the voluntary and community sector and the communities they serve a voice that makes a difference
•   To enable more people to play an active role in, and influence decisions that affect,   their communities
•   To promote equality, diversity and cohesion within communities.

By joining SCEN, voluntary and community groups have the opportunity to:
•   Influence local service provision within Swale
•   Influence local decision making
•   Find out what is happening locally in Swale
•   Share ideas and meet other people

What does it do?

Represents and influences

•   Provides a mechanism for community voices to be heard
•   Allows people to be active and take pan in civic life
•   Challenges and redresses — lobbies and influences the public, private and voluntary sectors such as local and county councils, police and health service
•   Represents the community on strategic bodies and partnerships (for example, the LSe Local Engagement Forums, Community Cohesion Forum, Partners And Communities
Together (PACT) meetings
•   Has input into local and national strategic documents and initiatives.

Communicates and informs

•   Provides information and makes it easier to share and pass on information
•   Allows two-way communication and engagement between the voluntary and community groups and organisations and the public and private sectors
•   Holds community events.

Learns and supports Learns and supports

•   Signposts and problem solves
•   Develops and creates new ideas and ways of working
•   Accesses funding and provides funding advice
•   Builds the capacity of volunteers and community groups
•   Develops and extends volunteers’ skills, knowledge and learning opportunities
•   Establishes and promotes quality standards and good/best practice.

Advocates and promotes

•   Raises awareness arid the profile of the voluntary and community sector
•   Celebrates the sector, its role and importance to Swale
•   Advertises, markets, promotes and celebrates the sector
•   Co-ordinates with different groups and raises awareness of groups.

SCEN wants to create a Swale that has:

•   More active citizens: people with the motivation, skills and confidence to speak up for their communities, say what improvements are needed, and shape what is provided
•   People with the power to make and take local decisions: communities having an influence on public services and taking local decisions, resulting in improvements to service provision though greater civic participation
•   Stronger communities: communities with the capacity, capability and resources to bring people together to solve shared solutions and take action
•   Healthier communities: communities that feel happier and have a greater sense of wellbeing and satisfaction about the place that they live in.