Introducing Stockport's Volunteer Hub

As we continue to develop the Sector3 service offering for the VCFSE sector in Stockport, led by the sector for the sector, we are excited to share news of the next chapter of our support. 

As you know, Great Places have very kindly accommodated us at the old SK8 Coffee Shop in Cheadle Hulme for the past 12 months. The space has allowed us to host network meetings (including the regular Equity Network meeting), Co-working partnerships (Cheadle Post based themselves here every other week), training (more meet the funder opportunities coming your way soon) and more. It has served as a fantastic shared resource for Stockport’s VCFSE sector and provided a base in Stockport for Sector3 to be Collaborative, Active in communities and gain Independence.  

You asked, we listened 

Many of you have requested more support for Volunteers, and whilst considering this as part of Sector3’s service offering, we understand that our present location is not the most accessible to get to.  

Which is why we’ve made the decision to open a physical Volunteer Hub in the Town Centre (which will also serve as a base for the Sector3 team).

A Town Centre location means: 

• Equitable access for everyone in our sector 

• More opportunity to work collaboratively with other partners (such as businesses, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and more) 

• Increased footfall to Stockport’s centre 

Thanks to a successful bid from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund we will be moving to the Merseyway Innovation Centre, on the main concourse of the Merseyway Shopping Centre (the entrance is between Superdrug and McDonalds) . We’ll be there for the next 12 months, as a trial period, to see how a Town Centre Hub benefits the sector. As always, we’ll be listening to your views on the Hub throughout this time. 

A shared resource 

As with our current space, the Volunteer Hub at Merseyway Innovation Centre will be a shared resource for Stockport’s VCFSE sector. It will not only be a space to support Volunteers, but a resource to be utilised by all in our sector. The venue can accommodate meetings, private conversations, training and more as a neutral place for everyone in the sector to benefit from. 

We would like to invite you to pop in and see the Hub, chat with the Sector3 team and find out what support is available to your Community Group, Charity or Social Enterprise.  

Stockport Volunteer Hub Official Opening 

Tuesday 12 December, 12pm – 4pm  

Volunteer Support 

To manage the Volunteer Hub Support Service we will be recruiting a Volunteer Support Officer, who will be available to offer guidance and advice to Volunteers. This will contribute to our shared goal of ensuring our sector is inclusive and equitable to all, whilst supporting a sustainable workforce for our sector. 

We are currently working with the Volunteer Network to gain understanding of what service is needed from this role in order to offer the most value to the sector. If you’d like to share any thoughts on this please contact clare.finch@Sector3sk.org 

Drop in and see us 

Another reason for moving to the Town Centre means that the Sector3 team are more accessible to the sector. We’ll be based at the Hub every Tuesday and Thursday and you can pop by and see us for a chat between 12pm – 4pm, just let us know you’re coming beforehand so we can make sure the right person is available for you – info@sector3sk.org 

Tuesdays and Thursdays 

12pm – 4pm 

The Sector3 team will of course still be out and about on the ground across Stockport, making connections and seeing the incredible impact our sector has on communities, firsthand. 

A thriving third sector in Stockport 

We are looking forward to launching the physical Volunteer Hub and feel this is a fantastic opportunity to further align with Sector3’s mission of fostering a thriving third sector in Stockport. The Hub will be an independent space that serves as a resource for collaboration and active engagement, matching our core values. 

We hope that this Town Centre Hub will open up more opportunities, allowing for more partnerships, conversations and progress (towards our mission) in a more accessible location.

We look forward to seeing you soon!